7 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE Raw (27 Nov - Results & Review)

1. ‘I’m Home’

CM Punk’s first promo back in WWE after nearly 10 years is going to be dissected by every analyst, armchair critic and social media influencer out there, but perhaps the most notable thing isn’t just the words he uttered, but the vibe he created.

Punk went pure babyface in his return, talking about how he’s “home” in WWE and how everyone backstage was happy to see him. It was the exact opposite of what fans likely expected from him – and that very well might have been the point.

He told the crowd that the truth was that he was home in WWE, that it’s “where I belong.” He thanked the fans who continued to chant his name and never forgot him. He steered clear of any references to why he actually left and took some gentle swipes at those who might not be happy to see him back because he threatens their spot as the “best.”

The promo delivered the pure babyface vibe it needed to while leaving a lot of leeway for him to go in any number of directions. He can continue as the virtuous, returning hero for a while… until he pulls the rug out from under fans and veers off into a hypocritical heel. Happy-go-lucky Punk is not a real thing.

It’s an intriguing start to this second act in WWE for Punk, especially given how the first chapter ended. Fans wanting a pipebomb were probably confused, while modern WWE fans likely loved him praising the company. But with Punk, things are rarely as simple as the words on the page. People are going to have to read deeper.