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WWE Bragging Rights Hits

John Cena vs. Randy Orton: They filled the hour with a strong brawl and some fun pyro stunts. This was so much better than I expected it to be going in. The Chinlock of Doom spots were kept to a minimum and there were no major lags or dull moments aside from maybe a five-minute span after the pyro spots where the crowd was a little spent from watching Orton rough up Cena. This match saved the show from being a total waste of money.

The Miz vs. John Morrison: A solid match that really didn't live up to my lofty expectations, yet was still the second best match of the night. The Miz going over was a surprise and keeps things interesting if they ever opt to go back to this feud.

Kofi Kingston: He was showcased nicely throughout the show with his in-ring performance in the big tag match and then when he ran out to save John Cena from the attack by Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase. Here's hoping they keep the momentum going on Raw tonight.

WWE Bragging Rights Misses

Overall show: The Raw vs. Smackdown gimmick did nothing for me. They spent the last three weeks racing to make it seem like there was a rivalry between the two brands, but it was too little too late. The trophy looked bush league and it's sad that they didn't bother to show the trophy, let alone attempt to make it seem meaningful, until the night of the show. For that matter, I didn't even realize they were going with a best of three format until the night of the show. Everything felt like it was thrown together at the last second. Fans who cared about the Raw vs. Smackdown theme surely enjoyed this show much more than I did. I am looking forward to finding out how many buys this show did because that will be the good barometer for whether fans were excited by the Raw vs. Smackdown theme more than I was.

Batista turn: "I thought you were my friend." What a wuss. One of the big problems right now is that nothing that happens on Smackdown feels nearly as important as what happens on Raw. Batista turning heel on Smackdown just doesn't pack the punch it would have had he turned heel on a top babyface on Raw. I guess this explains why Batista has been losing many matches lately. The friendship line was corny and it was hard to buy in because it was obvious he was shouting it so that the cameras would pick it up. They also telegraphed the turn by having Josh Matthews enter the ring to ask questions. That never happens, so viewers knew something was happening.

Undertaker vs. Batista vs. Rey Mysterio vs. C.M. Punk: I'm conflicted by this match. It was a good, action-packed 10-minute match, but they never made me feel like there was any chance the title would change hands. It's a "Hit" from an in-ring perspective, but it just felt like a throwaway match that no one will remember a week from now beyond the post-match Batista turn. The highlight was watching Mysterio score a flurry of offense on Taker.

Team Raw vs. Team Smackdown seven-man tag: Another match that was solid from an in-ring perspective, yet didn't feel meaningful for this viewer simply because I didn't care about the cheap trophy and I never bought into the Raw vs. Smackdown concept. I was actually embarrassed for the Raw wrestlers when they did their backstage bit by putting their hands in and yelling "Raw." Big Show's turn on the Raw got a nice reaction from the live crowd and packed a punch for viewers who bought into the concept, but I just didn't fit into that category.

Beth Phoenix, Michelle McCool, and Natalya vs. Kelly Kelly, Melina, and Gail Kim. This best of three concept eliminated any mystery there may have been regarding the outcome. It was hard to buy into the idea that Beth and Melina were fighting for their brand when they just switched sides. They could have worked they were both out to show up their former brand because they were upset over being traded, but that would have been tough given that the storyline was that one of the Raw guest hosts pulled the trigger on the trade.

WWE broadcast team: Jim Ross was complimentary of his colleagues in his blog, but he was sorely missed last night. The three-man team just didn't click and they failed miserably in their attempts to sell the rivalry between the brands. I also hated the way they acted so surprised that Smackdown won the match. WWE didn't really put the brand over since they only won because Big Show turned, and then they had the announcers act stunned that the mighty Raw lost to shitty Smackdown.

This is getting a little off-topic, but let's not forget that the build to the show also featured Triple H saying he doesn't even like the Smackdown TV show, and John Cena pouting at the thought of leaving Raw, which can also be perceived as him depressed at the thought of having to work for the Friday night brand. It's amazing that Smackdown won the match, yet somehow looks more inferior than it did before the Raw vs. Smackdown theme started a few weeks ago.

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