6 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE Monday Night Raw (10 November - Results & Review)

2. A Positive Promo Train And Impromptu Match?!?

Longtime readers know that two of the most reviled tropes WWE relies on are show-opening promo trains and impromptu matches made during the show. Throw in Triple H shining the spotlight on himself, and you have a trifecta of bile.

But Raw’s opening segment Monday night hit it out of the park because everything was done with purpose. Triple H opened the show to give a lengthy soliloquy about John Cena, praising him as the GOAT, checking all the boxes for greatness. This brought out Cena, who basked in the adulation from the hometown Boston fans and told them that he wanted to leave the business better than when he found it.

Before he could really say a proper thank you to Beantown, Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio interrupted, not to confront Cena, but to berate Hunter for “some deadbeat” (read: Rey Mysterio) interrupting his championship celebration last week. Just like that, Triple H’s presence had more purpose than just praising Cena (and sharing the spotlight). He was the authority figure being targeted by the heel champ – and who would get to crush his soul moments later.

Dirty Dom turned his attention to Cena, telling him to sit in the corner and not speak unless spoken to “or I’ll put you down.” Cena fired off one last, “Fine speech” before warning Mysterio that in Boston, he’s invincible and he can’t lose. Dominik put his foot in his mouth, and an impromptu Intercontinental Championship match was made official.

See, this is how promo trains and impromptu matches should work. They should be rare, and they should set up an actual huge moment, like a heel champion’s comeuppance to a hometown hero. The stars aligned nicely here in this opening segment, with an electric, raucous crowd providing a perfect – and at times, profane – backdrop.