Should we really be cheering for CM Punk

[ASKane]

CM Punk recent walkout has upstaged Royal Rumble and has been more of a talking point and despite not knowing the true reasons for it and whether it is legit or a work fans at Raw, SD and Live Shows have been chanting CM Punk but why. He may be a guy you like but he didn't just walk out on the WWE he walked out on you his fans with no explanation, for all we know he it could be something against the fans and the only reason it hasn't gotten out that this is the case is because Punk has somehow become a Vince guy. So what I don't understand is why you chant for a guy who turned his back on you his fans. If he came out and said WWE wanted him to take a 90% pay cut, join 3MB and job to Cena at every PPV for a year I would understand the fans getting behind him but while we are at a point where there has been no statement made from either party why are you chanting for him when the fans could be the reason he left not anything WWE did.

Your Thoughts on if he deserves the chants, whether you would and thoughts on the issue of him leaving

 

[BestWrestlingOpinions]

Yes we should. I know you hate Punk and this is obviously another Punk hate thread. We had a lot of them over the past 2 weeks. Can't we just stop and wait to see what happens?

 

[MCMG]

If he is gone then he shouldn't be treated as a hero. However, that doesn't mean we can't appreciate his career which was filled with quality.

I think the people chanting for Punk are more or less doing it because they think its humorous. Moreover, Punk is a star that people want to see. It's not a massive deal but they will become annoying if Punk doesn't show. Especially in Chicago where it may overshadow the show.

 

[Airehk]

I don't think what Punk did is 100% right, but he did all he can in his power to make an example. A lot of fans have been upset with the product for a while, as was he and he's throwing whatever wrench he can in to the gears in hopes something will happen. Should he have fulfilled his obligations? Of course, but that's also his leverage. Personally, I support what he's doing because essentially what WWE did by having Batista win the Royal Rumble is just a big marketing ploy to tie in with Batista's movie so there's some cross promotion to get more fans. Fans for what? I guess more inter-promotional marketing down the road.

 

[Kamala316]

Ever since his arrival in ECW, and his eventual move to Smackdown, it has felt as if we have been force fed CM Punk, for better or worse. His personas and look were different, and a breath of fresh air to a somewhat stale crop of superstars. Over the last couple of months, Punk has physically looked awful...and who can blame him? He is a workhorse, something to be respected. Given his knowledge of the business, which is quite impressive, I'm putting my money on seeing Punk back before WrestleMania in some sort of capacity.

 

[JoeFromTomsRiver]

Does he "deserve" to have his name chanted? It's not about him deserving anything. I don't think people are cheering the fact that he left. I think its their way of letting WWE know that they should've treated "their guy" better so he DIDN'T leave. It is irrelevant if you, personally, think the WWE did absolutely nothing wrong.

The fans have the right to do so, have a right to become "a part of the show" by chanting, without being given some half-ass guilt trip by WWE-loyalists online.

 

[ASKane]

Yes we should. I know you hate Punk and this is obviously another Punk hate thread. We had a lot of them over the past 2 weeks. Can't we just stop and wait to see what happens?

I am a fan of Punk, I think he is a good wrestler and has been held back by the WWE. I think he deserves to be competing with Bryan for the #1 spot in the company and should be main eventing Mania against Bryan. I created this thread more for the circumstance than the superstar. The fact is when you walk out on a company, team or sport you walk out on the fans as well as the thing you are rebelling against and I am asking the question if you should overlook the fact that him turning his back on you and see it as a rebellion or whether he should get no respect for leaving his fans. Also in Punks situation we have no idea if it is legit or a work and the reasons if it is legit. So what I am doing is trying to start a debate to see the opinion of others on 1 of the main issues currently in pro wrestling which is the purpose of this forum.

 

[asiatic7]

Being the Working Class Hero that I am, I don't think it's a good idea for anyone to walk out on their job, no matter what they do for a living. I'm a big CM Punk fan, but what he did was selfish and irresponsible. No matter how he feels about Vince and Co., these are the people that made him a millionare and afforded him a comfortable lifestyle, he should have given an explanation instead of leaving everyone guessing what went wrong.

I know there are people on this site and others that would like to believe they know what goes on behind the curtains and backstage, but the truth is you don't. For all we know, this is all a work and Punk will be back before WM30....who knows for sure?

If it's not a work, and Punk did leave because he's upset about the booking, he has to realize thing aren't going to go his way because he wants them to.
I'm upset about Batista coming in and winning the Rumble too! I'm upset that every year, Vince feels he has to bring in these part-time "stars" to get a buzz and more buys for the big PPV's, when there is great talent on the roster not allowed to reach their full potential.

I respect his passion to be a top tier guy and a main eventer, but he should have fulfilled his contract and his obligation to the fans and then decided what to do afterwards.

