Punk/Cena/HHH Eerily Similar to Austin/Michaels/Tyson?

amodernphoenix

Occasional Pre-Show
Anyone else think this whole Punk vs. Cena thing is coming off very similiar to the Austin vs. Michaels match at Wrestlemania 14 with Mike Tyson as the special referee? They made it seem like Mike Tyson was so against Austin and on the side of Triple H and Michaels, just before he double-crossed Michaels, did a fast 3 count for Austin and knocked Michaels out.

This was the match when Michaels first retired due to his back injury and they played it up that Triple H thought Michaels was so stupid for not seeing the doublecross a mile away. This is when Triple H really came into his own and took things over with DX.

Now, we are faced with a main event at Summer Slam where Triple H is the special referee and he seems so clearly in favor of Cena and against Punk. People have talked about a Punk-Triple H feud, but that's all speculation and in reality, they could team up to form a sort of new 'Corporation'.
 
The weird thing with this is he could go either way. For some reason, I get this sneaky suspicion that HHH will do something to Punk that will allow Cena to win, Cena won't take it and Punk will end up winning because of Cena's "I win cleanly" attitude.

Like Cena said, Punk needs the match more than he does. And in reality, he's right. Cena can lose and still be the top dog. If Punk loses, that is going to take a lot of air out of the balloon.
 
I was also thinking this.

I think that it will turn out to be that Triple H will give Cena a pedigree during the match.

Triple H said to Cena during their argument "What happens will happen because that's how I wanted it to." or something.
This may be hint.
 
My wife who is a very casual fan (she watches cause I watch certain shows with her), has even said Trips is setting up Cena for a big downfall at Summer Slam and I kinda have to agree with her.

Trips' reason will be "I had to do what's right for the business" Punk is molten steel hot right now, I mean listen to the crowd last night. Even the few times they booed Punk for things he said were better responses then Cena was getting and the cheers, the cheers man!!! The CM Punk cheers were almost deafening last night.

If Trips wants to define his era of running the WWE (even if only on screen at the moment), he'll need his antagonist and that's going to be CM Punk (Austin/McMahon but instead Punk/Trips).
 
My wife who is a very casual fan .... has even said Trips is setting up Cena for a big downfall at Summer Slam and I kinda have to agree with her.

If Triple H has any involvement beyond calling the match down the middle, it would seem that the event will be determining the future direction of his character as well as who's going to be the undisputed champion. If he's going to be an evil administrator, we'll find it out at the PPV.

Then again, if he calls it down the middle, what's the purpose of having him referee the match in the first place?

Something's up, no? There's enough intrigue just between Punk and Cena. Now, this extra feature is tossed in. Great stuff.
 
It seems reasonable that HHH would side with Punk.

-Vince was let go after trying to get rid of Punk
-Punk was signed by HHH as it was good for business
-HHH has a background with DX that's sort of anti-company
-HHH could use this to spark a feud with Cena...
-Rumor has it that Dwayne might make an appearance for Summerslam...
 
Once HHH said he was going to be the special guest referee I immediately thought "Cena heel turn" but then reality hit in the last segment.

It was the things Punk did and said that had me thinking It's Punk not Cena who's turning. He lightly kicks Johnny Ace and when he was outside of the ring he said "that's how it's going to be, the fix is in" just felt like the fix is in because it makes sense because we've seen this before as in Austin vs HBK but a little reversed in which the match ref seems to be on the side of the company face not the company heel.

With the impending debut of Cobana and the are they aren't they debut from Kings Of Wrestling I do see Cena getting pedigreed and the next night on Raw Rey gets screwed in his hometown in front of all the lil Jimmy's thus making Punk the hated heel that everyone wants Cena to beat. And like Cena said Punk (the character) needs this match more than Cena and the last I heard anyone in the WWE with a good storyline say how they or the other needed the match was Austin vs Rock when Austin "needed" the match so bad he turned corporate to win.

But hey they could give us the swerve and have the match end clean.
 
Triple H will screw punk, cena will be unaware it happened and win the match. Example, Johnny Ace comes down whilst cena is out the ring, cena stops him in his tracks, meanwhile triple h pedigrees punk, cena comes back to ring and puts STF on punk who is out cold, trip rings bell.

