CM Punk: Year Long Title Reign

[Midnite Express 2009]

Quietly, CM Punk has held the WWE Championship for a little less than seven months now, winning it on November 20, 2011. Nobody really is making noise about this, stating that his title reign has now surpassed the half year mark and that maybe he could go the distance and keep it for a year. I know right now that he doesn't have many people to feud with but his current program with Daniel Bryan is pretty interesting. My question is, can Punk do just that, go the distance and keep the belt for a complete calender year? If so, what would this say about the WWE Championship and more importantly, about the trust that the company has in Punk carrying the belt for an entire year.

On a side note, since November, the World Heavyweight Championship has changed hands 3 times with Mark Henry, The Big Show, Daniel Bryan and now Sheamus all holding the title dating back to December 18 (Henry was the champion heading into the PPV that's why I'm giving him a reference here).

If Punk somehow loses the title (and I don't see a reason to take it off him now), who will it be to and when? Of course the last person to hold the title for over a year was John Cena who won it on September 17, 2006 & "lost" it on October 7, 2007. So what will it be, going the distance or falling short for Punk's current title reign?

 

[WrestlingGod101]

Punk will keep the title into after WWE 13 is release (Plus WWE doesnt wanna give the belt to Cena yet) but i gotta say his title reign sucked (And that's putting it nicely) best match by far was against Dbry. Punk having the title for a year will give him more bragging rights as "THE BEST IN THE WORLD" but IMO JBL title run was far better

 

[kingofkings01013]

Punk will keep the title into after WWE 13 is release (Plus WWE doesnt wanna give the belt to Cena yet) but i gotta say his title reign sucked (And that's putting it nicely) best match by far was against Dbry. Punk having the title for a year will give him more bragging rights as "THE BEST IN THE WORLD" but IMO JBL title run was far better

Have you watched his matches, included the PPVs. They have all been good to great. Most steal the show every night what more do you want.

 

[JabroniBeater81]

What if he lost it at the 364-day mark on Nov 19, which is a Monday? He can successfully defend it at Survivor Series Nov 18 in a brutal matchup and come to Raw battered and bruised, and either be defeated badly by a beast like Lesnar, or The Money in the Bank winner.

I think this could lead to two different paths: put Punk clearly back on the underdog chasing the title position on the road to Rumble/WM, OR have him start slowly turning bitter and back to tweener, which can open the door to a feud with Austin.

 

[SixMovesOfDoom]

Quietly, CM Punk has held the WWE Championship for a little less than seven months now, winning it on November 20, 2011...On a side note, since November, the World Heavyweight Championship has changed hands 3 times with Mark Henry, The Big Show, Daniel Bryan and now Sheamus all holding the title dating back to December 18...

I like the fact that both major titles are not changing hands as often as they were. It seemed kind of annoying to me that for awhile the big two belts seemed to be going between the same few people multiple times over the span of a few months.

I do not mind the occasional time period when the title seems to be hard for a wrestler to keep hold of, sort of like the upheaval that comes from the power vacuum of a deposed monarch. But when that is all we get, it can be a bit much. So I like it when we get the occasional longer reign or fewer title changes, as though the royal line were secured and stable. That's just me, but me nonetheless.

As a big fan of CM Punk, I hope he gets to that one year mark. If he doesn't, I would not mind Daniel Bryan being the one to end the reign. Although, as the announcers have mentioned increasingly that its been 14 years since Kane won the title, maybe he will win the triple threat and get the title next ppv.

 

[Harddyboy77]

I see Punk holding on to it until November the 19th. He then puts it on the line against someone. He wins, and celebrates that he has held the belt for a year. But then, the MiTB winner cashes in and beats him

 

[SportsNation2K7]

Punk will keep the title into after WWE 13 is release (Plus WWE doesnt wanna give the belt to Cena yet) but i gotta say his title reign sucked (And that's putting it nicely) best match by far was against Dbry. Punk having the title for a year will give him more bragging rights as "THE BEST IN THE WORLD" but IMO JBL title run was far better

Don't get me wrong CM Punk is the best ever but you do have to realize that there are only so many people punk can face. He's great on the mic and in the ring. What more can you ask for? JBL year long reign was great because he was a heel and everyone wanted to see him lose. Plus JBL was winning matches aganist Eddie, Big Show, Undertaker, Booker T, and Kurt Angle.

