7 Ups & 6 Downs For WWE Raw (21 July - Results & Review)

4. Before The Bell Rings

By this point, it should be no secret that the 2025 version of CM Punk is not the Punk of 2011, or even 2021.

But Old Man Punk heading into a shootout with the World Heavyweight Champion Gunther presents an intriguing matchup, one that could help rehabilitate the recent challenges the Second City Saint has faced.

Punk opened Raw by talking about being focused on winning the world title. Unlike the Punk of yesteryear, he did not promise victory against “one of the best wrestlers in the world,” but he vowed to not quit and give the fans “everything I have.” It was a departure from the cocksure Punk, a choice that could reveal a realization himself that his tank doesn’t run as deep as it once did.

Cue Gunther, who powered through the boos to note the similarities between the two: they aren’t here to make friends, they’re here to make money and win titles; they both claim to be the best in the world; and they both have massive egos. The difference is that Gunther’s ego is justified. Unlike Punk, the Ring General vowed that once the bell rings at SummerSlam, he will make Punk regret ever stepping in the ring.

It's a shame there’s only one more Raw before SummerSlam, because this could have been an interesting dynamic to explore with a grizzled Punk trying to match the World Heavyweight Champion’s intensity and confidence, or at least faking it until he makes it. But this was a pretty good opening between two pros on the mic. Whether the match lives up to the billing is something we’ll find out in less than two weeks.