RAW headed in the right direction.

[captaincharismark]

I have to admit that I haven't been too happy with the product until right after WM this year. Up until that point, the shows were getting predictable and stale. Since that point, noticable improvement has been happening on almost a weekly basis. RAW's have seen such highlights as The Rock/Cena setting up WM 28, Stone Cold hosting RAW, and CM Punk single handedly creating buzz in the shows. SD has been the consistent show in wrestling, having some near 30 minute ME's. Even though the Christian/Orton fued has been drawn out, it has seen it's good moments. Not to mention Sheamus showing why he's one of the best new talents the WWE has.

After seeing RAW tonight, I have to say this RAW has impressed me more than any recent show I can recall. We got two WWE Title matches, two different champions crowned, JR back on commentary, HHH taking over as Chairman and Michael Cole taken out by Zack Ryder. On top of all that, Cena and Rey Mysterio had one of the best title matches on RAW I've seen in a while(almost 30 minutes). And CM Punk returning with a great new theme song and an apparent build to a match with them at SummerSlam.

This is how RAW should be every week, and if this is any indication of the direction they are taking, I'll be a happy fan....

[Mr. Nerfect]

I feel like I must watch RAW now. That to me says the WWE are doing something right.

[XL]

Couldn't have said all that in the Raw Thread? No?

[DaVe]

yes sir, noid

ditto

[tjmidnight420]

Feel like they are getting ahead of themselves with CM Punk. This story has the potential for great longevity, so why are they blowing their load rushing everything? CM Punk is already back? A match with Cena at Summerslam? Let it build for a month or two. Just have Punk show up in random places to further the story.

[Rock Bottom]

I think it was the right play to bring him back in now, if that's what he wanted to do. It keeps the momentum going. Don't let it stagnate. Keep people excited. Don't just dose people with a big deal every quarter of a year.

CM Punk is on fire, they are in a position to have a new top guy and freshen up their product. You shouldn't waste momentum like that.

[Rock Bottom]

On top of that, Cena looks a lot more motivated lately.

[Rock Bottom]

Couldn't have said all that in the Raw Thread? No?

Attack of the TPWW hall monitor :eek:

[#BROKEN Hasney]

On top of that, Cena looks a lot more motivated lately.

I was saying in the chat last night that I'm loving that they're letting Cena wrestle again. The last great match I could remember, admittedly off the top of my head, was the one where Jericho was fired by Bischoff if he lost. But on Smackdown he was fantastic.

Cena's booking last year was the biggest reason the Nexus angle failed at Summerslam. Just mocking them with comic promos even though they cost him his title and getting beaten up every week until he hit the legendary move sequence and won. Now Cena's promos are serious with a little bit of comic peppering, which is fine and 2 great matches in a row while maintaining his current character.

Cena's always been capable of this, just he's never been booked well enough to make it not stale. He's as big a part of Punk getting over as anything else.

[XL]

Attack of the TPWW hall monitor :eek:
WWWYKI

[FearedSanctity]

Feel like they are getting ahead of themselves with CM Punk. This story has the potential for great longevity, so why are they blowing their load rushing everything? CM Punk is already back? A match with Cena at Summerslam? Let it build for a month or two. Just have Punk show up in random places to further the story.

Ideally you should do that. In a place like ROH it's common for an angle to develop over months with nothing really happening to help sell it, see the Steen thing they've got going right now. But your average wrestling fan has an awful attention span. I'm sure they wanted to wait on this angle a bit, but you've got strike while its hot or else risk losing the momentum.

[Ruien]

After seeing RAW tonight, I have to say this RAW has impressed me more than any recent show I can recall. We got two WWE Title matches, two different champions crowned, JR back on commentary, HHH taking over as Chairman and Michael Cole taken out by Zack Ryder. On top of all that, Cena and Rey Mysterio had one of the best title matches on RAW I've seen in a while(almost 30 minutes). And CM Punk returning with a great new theme song and an apparent build to a match with them at SummerSlam.

