WWE Monday Night Raw Preview: Can CM Punk Weather the Ratings Storm?

After WWE TLC 2011, fans of CM Punk, as well as the change he's called for, rejoiced as the pay-per-view delivered.  Then it was followed up with an above average episode of Raw, and many felt the winds of change blowing.

Alas, things aren't always as they seem when it comes to quality entertainment translating to ratings. In particular, the main event of last week's Raw fell flat on it's face in the ratings, pulling in a very disappointing 2.67.  

Although the blame can't be pinned directly on Punk, considering he was sharing the ring with five other men, it's not a strong start to his reign as WWE Champion when you look at the business side of things.

The question I would ask the puppet masters at WWE is a simple one.  Would the ratings have been all that different if it was John Cena as Champion, in an (overdone) six-man tag team match that wasn't going to have any real bearing regarding the storylines? 

I doubt that even John Cena would put that main event over the 3.00 mark.

Regardless, F4WOnline.com is reporting that WWE is flirting with the idea of putting the title back on John Cena, a quick fix that is becoming less and less effective as WWE's use of him as a crutch becomes more and more apparent. 

With WWE Monday Night Raw going down tonight in Chicago, Punk needs to tap into the hometown crowd and turn the tide.  It's far easier said than done, but if he can bring that electricity that we saw at Money in the Bank to Raw, he should see results.  

What the champ needs is a swift reminder to the WWE brass as to why they put the title on him in the first place to help him weather the ratings storm.

If the "It Begins" 1/2/2012 mystery man is a feud for CM Punk intended to take him to WrestleMania, I suspect that the ratings will be just fine in the early part of 2012. 

But has the damage been done in the case of CM Punk as WWE Champion?  

Even though history will show that my faith is misplaced, I believe that cooler heads will prevail and WWE will choose to keep the WWE Championship on Punk.  A strong showing in the ratings department certainly wouldn't hurt though.