Last night's Monday Night Raw emanated from CM Punk's hometown of Chicago. This past summer's
Money in the Bank pay-per-view notwithstanding, WWE typically
makes a point of embarrassing their wrestlers when in their
hometowns. At the top of the show, however, the promotion looked to
be taking a different approach, letting Punk confront John
Laurinaitis and even earn the potential opportunity to face the
Interim General Manager in a match later in the evening.
The idea of the WWE Champion wrestling
four matches in one night, one right after the other, had a
distinctly old school feel to it - reminiscent of the territory
days and 60-minute 2-out-of-3 falls broadways. Best of all, by
letting the heavily tattooed guy in baggy shorts be the guy doing it,
WWE managed to effectively meld the nostalgia and change impulses
that comprise the core of Punk's character and appeal. A well-done
segment all-around.