This is how RAW should be every week, and if this is any indication of the direction they are taking, I'll be a happy fan....

Raw had 3 people returning to the show, that will not happen every week. That is like saying TNA had an awesome show the first night they went live with 5 surprise people showing up.

Two WWE title shots? Two different champions? The Rey vs Cena match was blown way to early. It should have went to the next pay per view, with the next night CM Punk coming out (Or have him come out the same night Cena gets the belt). Either way, I NEVER want to see the title go to two different people on a RAW ever again.

[Xero]

I've been catching up on SmackDown lately (still three episodes behind), and with that and RAW I have to say I haven't been this excited about the WWE's product over all in years.

And yes, RAW has been fantastic for the past few weeks. There were glimmers the past few months, but they really threw it into overdrive with the Punk stuff.

And I have to say, I've really be enjoying Cena. Not only in character (for the most part, anyway), but in the ring. I really hope his matches continue as they are. I realize he can't always be on fire like he has been, but he needs to continue this streak of non-lazy wrestling.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Feel like they are getting ahead of themselves with CM Punk. This story has the potential for great longevity, so why are they blowing their load rushing everything? CM Punk is already back? A match with Cena at Summerslam? Let it build for a month or two. Just have Punk show up in random places to further the story.

Well to be fair we don't actually know he's back full time yet.

But it also is consistent with Triple H taking over to bring Punk back immediately. It fits the whole "Vince won't push me" thing that Punk was talking about when he was leaving. If Vince is gone, then Punk doesn't have a reason to leave.

[Jordan]

I honestly feel that this year, the whole year, just about every Raw has been better than the last (especially this summer!) and they have been working in a way to sell the PPV's much better. Every PPV this year has been memorable and was worth buying. Best year WWE's had since like 98 for me. I seriously fucking love rasslin this year, not ashamed of it either, it's getting cool again.

[Kane Knight]

So they got rid of PG, brought back blade jobs, and turned Cena heel?

[Jordan]

Why would a fake sport require their athletes to mutilate their face for a little color?

[Jordan]

BTW Cena reacted so well last night to being over cheered by Punk, awesome moment. It was like the WWE Universe was slipping out of his hands, it was like when Austin was getting more cheers than Bret Hart before WM 13.

[Kane Knight]

Why would a fake sport require their athletes to mutilate their face for a little color?

Because it's the ONLY way to make things GOOD again. JEEZ!

[BigCrippyZ]

I'll admit that I've been one of the harshest critics of WWE on here in the last year or so, even arguing for the end on the PG stuff. That being said, the past few weeks have been amazing. I haven't been this interested in the product since 2001/2.

That being said, I felt like they really pushed the envelope last night with respect to the PG rating and brought back the excitement and unpredictability to RAW for the first time in a long time.

Did anyone else notice the huge pop Eve got when she shook her ass during the diva's tag match? Maryse got a good pop too with the stinkface too. Given what they were wearing when they came out, I was excited to see some skin from the diva's, and it actually was a fairly solid match. I felt like they gave the women some leeway with what they could do and it was nice to see the crowd react during a diva's match for a change.

[Jordan]

Dude I popped huge when she booty fucked that air.

[RawRocks]

To be fair.. there were not just two reigning WWE Champions on Raw last night.. there were THREE!

[BollywoodSingh]

I really liked the ending of Raw with both Cena and CM Punk holding up their titles but Cena then realizing that CM Punk has the real belt. But I think it is way too early to bring CM Punk back. I would have kept him off TV for at least 2-3 months and just have Cena defend the new title. Over the few months he's off TV, I would have had CM Punk keep appearing elsewhere like he has been (Comic-con, Indy shows, etc.). And then after those 2-3 months, shoot the exact same angle as last night's ending.

I just think bringing CM Punk back this early takes a little bit away from the whole "I'm leaving with the WWE title" storyline.

[Nightwing]

I dont like this "must see" stuff RAW is pulling. I just stopped watching like 2 months ago. Now Ive had to watch lately.......

