7 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE Raw (27 Nov - Results & Review)
The Punker returns, Orton tangles with Judgment Day, Cody refocuses, Creeds ascend.
If your entire enjoyment of WWE Raw hinged on CM Punk delivering a vintage promo that picked up right where he left off in January 2014 – or even August 2023 – then you probably waited three hours to be pretty disappointed.
But fans who tuned in willing to go along for the ride and to see what else WWE had to offer Monday night likely came away happy. They saw Punk go an unexpected direction with his first WWE promo in nearly a decade. They also saw Cody Rhodes try to get his story arc back on track after months of feuding with the Judgment Day, only to get sidetracked again.
Drew McIntyre continues to be one of the most intriguing characters in WWE these days, which elevates several of the superstars who interact with him. Randy Orton’s return was handled well overall as the company eases him back into the rotation after 18 months away due to injury. And the Creed Brothers had another standout moment as they continue to impress since their call-up.
On the flip side, a returning tag team fizzled out in under 120 seconds, while it’s looking like WWE is intent on giving Miz another shot at the Intercontinental Championship after Saturday’s match under-delivered.
Overall, this was a good effort, bolstered by its returning stars, its blue-chip rookies, and charting a path to WrestleMania for one of its biggest babyfaces.
Let’s get to it…