Why should I be interested in Punk vs Bryan at Mania? Or in an Ironman match?

[Coco]

Really. Why? When I look at Punk and Bryan, I see two guys who are at their best when they're fighting the odds or wrestling guys who aren't exactly like them. The only reason to have this match seems to be to have an indy fan circle jerk and celebrate how far these guys have come. But I see no real hook to that. There's no danger. There's no adversity. It'd be the story of two guys who have already made it. Sounds pretty dull.

Why do I ever need to see Punk vs Bryan again? I saw it last year. A lot. And I really enjoyed it. But look at Punk's best work. He works best with guys like Cena, Lesnar, Taker, Hardy -- guys who aren't cut from the same cloth as him. And Bryan is too versatile to wallow away in indy fan circle jerk matches forever. If the guy's going to be The Man, he has to participate in matches worthy of The Man. Punk vs Bryan, as envisioned by the IWC, isn't such a match.

To produce the best card possible, Punk and Bryan ought not wrestle one another at Mania.

Remember a couple years back when the IWC had this BRILLIANT idea for Punk vs Jericho at Mania with the hook being "Best in the World vs Best in the World"? It was okay. But it was also so flat and lifeless that they needed to do the stuff about Punk's family and alcoholism to really make it pop. Why? Because smark dream scenarios really kind of suck. We don't know what's best for business. Because what makes the most interesting matches isn't seeing two guys we love facing off. It's seeing guys we love take on guys we hate.

As for Ironman matches, why bother? Why bother stretching twenty five minutes worth of match out for an hour? Will it really make for a better match? I say life's too short for hour long matches.

Who's with me?

 

[Fire Marshall Bill]

Because this is the internet, Coco. It's your duty!

 

[braveh]

I'm pretty sure I liked the Punk-Jericho match way better than any of the Punk-Bryan matches last year.

 

[Coco]

I'm pretty sure I liked the Punk-Jericho match way better than any of the Punk-Bryan matches last year.

 

[braveh]

"YES YES YES but I was saying yes to another man".

 

[Uncle Sam]

Ryback is the Cena to Bryan's Punk. There, I said it.

Ryback versus Bryan at 'Mania.

 

[Coco]

Ryback is the Cena to Bryan's Punk. There, I said it.

Ryback versus Bryan at 'Mania.

Pretty much. Those two have some great chemistry together. In fact on the whole, I think Ryback is something special. We give Bryan a lot of credit for surviving some questionable booking decisions. Well Ryback is in that same boat. Guy's got some seriously heel swagger and turns everything they give him into gold. And oh yeah, awesome chemistry.

Once Bryan's finished with Orton and Triple H, assuming the Shield guys aren't lined up for immediate top-of-the-card singles pushes, I'd venture to say that Bryan's next big challengers ought to be Ryback and Wyatt.

You just get me, Sami.

 

[klunderbunker]

If they put Bryan vs. Punk in an iron man match at Wrestlemania, the buyrate will be the lowest than it has been in at least 5 years.

 

[Poop Master Flex]

I have zero interest seeing Bryan vs. Punk at Wrestlemania. They have had good matches and all but its not a match I would pay big bucks to see either. I'm a fan of both, I have no doubt it would be a good match but it's not Wrestlemania worthy either (maybe in the mid card somewhere but with their current positions that won't happen).

Give me a guy I love, a guy I hate, and a good reason for them to fight over an IWC wet dream match like Punk vs. Bryan. There's no real emotional investment in Punk vs. Bryan therefore there's no reason for it to be on Wrestlemania. If they could lets say turn Punk heel and tell a great story up to the match that makes me want to see it I would be all over it but there needs to be a better reason than "well they are both amazing wrestlers, and the match would be awesome", once again who cares?

There's very few mega matches out there that people would buy (Sting vs. Taker, Hogan vs. Austin) just based on the match alone, Bryan vs. Punk is no where near that level.

 

[Coco]

I'd enjoy the match immensely. But I still know I'd never book it.

As to turning one guy heel to give the match a hook, no thanks. Both guys should remain face for the foreseeable future. They're easily the two most over good guys on the roster. There's a huge drop off from them to Van Dam, Ziggler, and Show. Turning either guy heel would be immensely stupid.

Of course even after typing all this, I'm still convinced they might try this match at Mania. It'll be a main event level match for certain. But it's still far from the best choice.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

I'd like to see Punk v Bryan at WM30. It would make for some enjoyable filler as a third or fourth main event. I just figured all the people that were asking for it were just acknowledging that neither guy belonged in the ring with Rock, Cena, Lesnar, UT, or HHH on such a big stage.

But I'm still the guy that wants face Punk v UT II at WM30.

 

[Poop Master Flex]

I do agree with not turning either heel at least right now, in a few years the situation could be very different however, you never know when fans will get sick of seeing a face CM Punk or a face Daniel Bryan (although I don't see it happening for a long time if ever).

Whether both or face or 1 is heel is irrelevant though, it's all about the story for me personally. If they can find a good reason for a conflict and build it to a point the average fan would want to see the match then go for it but even as over as both guys are currently that's not a money match, it's just not. It would be fine as the #2 or #3 match on the card but its not a main event.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

But I'm still the guy that wants face Punk v UT II at WM30.

.....why?