But yeah its cool its finally treading upward. Hopefully they can keep this momentum.

[drmayberry7]

I just can't wait for next weeks RAW.

[thedamndest]

Punk is the hottest thing the company has had in years and some of you want to keep him off TV and off Summerslam?

[thedamndest]

That would be like Austin winning the KotR and saying Austin 3:16 just whipped your ass and then taking 4 months off. No one would give a shit when he got back and he'd get shuffled to the bottom of the deck just after breaking through.

[Aaronp43]

Raw last night was awesome but how do you let someone win the title and take it from that man 2 hours later.Rey should have kept the title he deserves it just as much as Cena

[dhellova guy]

I thought a lot about this last night, and as much as the IWC would have probably loved seeing Punk show up at random events throughout the world, from a business standpoint it doesn't make much sence for WWE, because there core audience is not the IWC, but mainstream entertainment fans. They don't want to share there hottest commodity with "rival" organizations. So they instead have him do the talk show circuit, talk up the storyline, and set up a blockbuster match for there second biggest show of the year, Summerslam.

Now, does that mean they had to do this angle with Cena? Could they have had the same success with Rey Mysterio? Or the Miz? I don't know, but Cena seems to be a good foil for the "anti-hero" they are making Punk out to be.

It feels like hot-shotting to some of us, but WWE couldn't keep Punk off TV forever, especially with the ratings they've had.

[Kal-El]

People complaining about them bringing Punk back to early need to realize that they did it for a reason. Not everybody is used to the way wrestling used to be. I myself started watching wrestling in the late 70's. Back then there would be YEAR LONG feuds . . . Which were awesome. Even in the attitude era the feuds lasted longer than they do now. I think they did it to keep the momentum going and for the viewers that are new to wrestling. On a whole if they keep this momentum up at least their on the right track.

[captaincharismark]

Raw had 3 people returning to the show, that will not happen every week. That is like saying TNA had an awesome show the first night they went live with 5 surprise people showing up.

Two WWE title shots? Two different champions? The Rey vs Cena match was blown way to early. It should have went to the next pay per view, with the next night CM Punk coming out (Or have him come out the same night Cena gets the belt). Either way, I NEVER want to see the title go to two different people on a RAW ever again.

I know this kind of show won't happen every week. 3 ppl won't return every week, and 2 different champions won't be crowned. My point being this kind of out the box thinking helps the shows. It's the kind of stuff we used to only see during the Monday Night Wars.

Certainly, this kind of booking only improves the shows. Gives them more excitement and shock value. Which honestly is a form of booking I never thought WWE could pull off again. With the pattern of improvement we've seen lately, I'm starting to think it can be done again.

Also, having Punk return makes sense. Some think it's too early, which could be more mythodically built towards. However, fan interest in this is so high, anything Punk related is hot now. Having the top star on the show only keeps focus on him. I know I would like to see a Punk vs. Cena WWE Title unification match at SS...

[dingdongyo]

That would be like Austin winning the KotR and saying Austin 3:16 just whipped your ass and then taking 4 months off. No one would give a shit when he got back and he'd get shuffled to the bottom of the deck just after breaking through.

agreed. so many people have been saying raw sucks and it's stale, now it's too awesome too fast? whatever.

i don't know what it is, but when "cult of personality" hit, i got really excited. and then i was genuinely surprised to see punk walk out to it. it fit. the whole thing has a this is different vibe.

i wasn't really thrilled about seeing JR back, although he was more fun to listen to than i remembered.

[captaincharismark]

I'm surprized most fans think Punk is back too soon. To me, WWE capitalizing on Punk's popularity makes perfect sense. Leaving him off the shows for a month or two would add realism to the storyline, but it also slows the momentum of the angle down. Since he is not considered WWE Champion now, confronting Cena and setting up a title unification match is the next logical step. Otherwise, giving Punk the belt and him leaving doesn't add up. WWE using Punk potentially leaving and turning his eventual resigning into a storyline is pure genius.

