By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

C.M. Punk's return segment on the Monday, September 23 WWE Raw episode single-handedly boosted this week's Raw TV rating.

Punk's segment scored a 2.47 rating in the males 18-49 demographic. The next-highest rating was a 2.21 rating for a five-minute over-run, which contained the finish of the Team Bryan vs. Team Shield handicap elimination match.

Looking only at the regular portion of Raw (non-over-run), the next-highest-rated quarter-hour was the opening segment, which scored a 2.04 rating.

Raw Quarter-Hour Stats (for m18-49 demo):

- Punk's 2.47 rating was the highest-rated Q9 segment (top of the third hour) in one month and second-highest-rated of the last two months.

- The 2.21 over-run rating was the lowest since July 29. Last week's over-run rating was a 2.65 for the finish of Daniel Bryan vs. Roman Reigns one-on-one, plus a post-match angle involving the babyface roster "making the save" for Bryan.

- The start of the handicap elimination match scored a 1.78 rating in Q12, which was the lowest-rated Q12 in three months dating back to June 24. The rating was dragged down by two full commercial breaks.

- Raw scored a below-average 1.89 rating at the top of the second hour for the Miz TV segment involving Miz, Stephanie McMahon, and Big Show. This was the lowest-rated Q5 since July 29.

Raw Quarter-Hour Break Down (m18-49 demo)

- OVERALL: 1.90 rating / 1.197 million viewers.

- Q1: Raw opened with a 2.04 rating for Triple H and Stephanie McMahon addressing the roster, then booking the 11-on-3 handicap match main event.

The segment peaked with 1.491 million viewers at 8:10 p.m., which was the most-watched minute of the first two hours.

- Q2: Raw dropped to a 1.78 rating for the first-half of World champ Alberto Del Rio vs. Kofi Kingston, plus two full commercial breaks.

- Q3: Raw was about the same with a 1.79 rating for the finish of Del Rio-Kingston, one commercial, and backstage segments.

- Q4: Raw fell to a show-low 1.62 rating for the Prime Time Players vs. Wyatts and two full commercial breaks affecting the rating.

- Q5: Raw scored a 1.89 rating at the top of the second hour for Miz TV, plus one commercial.

- Q6: Raw slipped to a 1.84 rating for Randy Orton vs. Rob Van Dam, plus one commercial.

- Q7: Raw increased to a second-hour-high 1.92 rating for an Orton-RVD post-match angle, Stephanie and A.J. Lee backstage, other backstage segments, and two full commercial breaks.

- Q8: Raw fell to a 1.74 rating for Santino vs. Fandango, plus one commercial.

- Q9: Raw popped to a 2.47 rating for C.M. Punk's return, Paul Heyman promo exchange, and Ryback brawl. There was no commercial break during the segment, similar to Q1.

The segment built from 1.330 million viewers at the top of the hour to a peak audience of 1.694 million viewers at 10:12 p.m. as the brawl unfolded. The segment blew the rest of the show out of the water, averaging more than 1.5 million viewers from 10:04 to 10:14 p.m.

- Q10: Raw dropped to a 1.69 rating for the "comedown segment" of Team A.J. Lee vs. Team Total Divas and two full commercials.

- Q11: Raw jumped to a 1.96 rating for Daniel Bryan's pre-main event promo, the Rhodes Brothers attacking The Shield, one commercial, and the start of the handicap main event.

The Rhodes attack popped the quarter-hour rating, registering a peak audience of 1.515 million viewers at 10:35 p.m. before Raw cut to break.

- Q12: Raw fell to a 1.78 rating for the meat of the main event, plus two full commercial breaks.

- Over-Run: Raw finished with a 2.21 rating for the finish of the main event. The segment peaked with a pedestrian 1.436 million viewers when Raw went off the air at 11:04 p.m.

Caldwell's Analysis: Punk vs. Heyman is a clearly-defined, singular feud centered on two compelling, strong characters. It drew a big audience this week. On the other hand, the Daniel Bryan & Team Babyfaces vs. the Kinda-Heel Power Couple storyline is a mess, which produced an odd 11-on-3 main event featuring interchangeable, emasculated babyfaces alongside the most-recent WWE champion, Daniel Bryan, whose character is in a delicate position right now. The result was a lukewarm reception for this week's main event.

[Torch art credit Travis Beaven (c) PWTorch.com]

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