John Cena. Batista. Brett Hart. Shawn Michaels. The Undertaker. Sheamus. Randy Orton. CM Punk. The Miz. The Best of RAW 2010 plays
like a best-of professional wrestling highlight reel, which, really, is exactly what it is. This two-disc compilation overflows with muscles, testosterone,
and wrestling excitement both in-action and along the dramatic arcs that shaped the year that was. 2010 was a particularly exciting year, a year in
which old feuds were settled, careers were ended, streaks were continued, names were made, titles were awarded, and new factions were formed.
RAW may be only one half of the WWE landscape (the other being SmackDown) but it's certainly the big boy on the block with over 1,000 episodes
to its name and a rich history that can't be matched. Its 2010 campaign highlight reel is proof-positive of its dominance over the sports entertainment
landscape.
Cena in the pit.
The Best of RAW 2010 makes maneuvering through the year that was a snap. Both discs are broken into a large number of chapters, each
concentrating on a single event or offering a preview of what's coming or a review of what's been. Voiceover narration provides viewers with a
monthly
checkpoint while Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler occasionally chime in to set the stage for the next items on the calendar. Otherwise, viewers will find
the best
RAW highlights in chronological order. The collection, then, is almost entirely match- and moment-based. It's not a retrospective documentary,
instead
offering viewers RAW on the straight and as it was with no real external influence, other than, of course, the selection process itself. The program
does a fine job of presenting the material in a digestible, simple, and easy to maneuver style. Viewers could conceivably pair this with Blu-ray and
DVD pay-per-view and SmackDown releases and retell the entire story of 2010 in professional wrestling with relative ease, just a few disc swaps and
remote clicks. If nothing else, it's a blast to watch some
big names and bigger moments brought back to life on home video. It's highlight after highlight, from Shawn Michaels and Brett Hart putting the
past behind them to an all-out brawl between the entire WWE locker room and NXT, both arguably the biggest highlights of the year that was in
terms of drama and action, respectively.
The following RAW moments, matches, and highlights are included on disc one. All segments are presented in 1.78:1 high definition. No lengths
are provided as WWE Home Video has listed all of them as part of a bulk runtime of 4:26:32.
Michael Cole & Jerry "The King" Lawler: Cole and Lawler discuss the year that was.
January Highlights.
RAW Moment: Bret Hart Returns to RAW. January 4, 2010.
Unified Tag Team Championship Match: D-Generation X vs. Jeri-Show. January 4, 2010.
RAW Match: John Cena vs. Sheamus. January 25, 2010.
February Highlights.
RAW Match: Sheamus vs. Christian. February 8, 2010.
Triple Threat Elimination Match for the Unified Tag Team Championship: D-Generation X vs. CM Punk & Luke Gallows vs. Show-Miz.
February 8, 2010.
"Undertaker...I Can Beat You": Shawn Michaels issues a challenge to The Undertaker, followed by The Undertaker's response.
RAW Moment: Streak vs. Career. February 22, 2010. The Shawn Michaels-Undertaker WrestleMania match is announced and the
stipulations agreed upon.
Michael Cole & Jerry "The King" Lawler: The announcers talk up Michaels-Undertaker and the build-up to WrestleMania.
John Cena & Batista's Bad Blood.: A look at the Cena-Batista rivalry leading up to WrestleMania XXVI.
RAW Moment: "The Name and Face of the WWE." March 1, 2010. John Cena Addresses the crowd. Batista answers a challenge.
Win By Pinfall or Submission Only: Shawn Michaels vs. Kane. March 22, 2010.
A Career in Retrospect: A look back at Shawn Michaels' career.
RAW Moment: Shawn Michaels Says Farewell. March 29, 2010.
Michael Cole & Jerry "The King" Lawler: Cole and Lawler introduce a segment on the WWE draft.
April Highlights.
RAW Match: Jack Swagger vs. Randy Orton. April 5, 2010.
Divas Championship Match: Maryse vs. Eve Torres. April 12, 2010.
Unified Tag Team Championship Match: Show-Miz vs. The Hart Dynasty. April 26, 2010.
May Highlights.
RAW Moment: Randy Orton on the Cutting Edge. May 3, 2010.
RAW Match: Edge vs. Christian. May 17, 2010.
"This Place is Nothing Without Me!": Batista addresses the crowd. May 24, 2010.
RAW Match: John Cena & Evan Bourne vs. Edge & Sheamus. May 31, 2010.
