The CM Punk-Kevin Nash segment on Monday’s RAW generated a somewhat modest ratings uptick given its position on the show, and it failed to meet the approval of Chris Jericho.
Yet for many backstage, it was a very big deal.
According to F4WOnline.com, younger WWE Superstars were glued to the monitor for this segment, silently rooting for Punk, who they indeed view as a “voice of the voiceless.” Punk, now viewed as over with the crowd and given significant leeway for his on-air promos, is able to get away with saying things that virtually none of the non-veteran talent could dream of saying on live television.
There is a prevailing opinion that the segment was largely unscripted, with F4W speculating that both men likely felt they were up for the challenge of being the other in a back-and-forth promo battle. While neither necessarily won the crowd over (certainly not in a way that would drive significant business interest), the feeling is that Nash came in unprepared for such a battle, hoping that lines burying Punk for his indy background and size would rattle the red-hot Superstar.