 

[avriltt234]

No i dont see it happening because at No Way Out i see Daniel Bryan wearing Punk down and then Kane comes in and hits both of them with chock slams and then walking away with the Wwe Championship.

 

[WrestlingGod101]

Have you watched his matches, included the PPVs. They have all been good to great. Most steal the show every night what more do you want.

I wanted a EPIC title run. He hit me with that pipe bomb and beat Cena at MITB left came back with the CULT OF PERSONALITY and i was jumping up and down like a kid again. Then what happens he loses to Cena (Can't blame him Vince booked it) Ok now what i'm begging give me something anything (A feud w/ Nash = no match A feud w/ Triple H = Loss) after that it was all down hill from there no pipe bombs no nothing it just didn't feel special anymore. He finally wins the title and the magic around it is just lost YES Punk put on good matches every ppv but being a champion is more than just good matches it's a feel a ora i'm just not feeling it w/ Punk anymore. Seem to me he became a VKM PUPPET

 

[WrestlingGod101]

Don't get me wrong CM Punk is the best ever but you do have to realize that there are only so many people punk can face. He's great on the mic and in the ring. What more can you ask for? JBL year long reign was great because he was a heel and everyone wanted to see him lose. Plus JBL was winning matches aganist Eddie, Big Show, Undertaker, Booker T, and Kurt Angle.

Don't get me wrong Punk is the best at what he does. From the pipe bomb to that rematch w/ Cena he was my favorite. After the lost idk he just isn't the same doesn't have the same ora around him. I think everyone agrees JBL run was better (That's not Punk fault i agree but facts are facts)

 

[Dagger Dias]

Having Punk hold onto the WWE Championship for a whole year would be a great idea. The title matches might not have closed as many shows as they should have, but it's been an enjoyable reign. I have in particular liked the matches against Jericho and Bryan. If they want to establish Punk as one of the permanent top guys, then having a year long title reign is one of the best ways to do it. Cena's year long title reign was phenominal for him, and it can benefit Punk too.

I don't see it happening, but I would like for it to happen. If he doesn't retain this sunday (odds are indeed against him), then I can see him losing to this year's Money In the Bank winner. Anything can happen between now and the 1 year mark, but a full 12 months would be really great for Punk, the title, and WWE as a whole. It has been the longest reign in 4 years, so why not take that extra step and have it be the longest reign since Cena's 2007-2008 reign that lasted beyond the 1 year mark? I hope it happens.

 

[daddyJ_t]

they need to have him keep it in order to build him further for the future. everybody talks bout jbl. what about hogans 4 year run? think is let him be beat in tag matches in order to build better fueds like with hogan. alot of hogans matches were tag , nontitle and he didnt have to defend it every month, but dude he held it for years and jbl had a similair run defending every other month. let him keep it the full year or 13-14 months. like him or not, that long as a run as that would help solidify the championship title and bring back come of the luster and pretiage to it

 

[Teddy Irving]

I would say Dolph Ziggler because he was already in the World Champion Picture back with Edge. Cody Rhodes only been a contender for the championship once which was Elimination Chamber

I think you are in the wrong thread bro! lol

That being said I reckon Punk will make it the full year and it will really give him bragging rights for his best in the world moniker. The longer he holds that title the more he backs up that statement. I don't think Kane will take the title at this ppv just because he was kind of thrown into this match (although it was done well and he has a reason to be in it), it seems that he is more focused on just hurting both Punk and Bryan where the other two are focused on winning/maintaining the title.

 

[Fansince1992]

CM Punk has been put into a Babyface like situation that doesn't really suit his image since he became WWE Champ. However he has done pretty well, and noone can say he hasn't worked his ass off to put on great matches against Del Rio (when he won the strap) Y2J, and DB. He has proved that he is worthy of his stint of almost 7 months as WWE Champ.

Don't get me wrong Punk is the best at what he does. From the pipe bomb to that rematch w/ Cena he was my favorite. After the lost idk he just isn't the same doesn't have the same ora around him.