 

[asiatic7]

I am asking the question if you should overlook the fact that him turning his back on you and see it as a rebellion or whether he should get no respect for leaving his fans.

The answer to the question is no. I'm with you, I'm a CM Punk fan as well, but I have to take what he did as a big "Fuck You", not only to WWE but most of all to the fans. I personally don't think Punk cares at all about the fans one bit, so it's no sweat off his brow to just leave them hanging. The reason why I said he doesn't care is because of the podcast interview he did with Colt Cabana a few years ago (This is not an advertisement for said podcast, so to the good folks at wrestlezone forums, don't penalize me!)

The guy is a condescending prick and as a fellow scorpio, I can relate. But he's a real bitter person and I can't respect what he did. Helluva worker, no doubt! But he made a bad decision I feel...

 

[Logisticalbooker86]

We wrestling fans are fickle, but we are also a forgiving bunch.

If CM Punk returns he should be welcomed with open arms by the people that wish to support him. If he chooses another avenue, he should be encouraged to be successful all the same.

With that said, I wish the CM Punk chants would cease until his situation is discussed on television. Justified or not, CM Punk should not be viewed as a hero in this situation.

One last thing, I don't view his walkout as the cardinal sin that others do. He told McMahon he was leaving, and he left. He will not see another time until he works again. Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail.

 

[louchratis]

There are definitely CM Punk fans who are upset he's gone. However, I think that for the most part a lot of fans are just sick of the current product since the horrible way the Rumble match was booked. If Punk hadn't walked out, they would cheer for something else that runs opposite to what Vince wants strictly because that's the easiest way for people's voices to be heard.

 

[Wyse]

He walked out on us as well.

Have we heard from him or anything about why he left? No.

Has he even been on Twitter or anything at all related to explain himself? No.

 

[joduke41]

I personally like the idea. I mean Vince's ego is out of control and he seems to think he can treat anyone the way he wants.That he has made every choice right,and that the guys wouldn't be stars without him.Ithink CM Punk walking out is a way of saying he doesn't
need Vince or HHH.And the fans cheering to let Vince know,if it wasn't for them,the WWE wouldn't be anything.I mean I grew around wrestling.I think Vince should use this as a wake up call.That things can't keep going like they are or he will lose fans and wrestlers.

 

[afromania]

It was a selfish move for sure, but if it's a move that makes him happy then all the power to him. He's gotta do what's best for his physical and mental well being. However, the fact remains that he was advertised for shows and he didn't show up. He let down his fans that paid tickets solely to see him. These young kids that are Punk fans wanted to see him and then they go and have no idea what happened to him. It's too bad. But if your an older Punk fan, in your Punk t-shirt, your at raw, and your chanting CM PUNK CM PUNK CM PUNK!, it just makes you look dumb. They're chanting for a guy that turned his back on them. So it really just makes them look stupid.

 

[Best in the World 79]

I like Punk but I think it's fairly obvious he has a "fuck the fans" attitude the majority of the time. I do not think he should be applauded for now twice basically taking his ball and going/wanting-to-go home. He got what he wanted last time band I reckon this time not so much. He's great but I think he kinda screwed everyone by walking out. He could've honored his contract and wrestle out a storyline at mania or something.

If he comes back, I'm all for it. If he doesn't, I'll keep watching. I doubt he'll cause that many viewer losses.

He might've opened the door to the year of Daniel Bryan.

 

[That One Guy]

When we chant for Punk, we're not really chanting for Punk. We're supporting his stance that someone as vastly overrated as Batista, who has been gone for over three years and spent much of that time badmouthing the product and the locker room, shouldn't be able to waltz back into the WWE, win his second Rumble (a feat only a select few have achieved) and main event Wrestlemania over the men who have been there consistently putting their bodies on the line to entertain us. We're supporting the stance Punk has taken, not necessarily his actions.

 

[kumarjtk]

i think this is first thread against punk since his walkout. Actually i like to create this thread but i dont have permission.

Lets come to the point

If a wrestler wants to end his contract then the company wont give a huge opportunity to him. They use him to put over someone to his spot. Its general for all wrestling company.

This situation happened to punk. Punk go against The Authority is not bad dealing. But his walkout is absolutely unprofessional. As a wrestler he knows the situation.

punk turn down to his fans. He lives for himself not for fans. Please dont chant WeWant Punk. Bcoz wwe wont dismiss punk he walksout for his personal reason. I have lots of faith in Punk but after his action, i lost my faith in Punk bcoz its wrestlemania season they put lots of money in punk. Also wwe now think about other indy stars also make this type of decision. So they hold their push and limit their popularity and create their own stars.

 

[Da Solo]

Should we be cheering him? I don't think so, at least not at the times it's happening. Bryan is the superstar still here; Bryan is the one we should be cheering. Using Punk gives them that much more reason to sideline Bryan to some undercard nonsense at WMXXX.

