You'd probably think I'm nuts. But I'm not going to just say it without giving any reasons. Lets start with what we can see. Austin Aries is a noted body builder. However, that's not a really known fact about Punk. In terms of their looks, Austin has a small body but has a heavyweight build. Punk on the other hand is slender. It may not mean much, but Punk's build has caused problems in the past. At one point an unknowing guard would not let the WWE Champion into the locker room area not believing he was one of the wrestlers. On the other hand, Austin Aries appeared on a show during his first run as ROH Champion where a guard had escort him out to make sure he wouldn't hurt a pair of fans. He did anyway.
I wouldn't suggest for a second that I think you're nuts, but I do think you are wrong in this instance. I guess I pretty much have to concede that Austin Aries has a better physique than CM Punk, but in response to that, I say, so what? Physique is such a small percentage of the overall picture in terms of success in profess all wrestling, and getting over with the fans. If it were more significant, Rob Terry would be TNA Heavyweight Champion, and Samoa Joe would be unemployed or at least, out of the professional wrestling business. Aries may have a better physique than Punk, but that's pretty much irrelevant.
Onto their in-ring personas. Punk is cynical and sarcastic. Most of his promo's work on berating and belittling people. Or by breaking the 4th wall via his shoots. Austin on the other is, well also sarcastic and cynical. The difference lies in that touts on his natural athletic ability and cockiness. When Punk plays a heel, he has to belittle them whether its about being treated without respect or saying he's better due to his beliefs as a Straight-Edge person. Austin just antagonizes however he can.
CM Punk's current character is cynical and sarcastic, but he has displayed in the past that his character can function effectively from a number of perspectives. And he has displayed such diversity of character and in mic skills on the grandest stage of them all, whereas Aries has displayed a reasonably similar sarcastic cocky guy in the Impact Zone, full of the smarkiest fans in the world. When Aries tried to show a little more diversity in terms of going face, it didn't seem to be as well received by the fans, and he's right back to being the cocky arrogant heel again. Didn't Aries spend a little time in the WWE? How did that work out for him? Not to turn this into a WWE versus TNA thing, but Punk has proven his diverse abilities on the biggest stage of professional wrestling, whereas Aries has shown a more limited repertoire on a smaller stage. Advantage, Punk.
Backstage, Punk lingered in turmoil for a few years. People say it's because WWE did not know how to use him, but lets be honest. That basically fits anyone debuting after the death of WCW. Austin on the other hand, rose to the top of TNA in one year. It wasn't by shoot promo's or expressing his unhappiness. He simply went out, performed and impressed. I get that WWE and TNA are totally different on this regard, but it's still something worth comparing. Punk is known to hold a grudge. He hates TNA for circumstances that were outside their control, built his current stature by calling out WWE's current issues on TV. Austin on the other hand isn't much to talk about in the backstage department. He never had to rely on teetering on the 4th wall or berating TNA to get to his spot or such.
Rising to the top of TNA, though, is nowhere near the accomplishment of doing so in WWE. It took Punk longer because he had far more opposition to his ascension, both from a physical and a political standpoint. Aries has risen to near the top of an organization that is only marginally better than an Indy promotion. And he has yet to display longevity even here. Punk has done so in the big leagues, and he has stayed there, and there doesn't seem to be anything to suggest that this is about to change.
And it is incorrect to suggest that Punk's flirtations with the 4th wall are the only reason for his success. Lots of guys do this, and it just so happens that Punk does it better than lots of other guys. And he does it better than Aries too. But he does far more than simply toe the line between reality and kayfabe, and it is shortsighted to suggest otherwise.
I'm not trying to say Austin should be seen on a higher standard than Punk. Punk did come first and did everything first. But from this side of the looking glass, I see and believe Austin is superior to Punk. He's faster, stronger, dresses better, has a better build and in my eyes, is superior on the mic. Austin may be on a smaller plateau in TNA, but I still see him as a better all around package. He may not have wrestled the likes of John Cena, Triple H or Randy Orton in spectacular matches, but we've seen him deliver with people near such levels in Jeff Hardy and Samoa Joe (I name him due to Punk's seeming infatuation with him).
A totally biased perspective from an admitted TNA mark. That's not a bad thing, but it is a fact. But you need to look beyond your TNA blinders and look at the facts.
Faster? Says who? Stronger? Debatable. Dresses better? Who cares. Their characters are different and obviously dress differently. A better build? I'll give you this one, but it's irrelevant anyway.
Sure, Aries has beaten the likes of Jeff Hardy and Samoa Joe, but what were you saying earlier about the significance of physiques? If Aries is to be given the nod because he has a better body, it shouldn't be that big of a deal that he is able to beat an undersized Hardy or an oversized (and I do mean oversized) Joe. You cannot have it both ways.
Simple fact of the matter is, Austin Aries is a really good performer who has done well in TNA. He's got a good look, is competent in the ring, and handles the mic well, there's no doubt about it. But he's simply nowhere close to even being in Punk's league, and that is indisputable. Now if he were to come to WWE, assert himself physically and verbally, going over bigger and more established names and thereby forcing his way into the main event in the process, then maybe there's something to discuss. But as long as he remains in the upper mid card in the second place organization in the much smaller venue, there's really not much to discuss.
What were you saying earlier about curb stomping?