[Aguakate]

Punk is the hottest thing the company has had in years and some of you want to keep him off TV and off Summerslam?

Of course, had WWE kept him off tv for a couple months, 'til, say, Survivor Series or something, those SAME fans who are now saying WWE should've waited longer to bring him back, would've criticized the WWE for NOT bringing him back...

...that's how it is...

...if you stick it in, they yell...and if you take it out, they wail...

[captaincharismark]

Either way, some ppl will complain about the Punk issue. It's like on one hand, bringing him back too soon is bad. On the other hand, it's bad if you wait too long to bring him back. You gotta decide conclusively which it is.

I think WWE did the right thing by setting up this fued for SS. Punk stays relevant and a hot issue, while giving us another good match. Plus, if Punk were to lose, then they could start a ROH invasion to keep it going.

[GD]

I eagerly wait for RAW nowadays.

[Aguakate]

I eagerly wait for RAW nowadays.

...Same here.

[XL]

There isn't a right/wrong answer to the "Punk came back too soon" debate. It needs to be viewed from two perspectives.

From a storytelling/plot development POV it probably was too soon. The story would likely have benefited from having Punk away longer and making a surprise return. Pretty sure if this were a normal TV show we wouldn't have seen Punk for a few episodes and he'd have returned in shock fashion in the season finale. But it's not normal TV, it's "sports entertainment".

Which brings us to the "business POV". Stirke whilst the iron is hot. The crowd are hot for Punk - both to cheer or jeer depending on their outook. WWE cannot risk that interest cooling off.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On semi-related note, I found it interesting that he came from backstage with theme music and a tron (both "new" to boot). Does that tell us that Punk has re-signed with WWE? Does he have "corporate backing"? Did HHH bring him back? If so, why? Are the two in cahoots?

[#BROKEN Hasney]

On semi-related note, I found it interesting that he came from backstage with theme music and a tron (both "new" to boot). Does that tell us that Punk has re-signed with WWE? Does he have "corporate backing"? Did HHH bring him back? If so, why? Are the two in cahoots?

HHH says on Smackdown that he signed Punk on Monday

[XL]

I'm very pleased with your thoughtfulness there, Hasney. I am currently resisting going into the SmackDown Spoiler thread so I'd have been mildly annoyed if you'd have just blurted it out right there.

[Shisen Kopf]

It's pretty obvious there's gonna be a ladder match at summerslam. This is so the recycled Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon feud from 94. But I gotta admit Punk coming back was cool but it woulda been better if he had used Color Me Bad instead of living colour. Bitchin group they was!

[Mr. Nerfect]

Punk is the hottest thing the company has had in years and some of you want to keep him off TV and off Summerslam?

Exactly this. If Punk appeared at indy shows for four months, people would say that it's dragging out, or that it's obviously too "worked." The WWE just cut the crap, Punk signed a new contract (either you can love that the real WWE Champion is back, or call him a sell-out for signing back so quickly), and we get a huge SummerSlam main event.

Everyone is being so fickle about this. Just enjoy the awesomeness of Punk being the hottest thing in wrestling right now. I'm so curious about what the WWE could do at SummerSlam. Do they have Punk win the WWE Title with assist from Triple H, The Rock or even Colt Cabana? Do they have Triple H screw Punk? Do they even do the long-fabled "Cena heel turn," since they have this white-hot entity that can take over as the anti-hero against him? Cena vs. Rock would work with Cena as a heel, wouldn't it? It also builds to an even bigger Cena vs. Punk match down the track.

In conclusion: The WWE is actually doing something interesting. Stop whinging.

[The Jayman]

http://www.thenutritionpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/baby-crying.jpg

[#BROKEN Hasney]

I know it's been used to settle exactly this dispute before, but we have to remember that SummerSlam is coming off Money in the Bank. I honestly don't think they'll have a ladder match at SS.

Not that I'll be complaining if they did, I bet that would be fantastic.

