Ok so this past week, Cena came out and explained that Punk is taking a backseat to everyone else. Then he goes onto explain that CM Punk needs to beat Cena at NOC to define his career and truly become great. Okay....
#1. CM Punk has had a breakout year and is considered by millions to be the best wrestler in the world. He has been the WWE's most talked about superstar all year. I know Punk is a heel and he's trying to make Cena look like a hero, but how do they figure CM Punk has been in the backseat? With the exception of Wrestlemania, he's been the headliner.
#2. What makes this title defense so substantial? How is it any different from the other times Punk has defeated Cena over the past year? How does Cena figure that winning at NOC will define CM Punk's career? I just don't understand.
Anyway, the thing that really sucks is NOC takes place in Cena's hometown. And if you're a face, and you have a main event match in your hometown, you're going to win. For example, CM Punk won the WWE title in Chicago, the Rock beat Cena at Wrestlemania in Miami, let's face it, Punk's reign is over.
Let me give you an example of another situation. Back in the 90's there were 2 superstars that were either the main event or on the cusp of being the main event. I'm referring to Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart.
Hogan was the super hero, the face of the company, the backbone, and the guy that the fans knew, looked up to, and tried to emulate. By no means did his in ring work earn him the title of best wrestler in terms of wrestling skill, but none-the-less he was the epitome of the WWF.
Along came Bret Hart, who had some of the best in ring mechanics of any wrestler on the planet. He defined "wrestling ability" in terms of maneuvers, holds, and general mechanics inside the ropes. He didn't possess the same character ability that Hogan had, but Bret was by far a better "wrestler". The problem was that Hart always took a backseat to Hogan. Hogan was the one that sold out arenas. He was the one the fans came to see. Some fans wanted to see him win and others wanted to see him lose. He could play the character like none other.
Another example that you could also use would be Austin and the Rock. Rock was clearly the better wrestler, yet Austin was the better character. Austin's style of match was mainly kicking and punching with the cool finisher. He didn't put on great holds, or great athletics, but he didn't have to because his character carried the show.
In wrestling they're 3 traits that a person needs.
1. Wrestling Skill (which involves your athletic ability, stamina, wrestling knowledge, etc). It encompasses everything in terms of wrestling skill. Some are better than others. Anyone who came from the Dungeon had great skill, most Canadian wrestlers or collegiate athletes, etc.
2. Character (which involves your ability to create, mold, and act like a character. You have to be able to play the role so acting is a key. Speaking is another key component). Hogan, Austin, Rock, Cena, Jericho, Piper, etc. These guys had the character that entertained. Punk is comfortable on the mic as well.
3. Combining both to catch the audiences attention (which involves exactly what it says. The crowd has to be involved, they have to cheer or boo, they have to relate, they have to love or hate, they have to have an emotional response). Fans think that wins and losses matter, but in reality wrestling is fake, it's outcomes are staged, and it's entertainment. If you cheer or boo as a fan then you're entertained. Entertained is not defined as liking, but rather as having an emotional response. Cena, like Hogan and Austin could get more fans involved than any other superstar on the planet.
The Character that generates the most attention is always the main event because you have to think from a business standpoint. Who's the guy people are coming to see win or lose? It's always the character that draws the most attention. That was Hogan, that was Austin, and that's Cena today. It doesn't matter the feud, or the match. The only way Punk can main event, the only way for Hart to main event was to get rid of the current main event (Hogan, Cena). It was slightly different with Austin and Rock because for Austin to be the babyface main event the Rock had to be heel.
CM Punk has great in ring work, and a pretty good character, but he relates to an older demographic. He doesn't fit the mold of PG entertainment. As long as Cena is in the WWE he's always going to be the main event. This happens all the time from one wrestler to another and after Cena they'll be someone else. And as long as the WWE is PG they need a PG character to carry the ship. CM Punk is not PG, he's not something little kids will follow and that's the nature of the beast. Like it or not, Cena is that guy. The irony is that as long as people continue to watch, buy tickets, merchandise, complain, cheer or boo Cena then he's always going to be the main event and the WWE has done their job of entertaining you.
