Should we really be cheering for CM Punk

[Rampage Bentley]

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.

I'll say it, a match against Triple H isn't enough. Hell, I'll go as far as saying a match with Triple H would only hurt Punk. Dusty Rhodes has been banned from tv because he got the better of Stephanie McMahon on the mic. Punk's entire persona is being the guy who can out talk anyone and Triple H has made it his career goal to never be anything less than the coolest guy in the ring, to the point where he's said ridiculous things like "Edge never drew a dime." Punk verbally sparring with Triple H would be terrible because Triple H wouldn't take it like a heel should.

On top of that, we all have assumed that Punk would go over (because it would make sense) But what in Triple H's history would make us think that? When was the last time he put someone over at WrestleMania not named The Undertaker? And even then, he lost to The Undertaker but he made sure he was the guy who beat Taker so badly he couldn't walk out on his own power.

I would also argue that Punk is a bigger name than both Orton and Batista. If this was 2008, it would be a different story, but Orton was completely irrelevant before his Money in the Bank cash in and Punk has brought more mainstream attention to pro wrestling than Batista ever has. In fact, go look on WWE's corporate website at the earnings page. The WWE quadrupled its earnings in 2011 when Orton was an afterthought and Batista was long gone.

I don't know why Batista is currently being treated like The Rock. Being guy number 4 who gets killed in a shitty Vin Diesel movie does not make you a star.

 

[Thecorporatechamp]

Full disclosure I'm not a huge fan of Punk. With that said, I recognize his talent and value to the roster. From my stand point I don't understand how anyone could defend his actions of going home. Hes always seemed like a whiny guy (despite his numerous pushes) but this is a huge slap to the face of his fans and the company that aided in his success. If you have a problem with the way things are being booked, work through it while working. You signed a contract so own up to it. Hes screwing up wm 30 booking and hurting others on the roster. This seems like a cut and dried issue. He took his ball and went home while losing his smile. Punk is not bigger than the wwe. Its time for him to man up.

P.S. If this is a work im going to pretend i knew it all along.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

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.

This is pretty much how I feel about it. I'm still a fan of Punk whether or not he comes back to WWE, or whether he's even left IF, by some miracle, this is all a work. It's highly unlikely but, at this point, anything & everything is speculation as Punk himself hasn't said boo about this whole thing. IF the various reports of him being frustrated with this & that are accurate, then it seems like Punk left because he ultimately didn't get his way. Again, IF that's ultimately revealed to be the case, then there's nothing heroic about it. In my opinion, there's no "good guy" or "bad guy" in this situation, though there's no lack of people trying to paint one side or the other in such roles. In real life, CM Punk isn't the "Voice of the Voiceless", he's a 35 year old Pescetarian, atheistic, hockey & baseball loving comic book geek named Phillip Jack Brooks from Chicago. In real life, WWE management aren't these demonic sadists that get their jollies in life by purposely fucking over talent signed to their roster, but are business people trying to make money who sometimes make the right & wrong choices like anybody else.

For all anybody seems to know, this could be a carefully orchestrated business move on Punk's part. Punk knows he's a strong draw for WWE, he knows that WWE management knows it and he knows that the fans know it as well. With his contract being up this summer and him, allegedly, not getting what he wants as far as WrestleMania goes, maybe this is his way of getting management's attention and to get that Cena level push he's, according to reports, been wanting.

As far as the Punk chants go, I honestly expected things to be a LOT worse than what we've had the past few weeks. The chants have started up every so often during the show, they last for 15 or 20 seconds, then they lose steam. It hasn't been this constant barrage I was expecting, though I think there's a good chance of that happening when Raw rolls into Chicago next month.

 

[JoVilla21]

Let me put this in a simple way:

CM Punk walked out on his job and I understand why the heads of the WWE would be upset. Imagine your hard working employee who you had plans for just suddenly said he's out. You'd be upset and you'd have to change up plans and it could be disastrous.

Imagine this now, you're an employee at some company, you work hard, your one of the most effective and efficient employees there is. It's hard to find someone who could work as good as you. Yet you don't get recognized for it. You don't get to represent your company in ads or get mentioned in the newspapers; rather someone else does and that person doesn't put his job first like you do. You'd be upset and want to walk out after years of it happening, right?

Well Punk wants to close WM and he's been working really hard yet isn't going to get it this year. He's been snubbed for 3/4 years.

- WM 27 he was a top heel in a time where they lacked stars. It was between him and the Miz to main event mania against Cena; didn't get it.

- WM 28 he was coming off a career high momentum as he was the hottest thing in the WWE and was heading to WM as champ; didn't get it.

