5 Ups & 4 Downs from WWE Raw (12 May - Results & Review)
1. The More He Talks…
Seth Rollins has had his moments on the microphone, but he’s never been regarded as one of the strongest promos in the business. Things get dicey when contrasting him against some of the best on the stick, and it gets worse when that comparison happens in the same segment.
CM Punk opened Raw and gave a strong account of why he’s mad at himself for trusting Paul Heyman before the Wise Man, Rollins and Bron Breakker interrupted him. Seth launched into an over-rehearsed bit about how Punk was selfish and the one to blame in the relationship between the Second City Saint and Heyman.
Rollins delivered a completely hokey “I believe you’re scum; I believe you’re trash; I believe you’re human excrement” line before saying he was mad that Punk was the reason Seth wasn’t World Heavyweight Champion at that moment…
And then Punk cut him off with a sharp “You ain’t ever gonna be world champion as long as I’m on two feet.”
Just like that, with a throwaway line, Punk showcased the gulf between the two of them. Rollins using “human excrement” in a completely unconvincing way in a parade of lines no person would use in real life, followed immediately by Punk sounding defiant and very real.
The Rollins-led heel group still has great potential and is an intriguing act, but the more mic time they give Seth to prattle like this, the more the luster is going to wear off the stable. You have one of the best promos in the business standing right there – hand the microphone to Heyman and let him work his magic.