WWE Raw Hits

Ben Roethlisberger: Big Ben didn't deliver the best quarterback performance on Monday night (you knew I couldn't let the Vikings win go unmentioned), but he was a nice surprise as a guest host. He was as poised on the mic as he is in the pocket. He did a nice job of winning over a split crowd. The party scene with the Steelers and DX at the end of the show was a great way to close the show and made the main event feel special. Did Michael Cole really say it was "Raw-lisberger" after the main event? Ugh.

The Miz wins the U.S. Title: Finally! I dug the backstage exchange with Big Ben and the setup for the match. The Miz has earned this push and title run. He's proved a lot of people wrong by working his ass off and becoming one of the most consistently entertaining performers in WWE. I'm not sure that Kofi Kingston really gained anything from his title reign. It didn't hurt him, of course, but WWE needs to push him aggressively now that his title run is over if they want him to be more than a mid-card act.

DX vs. Big Show and Chris Jericho: A quality main event that didn't give away too much. Here's hoping they follow up with DX challenging the champions for the tag titles and losing. It would be a mistake to move on right away because the champions should be pushed as the best team in WWE, particularly if there aren't plans to give DX a run with the tag titles.

Mark Henry and MVP vs. Chris Masters and Chavo Guerrero: The post-match angle with the heels and Hornswoggle did nothing for this viewer, but I enjoyed the actual match. Henry and MVP are clicking together, yet I'd still rather see MVP turn heel and get the long overdue push. He's not getting any younger and the Raw brand desperately needs more main event heels.

Jack Swagger's guarantee: This would have been much more effective had he guaranteed that he'd win every match for the remainder of the year and then beat someone who mattered in the eyes of the fans. If nothing else, the guarantee gives him something to work with. Much like MVP, Swagger could breathe some new life into the main event picture if Vince McMahon and the creative team would just give him the ball.

Overall show: A solid effort. A fun guest host, a U.S. Title change, and some quality in-ring action.

WWE Raw Misses

Randy Orton and John Cena hype their Iron Man match: Both wrestlers did a nice job of setting up the match during their in-ring verbal exchange, but I just can't get excited about seeing the two of them wrestle in an Iron Man match. I also hate the way that Hell in a Cell was once the feud ending match, but in this case it was just a prelude to an Iron Man match.

Hornswoggle: We've seen him talk before, but now he has to grunt and use gibberish while communicating with Big Ben. WTF? The highlight of the backstage skit was Santino Marella referring to the Steelers signal caller as "Ben Bralesswonder." That one made me laugh out loud even though the live crowd didn't seem to care.

Nancy O'Dell and Maria Menounos to host next week's show: Crickets. Was my mailman too busy to host the show? Seriously, who gives a crap? I'm all for promoting O'Dell's charity, but I couldn't care less about her as a host and I've never heard of her sidekick before in my life.

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