I too wish CM Punk was a Rebel Champion. There have been signs of his Tweener Persona creeping back in. I guess WWE don't want that kind of Champion at the moment, but i think Punk could pull it off. Punk has had a lot to contend with while being Champion , he has played number 2 to John Cena pretty much all year (Cena is always The Last Match) He also hasn't had any other big names to Fued with (perhaps HHH and Nash) The Rock and Lesnar both were handed to Cena. Who knows perhaps Punk is being built as this Succesfull Babyface so he can slot into a much anticipated fued with perhaps the greatest Rebel of all time Stone Cold Steve Austin. (Babyface vs Rebel might just work and look better) Who knows maybe WWE are waiting for the Rattlesnake to give them an answer on a possible return, maybe they already know, who knows what go's on for real. I think if this is the case they will keep Punk Champion for the time being to further build him as a Babyface, then drop the title (IF) Austin comes back.

If what i just wrote about Austin is a load of crap and he never comes back i think Punk is going to lose the title at No Way Out to Kane or Daniel Bryan.

 

[y2grae]

I dont think you can blame punk, his matches and feuds have been booked lower than they should have been. yes you have rock/cena and cena/lesnar but even big johnny has had more of the stage than punk. And yes they should have kept punk as the man to rebel against him. Cena seems to forced as the obvious choice to win over the boo-men by going against "the man"

 

[Peep]

I wanted a EPIC title run. He hit me with that pipe bomb and beat Cena at MITB left came back with the CULT OF PERSONALITY and i was jumping up and down like a kid again. Then what happens he loses to Cena (Can't blame him Vince booked it) Ok now what i'm begging give me something anything (A feud w/ Nash = no match A feud w/ Triple H = Loss) after that it was all down hill from there no pipe bombs no nothing it just didn't feel special anymore. He finally wins the title and the magic around it is just lost YES Punk put on good matches every ppv but being a champion is more than just good matches it's a feel a ora i'm just not feeling it w/ Punk anymore. Seem to me he became a VKM PUPPET

He didn't lose to Cena, he lost to Alberto Del Rio.

----------

I don't see this happening. A lot can happen between now and Survivor Series. There's SummerSlam, there's the MITB case winner, and, hell, there's this month's PPV. I honestly wouldn't be shocked to see Punk lose the title in 11 days.

 

[XXJJ]

I cant see that happening. Raw ratings have been awful lately.. They are going to try something to shake it up a little. I can see either DB or Kane winning the title at No Way Out.

 

[berlinbrawler]

I expect Daniel Bryan to capture the title eventually. He's got a lot of momentum going and it would be a shame if he lost it. Much as I like Punk, Bryan is the guy I think needs to be champion soon. I don't think he'll last the whole year.

 

[Jerichoholic8894]

I see Punk losing the title on the 19th to MR Money in the Bank (Unless he's a face), or loses it in cheating fashion on the 18th (Survivor Series)

but the only way CM Punk loses it is if it's to DB at Summerslam or No Way Out IMO, Nobody deserves to take the belt off of CM punk right now.

 

[CMZombie]

Wade Barrett.

The man will return from injury some time in the next month or two and immediately go after Punk and the belt. Whether that is via Money in the Bank I don't know, but he was due for the push before his injury and I see no reason he wouldn't continue that.

This will set him up as a heel champ in time for a Rock return, giving Barrett a real push as a heel.*





*The last part is pure speculative fantasy.

 

[NINO990]

well i like punk good on the mic good in the ring but people saying he lost his spark now. i cant agree with that at first everybody wanted a good wrestler and someone who was entertaining on the mic we get that now everybody saying we are tired of him good grief iwc make up our damn minds at least he puts on good matches as far him on the mic there really has not been any need for him to drop anymore pipe bombs that aint his fault its the writers fault i would like to see him keep the belt if the writers knew what they was doing the could make more intresting feuds for him do that is not his fault

 

[DarkFlame]

Oh dear lord! How can anyone compare JBL's 280 day reign (Thats 85 days short of a year by the way) to Punks current run???? Were any of you actually watching WWE programming every week back then? JBL stunk the place up EVERY night! His in-ring skills were nothing short of abysmal and yes, he was good on the stick but, that's only because he was the kind of heel that everyone and anyone could hate? Who really does idolise a smirking, arrogant, rich bigot? Anyone could have had the heat he had using that gimmick, even Albert could have made that work for him! Anyway, I digress!