Triple H explains next night that cena is the face of the company and needs to have the title (perhaps it was Vince all along, like the corporate ministry storyline!). Punk will have been screwed by possibly the best 2 heels of all time, Vince n hunter and he will then hopefully be over as much as Austin. The only flaw in my theory is where does it leave cena, he hasn't turned heel yet he is the undeserving champ, but that flaw doesn't matter because no matter what cena does now he'll be cheered and booed. After his speech last night I don't expect a heel turn for a very long time yet, if ever.
 
I never really paid attention to the SCSA/Michaels angle with Tyson. But I like the research you've done here. I got into wrestling just a bit after the incident, though I clearly recall the replays. I'm very uneasy about this match on Sunday. It is going to be a nailbiter, but for some reason, I sincerely believe this is the match where ADR takes the belt. I don't see Cena or Punk walking out with the title, sorry guys.

As for H's involvement, I strongly suspect he is going to screw Punk to keep the status quo. He can say he wants to stay in business where he is and not end up without a job, ala Vince. Keeping Cena on top has been the aim of the company for 6 years now. If they're going to play this right and not make H a distinct heel for the millionth time, he'll call it right down the middle and be impartial to both guys. Laurinitis interference, anyone?

One last thing.If Cabana is going to make an impact upon his return, it has to be big, so I suspect it will be at Summerslam, in defense of Punk. If
 
Triple H will screw punk, cena will be unaware it happened and win the match. Example, Johnny Ace comes down whilst cena is out the ring, cena stops him in his tracks, meanwhile triple h pedigrees punk, cena comes back to ring and puts STF on punk who is out cold, trip rings bell.

Triple H explains next night that cena is the face of the company and needs to have the title (perhaps it was Vince all along, like the corporate ministry storyline!). Punk will have been screwed by possibly the best 2 heels of all time, Vince n hunter and he will then hopefully be over as much as Austin. The only flaw in my theory is where does it leave cena, he hasn't turned heel yet he is the undeserving champ, but that flaw doesn't matter because no matter what cena does now he'll be cheered and booed. After his speech last night I don't expect a heel turn for a very long time yet, if ever.

Punk still isn't there yet in terms of where Austin was when he WASN'T a title holder.

What Cena said is reality: Punk has to win more than Cena does. Cena loses, he'll still be the face of the company. Get the pop/boos, etc.

Punk loses, I think his momentum goes down the toilet.
 
I could almost see HHH calling it fairly, but pushing both guys around and in the end throwing the whole match out and calling for a rematch the next night on Raw. This would screw over Mysterio again (which let's face it, that's kinda funny) and put over HHH as fair and impartial and his rule strong, and HHH always wants to put over HHH as top dog.
 
Punk still isn't there yet in terms of where Austin was when he WASN'T a title holder.

That couldn't be more true. Austin was nowhere near as over in 1998 before his first title. He was only 2 years removed from the Ringmaster nonsense and he spent those 2 years feuding for the Intercontinental title. You're allowing his later prominence to shade your recollection of his earlier career. Austin was popular pre-1998, but nothing like the popularity Punk has now. It still remains to be seen if Punk is able to take things to the next level as Austin did.
 
This would be a Russo worthy swerve. Why would HHH screw Cena when he's the reason (kayfabe) he has a job? HHH took over because Vince was going to fire Cena and he dropped the ball on keeping Punk signed. Punk needs a win (considering he's been pretty well screwed every time he was WHC) to solidify his credibility. Hunter's involvement is unwanted and leaves me wondering where they're headed with it.
 
I doubt it will be as elaborate and "conspiracy theory" as everyone is making it out to be. WWE seems to be riding the wave of the almost exact split in the audience support of Punk and Cena.

That's the problem with the current era of wrestling. 98% of the time, there is a clear cut babyface and heel. And each role is determined by who the company chooses for you to cheer for. But look at the advantage of having 50/50. Would Punk's merch sales be through the roof if WWE was forcing Punk into heel tactics and allowing Cena to come squelch the evil of Punk? No. And if Cena went heel...well, WWE would be without it's top selling merch vehicle. Is a heel necessary? I think it helps give people someone to root for. And by placing all of the heel heat on Triple H, it continues to give the audience space to choose between Punk and Cena...which is pretty brilliant if you ask me.
 
Tyson did not do a fast count on HBK. He was supposed to cheat for HBK but he did not. He called it fair and square in the ring and that is what pissed Shawn off and that is why he got punched.