But should we look at this in a negative light? Hell nah. I think what the IWC fails to realize is that these performers don't really owe us shit. They put their bodies on the line for entertainment, we pay their checks. Simple give-and-take. So the whole "we supported him so he should stay" argument is childish at best. He's a grown ass man who decided to make his statement the best way he knew how. It's not completely unjustified: WWE kind of backhandedly complimented their way through his last run anyway: he refuses to resign a contract, they give him the WWE title then lure him back with promises of changes; they then let him hold the strap for over a year, giving this false illusion that he's Cena's equal (when, mind you, he has NO clean win over Cena ever) then proceed to let him midcard every PPV he had as champion unless Cena wasn't there, the only PPV's he headlined were TLC 2012 (Cena not on card), Summerslam/Night of Champions/Survivor Series (all with Cena), Hell in a Cell (Cena injured) and the Rumble/EC (losses to Rock). Additionally, he gets practically NOTHING they implied for him upon returning (gets buried by HHH, overtaken by Cena, no WM main event, and NO DAMN ICE CREAM BARS!) Yeah, he held the belt for a year, but on some bullshit.

Punk is pissed, so he left. Good for him. WWE doesn't own him (gotta love that independent contractor status, eh?). Sure, I'm disappointed, but I can't say he's unjustified. WWE is making some shitty decisions as of late.

 

[multiverseman.com]

I like how people wanna hedge their positive notions or CM Punk when talking about what he did. I don't need to do that. I support it 100%. Just because other wrestlers don't do it, doesn't make it wrong. He's an independent contrator. He ain't gotta do a damn thing. So he isn't. Vince can work that legalese for all it's worth and get away with it, but CM Punk is a quitter because he does the same thing? Put the Kool Aid down, Vince McMahon doesn't own wrestling just because he's able to make people think he does.

 

[Kris Benwa]

The answer to the question is no. I'm with you, I'm a CM Punk fan as well, but I have to take what he did as a big "Fuck You", not only to WWE but most of all to the fans. I personally don't think Punk cares at all about the fans one bit, so it's no sweat off his brow to just leave them hanging. The reason why I said he doesn't care is because of the podcast interview he did with Colt Cabana a few years ago (This is not an advertisement for said podcast, so to the good folks at wrestlezone forums, don't penalize me!)

The guy is a condescending prick and as a fellow scorpio, I can relate. But he's a real bitter person and I can't respect what he did. Helluva worker, no doubt! But he made a bad decision I feel...

I agree with your main points here. CM Punk doesn't deserve chants at all. It's actually baffling to me how people can boo and shit all over the segments who no matter what give their all to entertain fans and try to fuck up their performance by chanting the name of someone who walks out on his boss, company, peers, most importantly the fans. The fact that people KNOW this and are cheering his name trying to disrupt the wrestlers who give enough of a damn about them to try to put on a good match for their enjoyment is truly mind boggling. I'm not surprised though, not one bit, when he did the pipebomb and all of a sudden everyone started gobbling his knob I could tell people were getting stanny about him. It's a shame how people can chant the name of a man who turned his back on them in an effort to try to fuck with those who didn't. Makes me sick and think he should be made an example out of and by that I mean fired tbh but that's just my two cents

 

[rbv13]

The only thing we know for sure is prior to walking out Punk looked like hell. It was obvious the guy was banged up. He needed time away. The rumors add he was pushed to a mental breaking point. If that is the case I don't put any blame of Punk. Not sure if I would do the same but to each their own.

This reminds me of Carson Palmer and his deal with the Bengals a few years back. Palmer was sick of how the organization was being run and spoke out against it. He pretty much said what fans had been saying for years and said he would never suit up again for the team. I backed Palmer but the majority turned on him. He was just pushed to a point of no return and wanted better.

 

[lil steroid meat]

I don't think fans are cheering for Phil Brooks, the guy who left the company that has paid his bills for the past 8-9 years during the most important time of the year.

I think fans are cheering for CM Punk, the man who saved us from R-Truth and Little Jimmy being in WWE Title feuds in 2011, and who brought back relevance and prestige to the WWE Title, not to mention, making WWE TV worth watching at all from 2011 to early 2013.

Even before the "Pipe Bomb" gimmick, the Straight Edge Savior stuff was refreshing.

All in all, I think people like the breath of fresh air that CM Punk brings 80% of the time he is involved in something. In an era where an imaginary friend was deciding the titleholder of the most prestigious World Championship in pro wrestling, he gave people a reason to watch Monday Night Raw weekly.

I think when you combine what Punk once stood for/the freshness of what he brought to the WWE +
the staleness and silly booking decisions of the WWE, the fans are looking for anyone to bring change.

Luckily for the WWE, it might be a blessing in disguise, because it might benefit them in the long term anyway to put Roman Reigns in Punk's place in that HHH program.

