Some thoughts after watching Raw last night:

It’s only been a little over a week since his last appearance, but I really miss Shawn Michaels. Of all the WWE main eventers out with injuries, I think the loss of Michaels hurts the product the most. In my opinion, he is the most compelling wrestler in the business today. Every Monday night, you could always count on an entertaining match or a good promo – often both – from the “Heartbreak Kid.” He even got a decent match out of The Great Khali a few weeks back. Michaels’ absence is magnified by Edge leaving Raw to become the top star on Smackdown. I agree with WWE’s decision to move Edge, but it sure doesn’t make my Monday nights as enjoyable as they used to be. …

I have mixed emotions about the draft lottery that is scheduled to air on Raw on June 11. On one hand, I think it’s a good idea – especially with all the injuries screwing up any long-term booking plans – to shake things up and present fresh matchups. But with wrestlers routinely appearing on shows other than their own already, I wonder if it’s not time to ditch the brand-specific concept and just go back to one big roster. WWE already has done away with brand-specific pay-per-views, and the loss of so many top stars to injury would be a lot less glaring if the talent did not have to be divided up three ways. …

That was some reaction John Cena got in Toronto, wasn’t it? As is the case in a lot of cities, the men were booing him, while the women and children were cheering him. One thing you can definitely say about Cena is that he elicits a passionate response from the fans, whether they love him or hate him. And while I’m sure the WWE powers-that-be would prefer that their No. 1 babyface not get jeered so vociferously, they are probably more concerned with the fact that the fans’ response to Bobby Lashley is largely indifference. …

Last night’s opening segment, in which 10 bikini-clad divas armed with Super Soakers and water balloons participated in a battle royal, was silly, politically incorrect and demeaning. And just to make sure that the match had no redeeming value, I rewound my tape and watched it five more times.