Anyway, I cannot see HHH siding with Punk. Punk's selling point in this feud has been to get the crowd on his side despite being a totally different to Cena. Siding with HHH would make him a full fledged heel and would in turn kill his heat. It would make him an opportunistic heel just like everyone and kill the uniqueness of his character. Punk's character is that of a rebel and that is why he is getting cheered. And rebels do not side with authority figures. Besides, Punk has already beaten Cena clean once. He should certainly feel confident about his chances. And if there is something that Punk does not lack, it is confidence.

I can see something like this happening. HHH will knock Punk down with the sledgehammer and ask Cena to pin him. Cena will refuse and badmouth HHH. Trips will then knock Cena down as well and throw Cena on Punk and make the count. That way the only person turning heel after Summerslam will be HHH and that is how it should be. Someone needs to be a heel in this angle but niether Punk nor Cena can be one without killing their heat. The only one who can do it is HHH.
 
I disagree it is like Tyson and Michaels because that was the be-all end-all. If it failed, the WWF would've sunk but, look when it succeeded. 'Nuff said.

But, I agree something will happen. On Raw, Triple H's speech at the beginning, no matter how boring and repetative it was, gave me the impression he was going to choose someone and screw them. The words he was using and the sentances like "Only one man can make that decision" or on those lines. To me, the way he said it, he already know who will win (AND YES, I AM NOT DUMB, I KNOW IT IS SCRIPTED) but in the WWE world, he has chosen a side.

I hope it is with Cena, so Punk can come back and kick The Game's Punk ass and Cena's Punk ass, just in time for The Rock to kick Cena's Punk ass, then for Hollywood to kick The Rock's Punk ass out of Hollywood because he is crap.
 
If HHH sides with Punk it makes Punks whole face run look stupid. He trashed HHH and his Wife and he trashed the whole family. If history has shown us anything, at the end of the day the McMahons always end up staying together.

While I'd like to see Cena the leader of a new "corporation" with Punk playing the new "Austin" I doubt Vince has the balls to pull it off even though it makes sense because the WWE universe is basically begging to give us the Edgy Cena back.

Cena is a big enough star now that if he turns heel and it fails he can easily transition back to being the company man he is now. There is really no risk at all. I honestly feel like if they do go that route that Cena will even be more popular than he is now and the rest of my IWC friends wont be so upset if he does go back to being the company man because at least they tried something new with him.

I don't have a prediction for this because I do NOT think it is similar to Michaels/Austin. I am going to give credit where credit is due and say WWE officials have done pretty well with this aside from bringing Punk back too soon, for once we can say without a doubt we are NOT sure what is going to happen with this.

However if Cena wins with no catch to it, I RIOT.
 
Tyson did not do a fast count on HBK. He was supposed to cheat for HBK but he did not. He called it fair and square in the ring and that is what pissed Shawn off and that is why he got punched.

Anyway, I cannot see HHH siding with Punk. Punk's selling point in this feud has been to get the crowd on his side despite being a totally different to Cena. Siding with HHH would make him a full fledged heel and would in turn kill his heat. It would make him an opportunistic heel just like everyone and kill the uniqueness of his character. Punk's character is that of a rebel and that is why he is getting cheered. And rebels do not side with authority figures. Besides, Punk has already beaten Cena clean once. He should certainly feel confident about his chances. And if there is something that Punk does not lack, it is confidence.

I can see something like this happening. HHH will knock Punk down with the sledgehammer and ask Cena to pin him. Cena will refuse and badmouth HHH. Trips will then knock Cena down as well and throw Cena on Punk and make the count. That way the only person turning heel after Summerslam will be HHH and that is how it should be. Someone needs to be a heel in this angle but niether Punk nor Cena can be one without killing their heat. The only one who can do it is HHH.

You're very wrong and I'm guessing you only know what you read on internet sites. I watched it live and remember it well. He jumped in the ring and did a very fast one-two-three.

That said, I DO agree that someone will turn heel and it seems clear that it will be Punk and HHH. They're setting it up well. Punk will be the anti-heel that is booed but also respected, much like Austin was during the majority of his time on top. Fans who came into wrestling later don't realize that Austin was a heel for so long and only became a face because the audiance turned him. He was booked as a heel and got cheers for about a year and a half before the WWE changed the booking. Once that happened, he took off and at every live wrestling event, half the crowd (at least it seemed) was sporting a bald head and goatee. It wasn't like that before Austin's face push.