 

[d_henderson1810]

I like how people wanna hedge their positive notions or CM Punk when talking about what he did. I don't need to do that. I support it 100%. Just because other wrestlers don't do it, doesn't make it wrong. He's an independent contrator. He ain't gotta do a damn thing. So he isn't. Vince can work that legalese for all it's worth and get away with it, but CM Punk is a quitter because he does the same thing? Put the Kool Aid down, Vince McMahon doesn't own wrestling just because he's able to make people think he does.

Vince DOES own wrestling, he does!

He made WWE a global company seen in every country in the world. He created Wrestlemania. His company is the only one still standing.

Without Vince McMahon, there would have been no "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (WCW didn't see him as a star), there would have been no Rock, and , guess what, no-one would have heard of C.M. Puke.

C.M. Punk should be grateful that Vince McMahon is so successful. I didn't see Punk complaining about his paychecks (to an amount he would never see in ROH). But, to pander to ungrateful fans, Punk walks out to please the IWC.

This is the problem with society today. If someone creates a product that makes millions, and many people enjoy, those same people refuse to give the creator of it credit, and say he doesn't know what he is doing.

Wrestling fans are coming across like "Star Wars" fans who bagged George Lucas, despite creating films which dominate the top twenty highest grossing film lists. Peons who sit in the stands think they know how to do things better. Okay, champ, when you can raise enough money to start your own wrestling company, then you can call the shots. Until then, pay your money, sit your ass down, and say "Thank You" to Vince McMahon for giving you superstars to cheer for.

 

[shooter_mcgavin]

Vince DOES own wrestling, he does!

No he doesn't he owns a Wrestling Company and perhaps even own the library and assets of the likes of WCW, ECW but just because he owns the #1 wrestling company in the world still does not mean he owns Wrestling. That's just egotistical for anyone to think, though I am not sure Vince thinks that way.

TNA, Mexican, Japanese, and even the independent promotions still exists and Vince doesn't own those. Wrestling is bigger than one company it's a legacy that's existed for over a century way before the WWE or Vince McMahon ever existed.

I went to a local wrestling event from a Japanese Promotion sure there were like only like 100 to 200 people but these are passionate fans. And this is not the WWE or Vince's promotion its just plain wrestling. And the fans loved it.

That said, so for cheering for CM Punk. Ultimately it's the fans choice. But I take this into another perspective. Why did fans like Punk, why do fans cheer for Punk, and how did Punk get so popular? Of course his ability as a performer is one major factor but I think it's because CM Punk "keeps it real". He doesn't mince words or try to sugarcoat things for the sake of his image, over the years Punk has been straightforward from his Pipe Bomb in 2011, to him hanging up on a radio interview, to his altercation with a fan on RAW, etc. Punk is a straight shooter if he hates something he hates something, if he likes it, then he likes it.

I guess that's the appeal of Punk over let's say Cena. Cena is a company guy and walks in the boundaries of company lines. Punk does not and that's the quality that fans like about him. If he tells you he's burnt out he will, if he tells you isn't happy sometimes being the WWE he will (as he did in that interview during the UFC weekend in Chicago).

That said while I am disappointed that Punk walked out and dissapointed in him, on the other side that's who Punk is. If he's frustrated he's not going to take it. That characteristic of Punk is what the fans like about him so why should we be mad at him now when he's just behaving the way we expect him to? Isn't that why we like him in the first place?

In the case of Punk it's pretty much "what you see is what you get" out of him and no smoke and mirrors. There's no wall between him and the fans and he's been proud of being transparent and honest (sometime brutally)

The thing I have to say about Punk though is that he walked out before Wrestlamania. That shows he's being "real" with how his actions, even Austin walked out only after WM (after he got his bonus). Basically Punk said, " I am pissed off in what's going on I am walking out and I don't care about the WM bonus pay" and he's had enough.

 

[Dirk]

Does he "deserve" to have his name chanted? It's not about him deserving anything. I don't think people are cheering the fact that he left. I think its their way of letting WWE know that they should've treated "their guy" better so he DIDN'T leave. It is irrelevant if you, personally, think the WWE did absolutely nothing wrong.

The fans have the right to do so, have a right to become "a part of the show" by chanting, without being given some half-ass guilt trip by WWE-loyalists online.

Okay, so are you saying that Punk absolutely had to main-event WM 30 and that a match against one of the biggest names in the business (Trips) isn't enough? It's just CM Punk, after all. He got more than enough - multiple stables, the streak as champ and a match against the Undertaker at WM.

I'm not saying Punk isn't good, I'm saying he's not a bigger name than any of the candidates who are in the running to main-event WM 30. Such a wrestling milestone is an awful time to be an unprofessional crybaby and the worst part is if he stuck around and negotiated a lighter schedule, he could've had a chance at fulfilling his dream of main-eventing Wrestlemania.