[Mr. Nerfect]

They don't need to have a Ladder Match. Punk and Cena is a match that will sell itself based on just what these guys are fighting for. They don't need any frills or gimmicks to add anything to it.

Personally, I'm liking (more and more) the idea of Triple H screwing Punk at SummerSlam. The idea being that Triple H signed Punk to a new contract, but it was strictly business, and he absolutely loathes Punk and the things he has said about Vince, himself and what he did to the WWE Champion. Cue CM Punk saying that he wants Triple H to get in the ring with him, but The Game saying those days are behind him, and there's so much riding on his new position as WWE CEO that he can't afford to shake the faith of the stockholders. Basically, Triple H "hides" behind his position in the company while Punk tries to do everything in his power to get Triple H to sign for a wrestling match between the two (ideally at WrestleMania). Essentially, Punk gets a rub as an anti-hero and the new "Cerebral Assassin" in a way.

You can then get mileage out of Cena saying he never meant to screw Punk, and he wanted to beat him honourably. Del Rio comes out and tells Cena that Daniel Bryan is not the only man in the WWE with honor, and he announces that he'll be challenging Cena for the WWE Championship at Night of Champions. At that event, CM Punk makes his presence felt in the main event, and costs Cena the match and the title. Punk justifies his actions by saying "Cena screwed him, so he screwed Cena -- they're even." Cena doesn't think so, and wants CM Punk at Hell in a Cell. Punk agrees, because then "I'll get to prove I'm better than you, Cena, and the Cell will at least keep Triple H out of my matches."

At HIAC, Punk wins cleanly. This is to lend his "Best in the World" character steam. Elsewhere on the show, Del Rio retains the WWE Championship against John Morrison or something. Also, Orton beats Christian in a blow-off to their feud (Night of Champions sees Christian retain against Sheamus).

Vengeance has Punk getting another shot at Alberto Del Rio. Punk suspects that Triple H will get involved, but he tells Punk that he won't because it's bad for business at that point, and besides, Punk is too broken down after Hell in a Cell to beat Del Rio. There, Triple H does screw Punk again, helping Del Rio retain the WWE Title.

Basically, you just build to Triple H vs. CM Punk at WrestleMania.

[Kane Knight]

Of course, had WWE kept him off tv for a couple months, 'til, say, Survivor Series or something, those SAME fans who are now saying WWE should've waited longer to bring him back, would've criticized the WWE for NOT bringing him back...

...that's how it is...

...if you stick it in, they yell...and if you take it out, they wail...

You mean the same guys who weren't satisfied with CM Punk being a champion and thought he was being buried and misused?

Nah. They treat WWE's plans fairly.

[Malfeitor]

That would be like Austin winning the KotR and saying Austin 3:16 just whipped your ass and then taking 4 months off. No one would give a shit when he got back and he'd get shuffled to the bottom of the deck just after breaking through.

This. Strike while the iron is hot.

[tjmidnight420]

I still say they could've kept him hot without Raw, and without bringing him right back. From his promo he wasn't too interested in working for doofus either. Just hope they don't blow this one..

[Malfeitor]

Well, they just finished up the tournament to crown a new champion. If they were to keep him off TV, they never should've had the tournament. It makes sense for him to show up after Cena won the title, with Punk being the 'true' champion and all.

[captaincharismark]

Well, they just finished up the tournament to crown a new champion. If they were to keep him off TV, they never should've had the tournament. It makes sense for him to show up after Cena won the title, with Punk being the 'true' champion and all.

That sums up my thoughts on the Punk issue. Doing a tournament to crown a new champion means they are attempting to discredit his title. So from a storyline standpoint and a business standpoint it makes sense. To not have CM Punk come back and challenge the champion for an undisputed WWE Champion would be a waste of TV time. There's a disernable difference in building a anticipated return and blowing a huge opportunity.

Of course, whether he's back too soon or not, someone wouldn't be satisfied. Whatever their plans were, it peaked everyone's interest which is a mission accomplished in my book...