With the Royal Rumble this weekend, this week’s Monday Night RAW did an admirable job of drawing intrigue. With Batista’s return, CM Punk’s drawing of the #1 spot in the Royal Rumble and appearances from Daniel Bryan, John Cena, Brock Lesnar and The Big Show, there was plenty of interesting developments this week.
Check out this week’s RAW Power Rankings to see who has the crowd buzzing on the first turn towards the Road to Wrestlemania.
Honorable Mention: CM Punk: His new feud with Kane and The New Age Outlaws is a bit misleading considering his angle with The Shield, but it’s still high profile enough to keep him near the top half of the card. Still beloved by the fans, like Daniel Bryan and John Cena, Punk doesn’t need gold to solid his presence on the roster.
5: Batista: The six-time World Heavyweight Champion spent more time playing to the crowd, but in the end, he let current WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton know very quickly that he has his eyes on winning the Royal Rumble, the WWE title and a spot headlining Wrestlemania. Later in the show, Batista also let Alberto Del Rio know that he’s well aware of the Mexican Aristocrat’s hatred of him, squashing that problem with a Powerbomb.
4: John Cena: He sure took his time doing it, but with just minutes left in the show, Cena proved he’s ready to reclaim the WWE title at Royal Rumble.
3: The Shield: While their miscommunication over the past months or so has been well-documented, The Shield were in unison in the ring against both the Intercontinental Champion Big E. Langston and the WWE Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes and Goldust. With the Royal Rumble this weekend, you can expect big things from the trio, even if it is the end of the faction. All three have excellent potential and this Sunday could be the beginning of one of their careers as a singles star.
2: Randy Orton: He’s a spoiled brat and you hate him, but that’s exactly what the WWE wants you to do. Orton may not be the best WWE Champion ever, but he’s certainly not overrated and he’s a top-notch performer. His match with John Cena at the Royal Rumble will be solid and although he’s still not the presence on the mic his father was, he’s still one of the most valuable assets the company has. More than anything this week on RAW, Orton proved once again that he can work with the best in the company.
1: Daniel Bryan: Even though he didn’t perform this week, Bryan’s entrance and promo proved he’s still the top face in the company right now. The World Title may not be in his sights right now, but his feud with Bray Wyatt is one of the best in the company.
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