Michael Cole & Jerry "The King" Lawler: The announcers discuss Hart's impact as RAW General Manager and the role of the NXT
rookies on RAW.
June Highlights.
"The Start of Something Much, Much Greater": John Cena addresses the crowd. A brawl ensues between WWE Superstars and NXT.
June 7, 2010.
RAW Match: Chris Jericho vs. Evan Bourne. June 14, 2010.
July Highlights.
RAW Match: Randy Orton vs. Edge. July 12, 2010.
Triple Threat #1 Contender Match: Randy Orton vs. Edge vs. Chris jericho. July 19, 2010.
Disc Two: (2:58:22 total runtime).
August Highlights.
RAW Match: John Cena & Bret Hart vs. Edge & Chris Jericho. August 9, 2010.
RAW Match: Chris Jericho vs. Wade Barrett. August 16, 2010.
RAW Match: John Cena vs. The Miz. August 23, 2010.
RAW Moment: CM Punk Looks Back at 900 Episodes of RAW. August 30, 2010.
September Highlights.
Poster Child: The Miz unveils...himself. September 6, 2010.
Falls Count Anywhere Match: John Morrison vs. Sheamus. September 13, 2010.
RAW Match: Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho. September 27, 2010.
October Highlights.
"You're a Coward, Cena": Wade Barrett has a few choice words for John Cena. October 11, 2010.
Champion vs. Champion Match: Daniel Bryan vs. Dolph Ziggler. October 25, 2010.
November Highlights.
RAW Moment: Tea Time with Santino. November 8, 2010.
RAW Moment: Piper's Pit with John Cena & Randy Orton. November 15, 2010. Note: Also features Wade Barrett.
RAW Moment: The Miz Cashes In. November 22, 2010.
King of the Ring Tournament Final: John Morrison vs. Sheamus. November 29, 2010.
December Highlights.
Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match for the WWE Tag Team Titles: Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov vs. Mark Henry & Yoshi Tatsu vs. The
Usos vs. Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel. December 6, 2010.
Michael Cole & Jerry "The King" Lawler: Cole and Lawler thank viewers for taking the journey back through 2010 and look forward to
2011.
2010 RAW Recap: An ultra-condensed two-minute look back at the year.
The Best of RAW 2010 arrives on Blu-ray with a high quality high definition transfer. It plays with good stability, offering present but largely
minimal compression
issues and presenting what is generally a vibrant, crystal-clear image. Viewers will enjoy precision details on all sorts of attire, from leather jackets to
straw hats. Skin textures are very well detailed, and there's a nice crispness and accuracy to ring ropes, mats, and other set pieces and props. Clarity
and sharpness allow for strong details even well back into the crowd. Colors are even more impressive. From bright pink to deep red, from neon DX
green to Cena's orange T-shirt, there's no shortage of brilliant colors to wow WWE fans. Black levels are quite deep and true, while flesh tones appear
accurate, from the palest to the darkest-skinned wrestlers. This is quite the striking contrast when compared to the standard definition throwback
footage
the WWE has been releasing to Blu-ray of late. These wrestling titles make for a great comparison in just what a big leap there has been in video
technology just over the past decade or so, with The Best of RAW 2010 a strong example of what the modern landscape of WWE home video
looks like.
The Best of RAW 2010 features the typical WWE soundtrack: Dolby Digital 5.1. There's an overpowering sense of "big" to the presentation,
particularly in boomy voiceovers and aggressive overlay music, both of which thunder at reference levels. There's a much better balance on the material
repurposed from the RAW broadcasts. Music remains aggressive but not obnoxious, dialogue both ringside and in-ring remains much more balanced and
clear, and the sense of authenticity makes for a better listening experience over the over-pumped new material. Spacing and surround support are
impressive in all areas, though again the RAW-specific broadcast elements enjoy a more natural flavor and balance. Bass sometimes rises to the level of
dialogue makes the spoken word a touch hard to hear during material taken directly from the show, but generally those segments fare
well and the out-of-balance elements are rare. This track's shortcomings don't make for a deal breaker, but certainly a bit more care in the mixing room
would have made this a more enjoyable
and consistent listening experience.
This is a pretty simple release. The Best of RAW 2010 offers just that, a twelve-month compilation of the finest moments of the year that was.
Big names, shocking revelations, quality matches, and plenty of classic WWE moments helped make 2010's Monday nights more entertaining, and now
it's all available to relive again and again on Blu-ray. The WWE's Blu-ray release of The Best of RAW 2010 features good video and wishy-washy
audio. A few bonuses are included. Recommended.
