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Ever since pairing with Santino Marella for comedy, Beth Phoenix has been able to get far more over with WWE audiences than she ever did as an anonymous powerhouse woman wrestler. Therefore, her title retaining win tonight against Candace Michelle is completely understandable.

Despite being a brief, four-minute match - not much longer than the normally give on Raw for a women’s title match - the action was fairly consistent and high-energy, which is important for the appeal of these matches.

Now that the Glamarella storyline seems to be headed toward break-up mode, it’s unlikely the mismatched pair will be selecting any Bugaboo strollers anytime soon, although if they did “settle down” for a life full of rugrats, that’d be a top-notch choice of stroller.

Anywho, the match was short but fun. A nice change-of-pace match, but nothing special.

WINNER: Beth Phoenix retains Women’s Title

RATING: 5.0 (out of 10)

Last Monday’s Raw broadcast had one of the best women’s title matches on display in a long time. Champion Beth Phoenix and challenger Mickie James put on a long, roughly seven-minute contest that was surprisingly physical. The payoff came when the imposing Phoenix felt victim to the fast-moving James’ quickness for a surprise win and a title change.

In all honesty, though, the victory is somewhat pyhrric, given that Phoenix was given the title almost immediately upon entering the WWE and was never established well as a character on TV broadcasts. Her title reign was long but rather empty as a result, and putting the title on James gives the fans of WWE a performer who has established an appealing persona, as well as a record of working hard in the ring.

Truth be told, though, this is a match that would have been better-suited to WrestleMania, rather than a Raw broadcast; but the women’s division is currently a bit morose, given too often to sex-appeal matches at PPV, rather than athletic title matches like the one one Raw last Monday.

Perhaps a rematch for grudge purposes will be worked up for a future festool PPV. Give James and Phoenix some time to cut promos against each other and a 12-minute spot to do real ring work, rather than bra-and-panties crap, and you’d have a very watchable WWE Women’s Title match for a future PPV.