It's been a complete breath of fresh air to have Punk hold the strap past the half year mark. For me personally it gives the title it's validity if the titles not being chopped and changed between people every other month and I think Punk has built himself a fanbase that appreciates both his ring & mic work. Ok so his "pipe-bombs" have slowly but steadily lost their power but look at who he drops them on. Does anyone really care if he lets rip on Dbry or Kane or even Y2J? No! But when it's HHH/VKM/Nash/Laurinitus people listen and people get excited because even the most casual fan knows the dynamics of the situation. I think Punk could come down the ring wearing a dentists outfit and call Kane 'Isaac' but no-one would really care!

Shock & Awe tactics only have a limited shelf life but, honesty and a real connection with the fans can stand the test of time. How many Hogan marks still exist? He couldn't wrestle his way out of a paper bag but most of Canada still love him for reasons I can't comprehend! And no, I don't mean Hogan was honest lol

For me Punk could easily hold the strap for a year. Ok he'll probably need to be fed 1 or 2 higher ranked guys to feud with, maybe throw him in a match with Cena or even Orton once he's back from suspension between now & November just to help him seem more legitimate and not like a champ who's beaten a handful of 'nearly' men.

Whatever the outcome I think WWE are looking more long-term for Punk rather than the title. They have WWE 12 to promote with Punk being the face of said game, a possible feud with Austin leading to a match at Mania and then who knows? Simply looking at this long-term investment point of view I think Punk will hold the strap longer and in the process give as much of a 'rub' to the people holding up the glass ceiling as he can in the process. November seem's a likely time for the strap to change hands though because that's when all the pieces will start to fall into place to shape WrestleMania. Maybe Brock will destroy him for the title then feud with him until the Rumble when The Rock will win the rumble and challenge Lesnar at Mania??? Who knows, just being speculative there

Let's not forget that John Cena, while highly entertaining on the stick, has SUCKED! during every single one of his combined 1,165 days holding World titles! Yes, Cena has spent a combined total of over 3 years as a champ and even when he isn'e he's main eventing Raw every week!

 

[EssWhyDee]

I don't know if its me but I've been bored by both Sheamus' and punk's title reigns, its my opinion , maybe I just get bored easily..
However, I'd like punk to complete the full year for some reason. Maybe cuz he's on the cover of wwe 13, and the fact that we now know there will be an unveiling of a new title at the hands of punk.. good decision but is it hurting wwe more than it Is doing good?

Better option than del rio or jericho, but can't help to think they need a heel to be champ, like tna bobby roode, when he became champ, now hes such a credible champion with an interesting and meaningful title run. Wwe does trust punk to be that guy, so I wouldn't be surprised if he was champ for a year.

WH title needs to be back on henry, loved his run

 

[Midnite Express 2009]

Dark Flame asked who could have done the character JBL did, well, to answer your question, Ted DiBiase was doing it almost 15 years before JBL had the title, only difference is, Ted didn't have the belt. That being said, I don't really get why everyone's comparing Punk's regin to JBL, they are two totally completely different people, who are/were on two totally different shows and who are/were in WWE at two totally different times with two totally different set of opponents and challenges. If a comparison is to be done (and honestly I didn't ask for a comparison really), it would have to be John Cena's regin from 2006-2007, and that's just because of the level of popularlity between both & the length of the reigns.

I do think he'll keep the title, but may lose it right at the 364 day mark. It'd be a great way to further along a program or to even branch off to a feud with Austin, dropping it now makes no sense because the ratings drop has little to do with Punk and more to do with the dumb booking, the absence of Lesner and the ever & on-going John Cena being stuffed down our throats way of doing things. Keep it on him, why take it away now?

 

[Owen 3:16 says I just stole your Slammy!!]

Punk is the reason why wrestling is cool for me. Punk is entertaining, He can put on some great matches. he can talk great on the mic. The WWE ruined his mometum last year by putting him with Nash, but no match though. The WWE needs to stop being PG and get some balls again.