8/18/08 RAW

Star rating key:
(negative stars) = Huh?! (BS finish; most squash matches)
DUD = Boring match (or could not enjoy the match)
1/4* to 3/4* = It had watchable moments.
* to *3/4 = Average match.
** to **3/4 = Above average match.
*** to ***3/4 = Great match; usually saved for PPVs
**** to ****3/4 = Match of the year candidate
***** = The rarest of all matches. A classic.
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8/18/08 RAW:
Batista vs. Paul Burchill: This squash would have been in the negatives, but I liked how Burchill attacked Batista's injured leg throughout the match before falling prey to Batista. DUD

Mickie James & Kelly Kelly vs. Katie Lea & Jillian: A fun match with some nice wrestling and tag team moves. **

JBL vs. Jamie Noble: Just plain atrocious. First, the match went way too long. JBL would have been better off KO'ing Noble with a chair and beating him with that instead. Or this could have been a backstage segment. Second, what was the deal with the ref counting to two and stopping the match in favor of JBL?! Why not slap the mat a third time at that stage? Simply a horrible match by all participants - including the ref. I swear the only reason I didn't hear "BORING" chants was because those people were probably at the vendors getting more beer. -****

John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase: It was not bad, but a bit too slow for my liking. Great tag team wrestling from Rhodes and DiBiase, but of course, Cena has his predictable comeback at the end. Honestly, I enjoyed the divas match way more. *3/4

Santino Marella vs. D-Lo Brown: Nice pop for D-Lo, since RAW took place in his hometown of Chicago. Santino hits some moves and gets in trouble, so naturally, Beth comes in, prevents D-Lo from hitting the Lo-Down, then slaps D-Lo. Disqualification. BS finish. -**

As a note, I like Kane's new music - it's a remix of his first entrance theme.

Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk: Easily the best match of the night. The two have excellent chemistry in the ring. Perhaps Jericho can weasel his way into the 5-man scramble now...? Very good back-and-forth action. Punk pulled out some moves I hadn't seen before, which was a huge plus. Cade's mini-interference knocks the rating down a little, but a PPV-worthy match for sure. ***1/2