Because Taker/Punk at Mania 29 was such a "classic"? I think its a good match and all but really nowhere near being a match that needs to be revisited.

Unless you want Punk breaking the streak or something. Or the "but moooooomm, Triple H had him twice!" reason.




And while I have no problem with Punk Vs Bryan at Mania, who the fuck here has been touting an Ironman Match between them?! Thats nuts. Punk and Bryan can go in to the match just as they are, two uber faces going at it. Yes it is kinda boring if you see how their characters flourish better with polar opposites. Actually, it has almost always been kinda boring really (remember Mrs. Stone Cold's 'overexposure {in more ways than one} during the build to WM X7); but the fact is you have either the top heel vs top face, legend vs top face, top face vs other top face. That has been quite formula for years now.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

I thoroughly enjoyed their match. By far the best part of the show. Saved the show from being a disappointment. The match had a good build and some great moments. It actually had me believing Punk may win. I don't think Lesnar/UT would do that. I'm also the guy that thinks that the UT has no business retiring with The Streak intact. He needs to do his job and give someone the rub. I also think Cena/UT at WM30 would make no sense for Cena's character or career. That leaves Punk as the default guy to end The Streak.

However I've decide that I will give Punk/Bryan at WM30 as the third main event my approval as long as they don't go on before Robin Thicke.

 

[The Dragon Saga]

Nobody likes anything until it happens. They could play it so many ways. Considering they've already done it, it won't be as effective, but as a wrestling match yeah I'd take it. If it was a one hour Ironman match I'd take it. One hour at WrestleMania? Nah, that'll never happen again, it happened when Bret and Shawn were carrying WWE on their shoulders but that isn't the case anymore. They've several draws on the roster and more they can bring in with the dial of a phone and swing of a chequebook.

 

[Coco]

Nobody likes anything until it happens.

I'll like it. But as an idea, as something proposed as the best-case-scenario with WWE's current roster, I don't buy it for a second. Even as an Ironman, I'll like it. But I think the call-to-arms throughout the IWC for the match is a huge sign of our lack of imagination.

We can do better.

 

[The Dragon Saga]

It's just one of those things people would like to see. Like how a lot of people would have liked Christian Bale to reprise the role of Batman for the Superman sequel and when he didn't they knew it could be someone of greater or equal talent. Instead it was Ben Affleck, which in this case would be like replacing one of Bryan or Punk and replacing them with someone like Dolph Ziggler.

 

[Poop Master Flex]

I'm partial to Sams idea of D.Bry vs. Ryback.

 

[Coco]

It's just one of those things people would like to see.

So was Punk vs Jericho.

People thinking they want to see something doesn't mean it'll play particularly well in real life or that it should happen. I like Punk vs Jericho. You liked Punk vs Jericho. But measured against the way the IWC hyped the idea in the later half of 2011, the execution of that feud fell way short. They didn't set the world on fire like a lot of smarks would have liked to believe.

IWC darlings fighting each other can work. But it's never as fun as a darling versus a pariah. That's why Zayn vs Dallas is going to be streets ahead of Zayn vs Cesaro. Streets. Ahead.

Like how a lot of people would have liked Christian Bale to reprise the role of Batman for the Superman sequel and when he didn't they knew it could be someone of greater or equal talent. Instead it was Ben Affleck, which in this case would be like replacing one of Bryan or Punk and replacing them with someone like Dolph Ziggler.

Ziggler's not getting anywhere near Punk or Bryan at Mania. So your analogy is kind of shit. Like Ben Affleck in Daredevil.

 

[The Dragon Saga]

Ziggler's not getting anywhere near Punk or Bryan at Mania. So your analogy is kind of shit. Like Ben Affleck in Daredevil.

Just like Ben Affleck in general. Except Chasing Amy.

 

[ABMorales787]

Tommy kicking CM Punk's ass will outdraw it anyway.

 

[cult_of_icecream_bar]

I'd rather have Punk vs Cena and Bryan vs HHH as main events.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

So was Punk vs Jericho.

People thinking they want to see something doesn't mean it'll play particularly well in real life or that it should happen. I like Punk vs Jericho. You liked Punk vs Jericho. But measured against the way the IWC hyped the idea in the later half of 2011, the execution of that feud fell way short. They didn't set the world on fire like a lot of smarks would have liked to believe.

IWC darlings fighting each other can work. But it's never as fun as a darling versus a pariah. That's why Zayn vs Dallas is going to be streets ahead of Zayn vs Cesaro. Streets. Ahead.

Punk Vs Jericho was stellar but yes nothing like it is STILL made out to be. And it gets worse when you talk to them about Punk Vs Jericho at Payback. You know, coz it was Chicaaaago.


At this point, I wouldn't mind seeing Bryan Vs Cena for the title, again. Punk...I hear he follows Warrior now.

 

[#tamale]

The obsession with iron man matches puzzles me. I can only recall one that I enjoyed from beginning to end and that was The Rock vs. HHH.

Punk/Bryan would be a good match, but I'd rather see both guys used in different angles at Wrestlemania. Bryan/The Rock and Lesnar/Punk II for the WWE Championship.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

A Punk/Bryan submission type iron man match like Angle/Benoit at RR (02?) would be nice to see. Not necessarily at Mania though; if Smackdown was good enough for Lesnar/Angle then even that'd be fine with me.