- WM 29 he was the biggest heel in the modern era and coming off a 434 day title reign and was heading to WM as a mega heel with the biggest and most interesting storyline and to challenge the Undertaker's streak; didn't get it.

- WM 30 he was coming off a year of having top matches and great feuds, top matches with Cena, Brock, Taker and great feuds against Taker, The Rock, Brock, Heyman; doesn't get it.


So if you can't see why he's upset then something's wrong. It's at the cost of his fans but I'm sure most of his fans want him to close out WM so if it means him boycotting the WWE, then hopefully he gets it.

 

[d_henderson1810]

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.

Firstly, the reason Vince doesn't own those companies is because they can still finance themselves (I don't know how), but, mark my words, if any go under, and if Vince thinks he can get anything from them, he will own them as well. He just doesn't care enough about those companies to even waste time and money on them.

Wrestling in the U.S. would be dead today if not for Vincent Kennedy McMahon. He brought wrestling to the mainstream and the world. Other activities, UFC, MMA and other sports would have put wrestling out of business. But Vince has kept wrestling going. Why is it virtually every big name (aside from Sting) have wanted to work for him?

Small but passionate fans are great, but they don't pay the bills in the long run. Just ask ECW. You need a lot of fans to spend a lot of money.

Punk keeps it real. So when he was insulting the fans during his heel run, he meant it, did he? Then when he was a fan, he pandered to the fans. So, which is it? If Punk was real, he would wrestle under the name "Phil Brooks". Punk is following a script like everyone else.

So, because Cena is a company guy, and says nice things about WWE, he is being insincere. But when Punk bags management, he is being real. Funny how someone is only sincere when they agree with you!

Maybe Cena praises the WWE because he REALLY feels that way. Maybe he likes working there, and is humble enough to realise that he is there because of Vince McMahon. Punk deludes himself that he is the sole reason for his own success.

Again, how is Punk being honest when he doesn't even wrestle under his own name, isn't open about his childhood and past, doesn't have his real-life romances on-screen sharing time with him (like Edge did with Lita).

How do you know Punk's pipe-bombs aren't scripted? But for you to accept that, is to accept that WWE creative are better than you want to acknowledge.

Look, I know it is cool to bag the company, and get behind the "little guy". I know that you just want to go along with the crowd. Or maybe you are sincere, and have deluded yourself that Punk is as real as real can be, and the WWE are an evil organisation bent on world domination.

But then, you will just dismiss my words as not being my real feelings, and that I am a "company guy". Because, of course, no one can really like WWE and agree with them, can they?

 

[smarty_jannetty]

Punk shouldn't be cheered, it's funnier if he is booed because he can't handle it. I have been a wrestling fan for 26 years and Punk doesn't even enter the equation for me when it comes to best in the world. People say he is a great talker and yes, sometimes he can be amusing and he is a good wrestler, but he is definitely overrated on both the mic and in the ring. being the best in the world to me means being able to have a great match against anyone and this is just something that punk in not capable of. Daniel Bryan can have a great match against anyone from kofi Kingston to big show, so to me he can have a legitimate claim to such a title. CM Punk has a lot of people to thank, like Cena and Jericho, who have made him look good and given him a chance. if the current situation is legit, all he has done is slap these people who believed in him in the face, yet he demands respect

 

[multiverseman.com]

I wanna talk about some of the more asinine points that I've seen, one-by-one in a gereral way.

1. CM Punk walked out on the fans.

Actually he didn't. He walked out on the WWE. Big difference.

2. CM Punk owes WWE.

Not at all. He was paid a fair wage for his good work. How does he owe them anything? Does he owe them money? Does he owe them morally?

Quite frankly, I'd argue he's made them alot more money than they've paid him.

I'd say the same about John Cena. What's he got? 10 to 20 million in the bank? He's made them hundreds of millions. If he were a regular human being, he'd go home and take six months off at least.

 

[Kris Benwa]

I wanna talk about some of the more asinine points that I've seen, one-by-one in a gereral way.

1. CM Punk walked out on the fans.

Actually he didn't. He walked out on the WWE. Big difference.

2. CM Punk owes WWE.

Not at all. He was paid a fair wage for his good work. How does he owe them anything? Does he owe them money? Does he owe them morally?

Quite frankly, I'd argue he's made them alot more money than they've paid him.

I'd say the same about John Cena. What's he got? 10 to 20 million in the bank? He's made them hundreds of millions. If he were a regular human being, he'd go home and take six months off at least.

