Punk Suicide Angle Too Far?

[JGlass]

I didn't like it. I have no problem with the fact they did it on a PG show, that's not it at all. My problem with the suicide angle is that it's fucking stupid and it belittled how dramatic suicide really is.

First of all, what would killing himself really prove? How tough he was? How bad ass he was? How fearless he was? What kind of message is that to send to people? "The best way to prove your worth is by putting your life in horrible, imminent danger." Most viewers know better than this, but there are always idiots out there who imitate what they see on television. Now I know WWE puts dangerous stuff on television week in and week out, but RKO'ing your cousin on the garage floor is one thing, jumping off the roof of your house is another.

And more importantly, it's a huge slap in the face to people who have lost someone to suicide. A life-altering event for them was a joke to CM Punk and a gimmick used by the WWE. To even tease a wrestler being scripted to jump is insulting and idiotic.

 

[X]

I think people are overreacting a bit to this one, similar to how they overreacted about Jeff Hardy lighting up a smoke at Genesis this past Sunday. It's not like there was any actual chance of him jumping to his death. Of course, that brings us to the safety question, but I'll get to that in a minute, I'm focused on the apparent immorality of sarcastically threatening suicide. This wasn't like the exploitative Road Warrior Hawk angle when he supposedly fell off the Tron purposely, this was a heel going the extra mile to draw heat from the crowd by making such a dramatic entrance/promo. Punk's character has been about breaking taboos in wrestling before, first he talked openly about drugs, now he's talking openly about suicide. The important thing is that it's all a part of the show, the story you're creating for your fans to care about.

On the issue of safety however, this was a scary thing to do and obviously it isn't going to be a regular thing. I would hope to God that Vince had learned from his mistakes of setting people up in harnesses last time from Owen Hart.

As for whether this is "PG" or not...I don't really give a shit. It was entertaining as hell though, that's for sure.

 

[manstis1804]

Its extremely annoying that there always has to be some PG debate. Its either "PG sux everythings predictable", or "that wasn't PG! how irresponsible of WWE!" if they do something different. Fans of everything are so annoying.

 

[Heartbreak_Kid_707]

i personally loved it, as i really like anything Punk does...

No i didnt think he was gonna jump, but i was watching afraid something mistake might happen.

Some of you all say he was hooked with a proper harness unlike Owen?? So do you actually think they KNEW they were sending Owen out with a bad harness?? Of course not..they thought Owens harness was proper, just like before the promo they thought Punks harness was proper...They didnt know how it would end..They arent phsycic. it had the probibility to end just as bad as Owens...

None the less im still glad they done it...I loved it...

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Uh, the only thing to be upset about was how stupid the whole thing was. Why even do all that dumb shit talking up, and then have him do....Uh, nothing of any consequence? I was left with a "thats it?" feeling afterward. What a waste of time, the entire show. That was a serious oppurtunity to have this group looked at as something SERIOUSLY fucking crazy, say if he jumped behind the tron, supposedly falling (of course actually landing on a pad) and coming out unscathed later in the show....How fucking insane / creepy would THAT have been?

Instead, they do a night long angle which amounts to nothing.

 

[mrhexum]

it is all personal opinion here.... i thought it was just ho-hum... nothing too crazy

i would like to point out... yeh, the owen thing did cross my mind.... but they went out of there way to make sure they showed how safe punk was... even when he was back in the ring he was flaunting the harness.... obviously this stirred up the shit storm it was meant to.... but they did make a point to show that they were being extra careful with punk...and did so on purpose

 

[MMSoldier]

I don't think it was to far. I do think that it was a stupid thing that it acually happened. He could have done multiple other things instaid of this, but they had them do this. But, in their defence, i can see what they were doing by having punk on the titantron. He is the leader, so in his "mind", he had to do something bigger than the other members.

 

[Undying777]

Dos anybody else see this as a slap in the face to Jeff Hardy. Correct me if im wrong but didn't Jeff jump off the tron once or twice? I could be wrong.

I just watched the segment. I didn't find it inappropriate at all. Punk was never going to jump. They made all the safety procedures that Punk needed. I didn't hear the words suicide come out of his mouth at all.

I mean really what kid of movies or t.v do you guys watch? There are tons of pg 13 movies that exhibit worse subject matter. Anyways, I have seen a lot worse. lol

In fact, I thought it was a breath of fresh edgey air that we need every now and agin in this pg product.

 

[Freddy4190]

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to The Doctor again."

Yeah, this is incredibly stupid. That whole segment with Punk was incredible. He had the whole audience, and the IWC apparently, in the palm of his hand. They were into it, screaming "JUMP! FALL!" etc. I thought it was great. It shocked me to see him way up there on the Tron. His little speech was great, as usual. He never fails to amaze me. CM Punk is a kick-ass wrestler and nah, it wasn't 'too far'.

 

[Calderownz]

Personally, I'm not someone who finds things to go over the line, generally. It's not real, so it's only a character. In the longer run, the good guy comes out on top and generally everything is worked out.

With this particular issue, I did find myself thinking of Owen Hart for some reason. However, two totally different issues and Punk played to it in a different manner by making it a sacrifice and not trying to trick people into thinking that it had already happened.

I thought it was fine. I liked the camera work for the shots as well, so aesthetically, it was brilliant.

Good work, overall.

 

[Ferbian]

Why would you consider this going too far? After all it not only garnered a lot of attention, but it also brought CM Punk some heat by being able to mock everybody for being too stupid to realize the joke behind it. It got a reaction, which is something that all wrestlers should aim to get.

CM Punk is great to work the crowd, this segment managed to work the crowd and that's all that really matters. Sure some might have a point in it not being PG, but I'd hardly call it a 100% clean and obvious contemplating suicide segment. So I wouldn't say it crossed any boundaries, especially not if WWE let it go through, and there being no signs of any complains from sponsors like Mattel.

 

[radec]

it was a great angle pulled by punk and the initiations are real thing gangs use as initiation, they where putting real life events into the show just changed and it worked. Well the husky thing looked like slavery but w/e it caught eyes and gained cm punk alot of heat considering you would say that guy is crazy for initiations like that.

the suicide angle was well build and didnt break any PG standerds, Punk did it not as a initiatiom(hes the leader he dosent need 1) but to prove the fans that there mindless sheep that cant take care for themselfs and need some1 to guide theme like a shepard thats cm punk.

 

[ravensnest]

well daniel got fired for chocking i believe justin roberts with his tie so for wwe telling punk to do this is just ridiculous on wwe's part i just don't understand them anymore

 

[The Pizzaman]

I don't think the actual angle went to far as we all knew he would not do it but the fact of where he was made the event of an accident even more real. Sue he had a harness on and had people up there with him but still anything could have gone wrong. In storyline he mocked the entire universe by not going through with it but what if something had gone wrong and he did fall? It would be disastrous for the WWE and Owen Hart springs to mind. That was an accident even though he had a harness on too.