6 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE Raw (Results & Review - 8 Jan)

1. Packing A Lot In

WWE loves its show-opening promos, but if they’re going to insist on continuing the trope, they might as well make it worthwhile.

Drew McIntyre’s rant, going from accepting responsibility for losing his World Heavyweight Championship match last week to denying it and then blaming every other superstar, was a Grade-A delusional promo, and that was before CM Punk decided to saunter out and take up a spot on the top turnbuckle in case Drew had anything to say to him.

McIntyre directed his vitriol at Punk, saying he wasn’t a leader a decade ago when a younger Drew could have used a veteran presence, and called him a demon and a narcissistic succubus, which might be a first for professional wrestling.

The two continued to spar, complete with Straight Edge Society references, and both insisted they’d win the Royal Rumble, giving fans another grudge between top-level superstars going into the eponymous match.

What really made this sing – in addition to two really excellent jobs from Punk and McIntyre – was how everything weaved together. In declaring he was going to win the Rumble, Punk name-dropped Cody Rhodes, reminding fans that they’re going to have to choose between favorites. He also told them in no uncertain terms that he’s not back in WWE to make friends, but to win championships, even saying that when he’s pushed, he’s “Satan himself.” And Drew continued his delusional spiral, making another enemy in the process.

As a result, Punk has another target on his back heading into the Rumble, and McIntyre has another built-in deflection and excuse for his next setback. And fans now have another match floating in their fantasy booking heads. Tremendous work from both men here to open the show.