Scores of bald dudes around the world now wear their head shaved and a goatee because of Austin, whether they realize it or not. Few people were doing that prior to the late 90s, most just kept what hair they had left shortly cropped.
 
How about a Rey heel turn? His shtick is old.

We're forgetting something here and that is the business model could very well be starting to turn away from the prototypical heel/face approach, even though there are some that will be clearly defined... but there needs to "shades of gray," where people's reactions will be mixed.

I like the idea of HHH knocking both out with the sledgehammer, then placing one on top of the other (although I don't know if it's guaranteed it will be Cena) and counting that down.
 
Here's what I'm thinking.

It's a back and forth contest. CM Punk eventually pulls it off.

Then, Alberto Del Rio comes from the back with his MITB briefcase. Triple H, as ref, makes the quick count as ADR pins CM Punk.

Then, it's ADR vs Mysterio in San Diego and it will headline the Mexico tour for the fall.
 
Punk can't turn fully Heel.
If he turns heel then it will ruin the connection he has with the audience, he is pretty much over at this point. Punk needs to be a star, and he can't be a star if he's just another heel. So many people compare him to Austin, and Austin was face, so Punk should be too.


Cena is not over with the majority of the audience. I am kinda annoyed with his character at this point, he comes across as a bully, but he still preaches "Hustle Loyalty Respect" I ain't buying it for one second. Even my brother (who's a casual viewer) says Cena is 100% phony.


I wish this match would set up for some double turn, but judging by last night i doubt it'll happen since Cena is still pandering to his lame ass CeNation fans.
 
Tyson did not do a fast count on HBK. He was supposed to cheat for HBK but he did not. He called it fair and square in the ring and that is what pissed Shawn off and that is why he got punched.

Anyway, I cannot see HHH siding with Punk. Punk's selling point in this feud has been to get the crowd on his side despite being a totally different to Cena. Siding with HHH would make him a full fledged heel and would in turn kill his heat. It would make him an opportunistic heel just like everyone and kill the uniqueness of his character. Punk's character is that of a rebel and that is why he is getting cheered. And rebels do not side with authority figures. Besides, Punk has already beaten Cena clean once. He should certainly feel confident about his chances. And if there is something that Punk does not lack, it is confidence.

I can see something like this happening. HHH will knock Punk down with the sledgehammer and ask Cena to pin him. Cena will refuse and badmouth HHH. Trips will then knock Cena down as well and throw Cena on Punk and make the count. That way the only person turning heel after Summerslam will be HHH and that is how it should be. Someone needs to be a heel in this angle but niether Punk nor Cena can be one without killing their heat. The only one who can do it is HHH.

I'm diggin this idea, HHH as a referee would not happen without something big going down in the match and HHH screwing Punk is the only thing I'd be up for seeing other than Punk winning the title. Your scenario is good because it means that Cena doesn't have to align with HHH or give any kind of impression that he would. This isn't likely how it is gonna go down but it's the ideal end to the match. HHH against Punk fully is a good way to further Punk's current character and keep his momentum going.
 
I think the best for all involved would be for HHH to screw Cena. Then go to high five Punk, only to have Punk GTS Hunter. Punk not needing the Game's help and going on with his hot streak.
 
Punk turning heel would be pretty disappointing. It would kill the rebel character and kill his momentum.

At this point with Cena vs Rock you're pretty much going to have Rock as the face no matter what.. why not make it official and have Cena screw probably the hottest face in a very long time.
 
Punk turning heel would be pretty disappointing. It would kill the rebel character and kill his momentum.

At this point with Cena vs Rock you're pretty much going to have Rock as the face no matter what.. why not make it official and have Cena screw probably the hottest face in a very long time.

Because WWE is in the business of making money. If Cena went heel, then the merchandise machine that is John Cena would be gone. Why? Because people who love John Cena buy all of his shit. ALL OF IT. And kids demand that shit, as well. Have you ever seen a kid at a WWE live event with JUST a John Cena shirt? No. They have to have the hat. AND the wristbands. AND the toy spinner belt.

And because there doesn't need to be a distinct babyface or heel. Let people decide. If people are given the autonomy to choose, it increases fan passion and likely beefs the audience level in general. People want to choose.

WWE doesn't want to just sell Rock shirts. They want to sell Rock AND Cena shirts. And you can bet your ass that they will.
 

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