By Jon Mezzera, Torch Specialist

RAW HITS

Opening Segment: This is a very minor Hit. I liked the performance of The Miz and R-Truth on the mic when they came out to confront John Cena. I like seeing Zack Ryder getting involved with the main event picture. I liked that WWE did something to try to hook viewers for the rest of the show. These were good things. Having Cena remind the audience that next week's show will be better with The Rock was not a good thing. Cena's mic work in general was bad. As much as I like Ryder, he and Cena once again made Awesome Truth look like anything but a threat. So, there were some issues here to be sure, but just barely enough to like to give it a Hit.

Ziggler vs. Morrison: I don't understand a lot of decisions WWE is making, like making Dolph Ziggler look so weak as the US Champion. I am a fan of John Morrison, and he needed a win to get some credibility back after such a long losing streak, but why did it have to come at the expense of Ziggler? I appreciate the fact that the announcers made these two losses in a row sound like a huge deal for Ziggler. At least that is something. That is all pretty negative, but the match itself was good. Ziggler and Morrison put on a fun match to watch as I expected them to. They both have plenty of talent that was on display here. It was a good match.

Cena & Ryder vs. Awesome Truth: Like the other Hits, this one had problems too. This wasn't a great tag team match, but a good one. I like that Awesome Truth got the win, but doing so in such a cheesy fashion was silly. I have never bought into the spot where Truth holds down Cena's leg so he can't kick out. I remember thinking the same thing when Bobby Heenan did it to Ultimate Warrior's leg allowing Ravishing Rick Rude to win the Intercontinental Title over 20 years ago, and I still am not buying it. However, I was mostly just riveted by the reaction that Ryder is getting from the live crowd. The pop he got and his chants were very loud and impressive. Was Cena actually trying to get a rub by doing the Woo Woo Woo fist pump and the double Broski Kick? It was fascinating to watch. Awesome Truth at least got a win.

RAW MISSES

Del Rio vs. Kingston: Several months back, I suggested WWE do away with non-Title matches. This is the problem. WWE wants to keep Alberto Del Rio strong (at least this week, as they didn't seem too concerned about that last week). So, they want him to get a quick win over someone. However, that someone happened to be Kofi Kingston, half of the Tag Team Champions. WWE sent the message loud and clear that the Tag Titles aren't that important here. The match itself was too short to amount to much, but the ending was pretty ugly as Del Rio seemed to forget how to use the Cross Arm Breaker.

Punk - Del Rio: Del Rio sounded stupid for asking CM Punk to cancel their WWE Title match at Survivor Series. But, the bigger issue is that you shouldn't be having one of your top babyface stars telling the audience to fast forward (or change the channel) when your WWE Champion is talking. It is just a stupid decision for business to reinforce a wrestler's weakness (especially if that wrestler is one of your top stars). Plus, the talk should be about wrestling each other, not making fun of someone for being boring or uninteresting on the mic. What does that have to do with winning matches?

Nash's Promo: The problem with Kevin Nash's promo was not the delivery. Sure, Nash stumbled over one of his lines, but over all the delivery was good. The problem wasn't Nash but the writing. It was too insider. I appreciate that they are trying to fill in the newer audience more on Nash and Triple H's long history, but a video package would be better. I said when he first returned that they needed to put together a video package of him wrestling opponents who would be very familiar to today's audience like Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, and Triple H. Just hearing him talk about stuff that happened 15 years ago isn't good enough. I also didn't like hearing him mention the Legends contract that he was given. That is too insider. Talk about "the band" getting back together was too. He was upset about not getting a phone call back in January after The Royal Rumble? That didn't really seem to be his motivation when he first returned. It just didn't make a lot of sense.

Jon Mezzera is PWTorch.com's WWE Hits & Misses Specialist, providing his point of view for Raw and Smackdown each week. Email him at jmezz-torch@sbcglobal.net.

For another view from the original Hitlist author, compare Jason Powell's views to mine by visiting prowrestling.NET's "Hitlist" section here.

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

We suggest these recent related articles...

9/28 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Kane's Split Personality, Divas Revolution, Heyman & Big Show, Reigns vs. Wyatt

9/7 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Paige vs. Banks, Rollins vs. Ryback, Orton vs. Sheamus, Cena & PTPs vs. Rollins & New Day

8/24 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Opening Segment, New Day, Dudleys return, Stewart, Sting