CM Punk does owe WWE. He owes them the work he signed a contract to do simple as that. I don't really understand how Punk didn't walk out on the fans. He's made no contact with fans whatsoever, kids and fans pay tickets to see him make appearances he's under contract to make and he doesn't now those fans are left hanging. Your whole post is pretty asinine tbh but I digress.

Imagine this now, you're an employee at some company, you work hard, your one of the most effective and efficient employees there is. It's hard to find someone who could work as good as you. Yet you don't get recognized for it. You don't get to represent your company in ads or get mentioned in the newspapers; rather someone else does and that person doesn't put his job first like you do. You'd be upset and want to walk out after years of it happening, right?

Well Punk wants to close WM and he's been working really hard yet isn't going to get it this year. He's been snubbed for 3/4 years.

- WM 27 he was a top heel in a time where they lacked stars. It was between him and the Miz to main event mania against Cena; didn't get it.

- WM 28 he was coming off a career high momentum as he was the hottest thing in the WWE and was heading to WM as champ; didn't get it.

- WM 29 he was the biggest heel in the modern era and coming off a 434 day title reign and was heading to WM as a mega heel with the biggest and most interesting storyline and to challenge the Undertaker's streak; didn't get it.

- WM 30 he was coming off a year of having top matches and great feuds, top matches with Cena, Brock, Taker and great feuds against Taker, The Rock, Brock, Heyman; doesn't get it.

Walking out on your employers is a disrespectful thing to do. In the real world you give a two week notice in the wrestling you either request a release so you can be properly written out of storylines or you finish your contract up you don't walk out unless you are being selfish. You don't necessarily have to read the rest of this because that's all that needs to be said but I'm going to include some opinions now.

Do you think CM Punk is the only person who works hard and feels they deserve better than what they are getting? Daniel Bryan who was getting more over by the appearance surely deserves a WrestleMania main event he's the most popular guy on the roster and they were going to put him with Sheamus and give Punk a higher priority match than him while Daniel Bryan is more over than Punk has ever been outside of Chicago but he wasn't going to walk out because he acts like a man and not a child there are several others who probably deserve more than what they are getting but don't just walk out like a fucking baby. I'm going to put this next part in bold because it's basically my thesis I'm going to restate. Not everything goes your way all the time but there are two ways to handle it, you can be a man and do things the right way i.e. asking for a release or finishing the job you are contractually obligated to do OR you can walk out like a baby because you didn't get your way.

In my opinion, people shouldn't cheer for a person who obviously don't give a damn about them or at least care enough to go out and perform and people especially shouldn't chant that person's name during a time where people who do care enough about them to perform are putting their bodies on the line to show it. That's just me though and I personally can't find a way to justify this.

 

[kadroan]

CM Punk does owe WWE. He owes them the work he signed a contract to do simple as that. I don't really understand how Punk didn't walk out on the fans. He's made no contact with fans whatsoever, kids and fans pay tickets to see him make appearances he's under contract to make and he doesn't now those fans are left hanging. Your whole post is pretty asinine tbh but I digress.



Walking out on your employers is a disrespectful thing to do. In the real world you give a two week notice in the wrestling you either request a release so you can be properly written out of storylines or you finish your contract up you don't walk out unless you are being selfish. You don't necessarily have to read the rest of this because that's all that needs to be said but I'm going to include some opinions now.

Do you think CM Punk is the only person who works hard and feels they deserve better than what they are getting? Daniel Bryan who was getting more over by the appearance surely deserves a WrestleMania main event he's the most popular guy on the roster and they were going to put him with Sheamus and give Punk a higher priority match than him while Daniel Bryan is more over than Punk has ever been outside of Chicago but he wasn't going to walk out because he acts like a man and not a child there are several others who probably deserve more than what they are getting but don't just walk out like a fucking baby. I'm going to put this next part in bold because it's basically my thesis I'm going to restate. Not everything goes your way all the time but there are two ways to handle it, you can be a man and do things the right way i.e. asking for a release or finishing the job you are contractually obligated to do OR you can walk out like a baby because you didn't get your way.

In my opinion, people shouldn't cheer for a person who obviously don't give a damn about them or at least care enough to go out and perform and people especially shouldn't chant that person's name during a time where people who do care enough about them to perform are putting their bodies on the line to show it. That's just me though and I personally can't find a way to justify this.

I agree. He's lucky to be champion in this era. Had it been 10 years ago, he'd be lucky to win the IC championship

 

[Thejock83]

My Dad walked out on me, my mum and my sister when I was younger. Said he was unhappy with the marriage, with the way it was going and how he never got his way.

He left without saying goodbye, was just gone one morning - but damn it, without fail I was in the living room, kitchen, all over the house every day chanting his name whenever my Mum came in the room!!