WWE Raw Hitlist: Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, C.M. Punk, JBL, Santino Marella, Beth Phoenix, Mike Adamle, Cryme Tyme

WWE Raw HIts

Shawn Micahels and Chris Jericho: Another great verbal exchange. Where would the Raw brand be without these two? I don't know what else I could say that I haven't already said about their work in recent months. Best feud in wrestling and it's not even close.

Santino and Beth: I was losing hope for this duo in recent weeks, but then they totally redeemed themselves by having Santino show signs of playing the battered boyfriend. I'm sure some poor guy out there is going to say this isn't funny and that domestic assault isn't funny even when the woman is dishing out the beating. I couldn't disagree more. Grow a set, dude.

C.M. Punk vs. JBL: Sure, I could grumble that Punk wasn't featured beyond this segment despite his status as the World Champion. And I could bitch about the fact that we've seen this match too many times lately. Instead, I'll save that for the "All Access" podcast I'll be posting later today and give props to the most entertaining match of the night.

Cryme Tyme: Solid mic work and I like the idea of having the duo cut their promo in the luxury box because it created a rare buzz in the arena. If nothing else, it was good to see them get some mic time again.

WWE Raw Misses

Overall show: Perhaps WWE had a John Cena hangover. I can see how losing your top star and a genuinely popular figure backstage to a severe neck injury would be a downer. Nevertheless, Raw was in nosedive mode before WWE found out how severe the injury is. This show was boring and lifeless more often than not.

Mike Adamle: I don't know what to make of his character. I assume he's heel since he enjoyed sticking it to John Cena by putting him in a handicap match recently and because he seems to take pleasure in mocking Primo Colon, but his delivery is so ordinary that it's hard to tell whether he's truly a heel. Like the rest of this show, Adamle is boring me.

Santino vs. Kofi Kingston: I enjoyed the interaction with the Santino and Beth characters, but the match felt like an afterthought, which is generally the case on the Raw side. There are so many times when it feels like Vince McMahon and the creative team can't wait to get through the match so they can run their angle.

Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase vs. Jim Duggan and Jerry Lawler: Are they so desperate for tag teams that they had to go back to an angle from last month just to find challengers for Rhodes and DiBiase?

Check back for an "All Access" podcast with my full thoughts on the Raw show and the John Cena injury later today.