THTRobtaylor
Once & Future Wrestlezone Columnist
WWE.Com recently posted a video celebrating 50 WWE Champions, with Jinder being the 50th guy to lift it (not sure if that's an honour or not) and featuring all their WWE Champs...
Yes... ALL including acknowledging/showing CM Punk for the first time in nearly 5 years on a new piece of WWE footage. Until that point he has been very much "persona non grata", chants for him have been met with derision by Steph and others and basically he's been "deleted" much as Benoit.
Of course they'd be slated if they'd not included him, so it could just be a grin and bear it moment... BUT...
With ratings in the toilet and no more "legends" to draw on... could it be that there is finally a thawing in relations between Punk and WWE? Or perhaps this video is a signal that WWE wants to end the feud?
Let's face it, right now there is a lot of upside from WWE's perspective in mending bridges. Even rumors of a return would spike ratings, as people would watch to see "if it happens" and the Hardyz return has proven that these things can happen at relatively short notice and get a big reaction.
With McGregor v Mayweather upcoming, getting Punk back in some form would help WWE cash in on that...assuming as we all expect that Connor loses, then Punk could be a way to get him into WWE for a match.
From UFC's perspective, Punk is clearly an expensive mistake and the longer we go until his "second fight" the less likely it becomes. There has even been talk of using him as an announcer... if that's the case then they're better just cutting his deal.
Of course Punk himself has a lot of issues with WWE that need resolving.
The lawsuit situation needs sorting, in a way that he doesn't look bad nor throws Chris Annan under the bus. A settlement makes sense for both parties but someone has to "make the move". Punk would also want a sweetheart deal to return, even for just one match... in reality, he'd want it contractually obligated that he gets his Mania main event/close the show match.
WWE would likely have to do some asskissing... particularly to AJ, who arguably got the short end of the stick in the whole situation and her wedding day messed with to boot.
Most importantly, Punk would need to be given that live mic again to vent...without filter which would be a risk... if he was allowed freedom and an NWO/Austin style gimmick where he is at odds with the company, that might appeal enough to want to give it one more run.
Of course it's "just a video" but for the first time in years, CM Punk is "in the conversation" when it comes to new WWE material.
WWE clearly needs SOMETHING to boost them as they are in real danger for the first time of ratings dropping below the 2.5m mark for both shows. Once that happens, there's no way back for the company... no magic bullet they can use to get it back up.
Yes... ALL including acknowledging/showing CM Punk for the first time in nearly 5 years on a new piece of WWE footage. Until that point he has been very much "persona non grata", chants for him have been met with derision by Steph and others and basically he's been "deleted" much as Benoit.
Of course they'd be slated if they'd not included him, so it could just be a grin and bear it moment... BUT...
With ratings in the toilet and no more "legends" to draw on... could it be that there is finally a thawing in relations between Punk and WWE? Or perhaps this video is a signal that WWE wants to end the feud?
Let's face it, right now there is a lot of upside from WWE's perspective in mending bridges. Even rumors of a return would spike ratings, as people would watch to see "if it happens" and the Hardyz return has proven that these things can happen at relatively short notice and get a big reaction.
With McGregor v Mayweather upcoming, getting Punk back in some form would help WWE cash in on that...assuming as we all expect that Connor loses, then Punk could be a way to get him into WWE for a match.
From UFC's perspective, Punk is clearly an expensive mistake and the longer we go until his "second fight" the less likely it becomes. There has even been talk of using him as an announcer... if that's the case then they're better just cutting his deal.
Of course Punk himself has a lot of issues with WWE that need resolving.
The lawsuit situation needs sorting, in a way that he doesn't look bad nor throws Chris Annan under the bus. A settlement makes sense for both parties but someone has to "make the move". Punk would also want a sweetheart deal to return, even for just one match... in reality, he'd want it contractually obligated that he gets his Mania main event/close the show match.
WWE would likely have to do some asskissing... particularly to AJ, who arguably got the short end of the stick in the whole situation and her wedding day messed with to boot.
Most importantly, Punk would need to be given that live mic again to vent...without filter which would be a risk... if he was allowed freedom and an NWO/Austin style gimmick where he is at odds with the company, that might appeal enough to want to give it one more run.
Of course it's "just a video" but for the first time in years, CM Punk is "in the conversation" when it comes to new WWE material.
WWE clearly needs SOMETHING to boost them as they are in real danger for the first time of ratings dropping below the 2.5m mark for both shows. Once that happens, there's no way back for the company... no magic bullet they can use to get it back up.