TWJC: The Beginning
Royal Rumble Winner
K, so I'm not sure if this is in the right spot. Don't even know how much discussion it will generate given what it's about.
CM Punk had a pretty famous trilogy of matches against Samoa Joe. At least 1 had the accolade of "5 star match" from the observer for what it's worth. Essentially, 2 one hour draws and then a 3rd brutal match.
CM Punk has had 2 pretty awesome matches against John Cena, the first also getting the "5 star match" accolade from the Observer (again, for what it's worth).
In watching Punk vs Cena tonight I couldn't help but notice a TON of similarities between the two sets of matches.
Samoa Joe in ROH was essentially John Cena (except more movez lol says the ****** in the back). Joe was the face of the company, the champ, and an unstoppable force. Pretty sure he even said "the champ is here" as weird as that might be.
John Cena is the face of the company, the champ, an unstoppable force.
I know, I said MATCH similarities. Well if you go back and watch Joe vs Punk and Cena vs Punk, they're worked essentially the same. Punk comes in with a strategy and really tries for it. That strategy is to tire out the larger opponent and do a little bit more flying than usual. Against Joe that was a headlock, against Cena, it's working the ribs and solar plexus. Not only that but you also got what some people call "learned psychology".
An example of "learned psychology" from Joe vs Punk is that in the first two matches, Punk goes for a diving hurricarana off the apron, Joe catches him, then slings him into the guard rail. In the third match, Punk dropkicks him from the apron. In Cena vs Punk 1, Punk goes to suplex Cena in the ring, Cena being stronger he suplexes him to the outside. In Cena vs Punk 2, Punk is ready for Cena's counter and doesn't get suplexed to the floor.
Another similarity I saw were the layered counters. Joe vs Punk 1 would have a move done, then in Joe vs Punk 2 there was a counter, in Joe vs Punk 3 there was a counter to that counter. Cena vs Punk 1, Punk countered a lot of Cena's stuff. Cena vs Punk 2, Cena countered a lot of Punk's counters.
I realize that a lot of this stuff isn't all that uncommon with good storytellers who have series of matches, but the bare bones of "smart Punk vs unstoppable face of the company" stood out to me and so did the way the story of the match goes.
Like I said, don't know how much discussion this will lead to seeing as you would have both seen all 5 matches and actually picked up on the in ring story. Just wondering if anyone else noticed these things and what your thoughts are on it.
I guess in closing I will say that even though I think Punk's fans overrate him, he's fuckin awesome at telling a story when he's against the "unbeatable" face of the company.
CM Punk had a pretty famous trilogy of matches against Samoa Joe. At least 1 had the accolade of "5 star match" from the observer for what it's worth. Essentially, 2 one hour draws and then a 3rd brutal match.
CM Punk has had 2 pretty awesome matches against John Cena, the first also getting the "5 star match" accolade from the Observer (again, for what it's worth).
In watching Punk vs Cena tonight I couldn't help but notice a TON of similarities between the two sets of matches.
Samoa Joe in ROH was essentially John Cena (except more movez lol says the ****** in the back). Joe was the face of the company, the champ, and an unstoppable force. Pretty sure he even said "the champ is here" as weird as that might be.
John Cena is the face of the company, the champ, an unstoppable force.
I know, I said MATCH similarities. Well if you go back and watch Joe vs Punk and Cena vs Punk, they're worked essentially the same. Punk comes in with a strategy and really tries for it. That strategy is to tire out the larger opponent and do a little bit more flying than usual. Against Joe that was a headlock, against Cena, it's working the ribs and solar plexus. Not only that but you also got what some people call "learned psychology".
An example of "learned psychology" from Joe vs Punk is that in the first two matches, Punk goes for a diving hurricarana off the apron, Joe catches him, then slings him into the guard rail. In the third match, Punk dropkicks him from the apron. In Cena vs Punk 1, Punk goes to suplex Cena in the ring, Cena being stronger he suplexes him to the outside. In Cena vs Punk 2, Punk is ready for Cena's counter and doesn't get suplexed to the floor.
Another similarity I saw were the layered counters. Joe vs Punk 1 would have a move done, then in Joe vs Punk 2 there was a counter, in Joe vs Punk 3 there was a counter to that counter. Cena vs Punk 1, Punk countered a lot of Cena's stuff. Cena vs Punk 2, Cena countered a lot of Punk's counters.
I realize that a lot of this stuff isn't all that uncommon with good storytellers who have series of matches, but the bare bones of "smart Punk vs unstoppable face of the company" stood out to me and so did the way the story of the match goes.
Like I said, don't know how much discussion this will lead to seeing as you would have both seen all 5 matches and actually picked up on the in ring story. Just wondering if anyone else noticed these things and what your thoughts are on it.
I guess in closing I will say that even though I think Punk's fans overrate him, he's fuckin awesome at telling a story when he's against the "unbeatable" face of the company.
