By Shane McKinley, PWTorch Specialist

WWE this year so far has done one thing really well: the six-man tag team match. Do they do the same formula nearly every time? You bet. Faces do a dive outside, heels work on JTG, hot tag, and so on.

Matt Striker brought up that JoMizzy were in distress due to Prop 8 in California, which would ban gay marriages. Whoa there, turbo. I remember the "gay" duo of Chuck and Billy. Even they said that it was all a publicity stunt when it came time to tie the knot on Raw. Add that WWF was now the WWE, and many felt that the writing of Raw took a drastic turn to the worse. If only they could see ahead to 2008.

The jobber for Mark Henry was named Squirmy Biney or something. Hated him. Squash matches are seemingly a relic from "the old days of wrestling." Some old dude chomping on a cigar says, "That's how it works, kid." But squash matches can work if people stick around to see somebody get their ass kicked. And also if the jobber at the very least wants to put up a fight, however meager it is. Squirmy Biney oversold everything. It was ridiculous. Love the enthusiasm, but he did not use good judgment. He embarrassed himself and Mr. Henry. Two bad squash matches in two nights.

Having listened to the scripted announcers of Raw, it can be quite a whiplash effect just listening to the ECW announcers, because they talk more freely. While Matt Striker talks about how Finlay should hook the leg and corrects Todd Grisham on the correct calling of a move, Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler talk about what a big, mean monster Kane is. ECW you might get references to the AWA, Norte Dame, historical characters and wrestlers, comic books, and legislation acts. Raw you get lucky if they talk about the stock market when discussing JBL.

ECW is the nice, refreshing drink after a usual Raw crapburger. Raw is over-bloated and more often than not the failure of the three WWE shows. Bare bones, but it is solid. The Finlay vs. Matt Henry match was very effective and it is refreshing just to hear how much passion Striker has when announcing.

So far Survivor Series is not looking so hot. Like before, Raw needs to hit it out of the park on the next Raw. I do not buy PPVs to just see dude come back from injury to wrestle. At least with TNA PPVs, even TNA does not know what is going to happen. You certainly roll the dice when you buy a TNA PPV: "Please don't screw this up too badly."

Apparently, C.M. Punk's music was Randy Orton's? So that's why Orton punted him in his head. "You stole my music!" This is what is going on in Orton's head as he comes down the ramp to his music: "I hate this f@%#ing song! I hate it!" That is why you see him scowling and looking very depressed and angry. Maybe his next song can be the Mario "Basement" theme to fit his character:

"He's evil
He is possessed
He's going to do
A chinlock
Dah dah dah"

Or maybe a Rocky IV song. Or a Top Gun song.

Visit theelijahexpress.com!

Email is mckinley.torch@gmail.com.

We suggest these recent related articles...

10/5 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Natalya vs. Paige, Owens vs. Cara, Stephanie McMahon, Sasha Banks, Xavier Woods

COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: The History of Foam Hands in Pro Wrestling

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