Ask the casual wrestling fan who the biggest name in World W-Word Entertainment is and they will tell you it's none other than WWE Champion, John Cena. Ask them who's next and they'll still probably answer The Rock. Ask a member of the infamous Internet Wrestling Community who they think should be the focal point of WWE should be and they're answer Phil Brooks, better known to the world as CM Punk. While some members of the same IWC will tell you guys like Daniel Bryan and Dean Ambrose should already be in the World Title scene, they are pretty spot on with the controversial super star. The WWE seemed to understand this fascination with the Chicago native by giving him a very forgettable 434 day reign with the cornerstone of the company, the WWE Championship. After dropping the title to barely part timer, The Rock, at the Royal Rumble CM Punk was hand chosen another part timer to feast on. That man was none other than the Undertaker. After Punk made the best he could with a very short term, thrown together program leading into Wrestlemania reports started to surface that CM Punk was unhappy with WWE creative and what they had done to his character since the historic "Summer of Punk" 2 summers ago. Since the infamous rant on the Las Vegas stage June 27 of 2011 Punk has gone from spitting venom to ranting on about being disrespected. Reports say that Punk had enough with the direction he was being sent in and after being held off of TV the night after becoming another name during "The Streak," he had enough. A week later Punk did what few expected. He walked out on the WWE. Of course we all knew this was a work to write Punk off TV for a minute and let him heal up nagging injuries. Punk is a work horse for the WWE and has rightfully earned some time to heal up and get bigger and better than before. But what's next for CM Punk? Some say he's gone until next month when he's advertised for shows in March and some say that they don't plan on bringing him back until after Summer Slam. The only thing that everyone does seem to know is that no one can figure out what will happen when CM Punk makes his return to WWE television. Odds are strong when he does indeed comes back he will probably, like most talent in the WWE not named John Cena, be grossly misused. There is however a way that they can take this situation and use it to generate some much needed interest in the WWE. Step 1. CM Punk and the newly twitterized Triple H start a little twitter war. Have Punk make a comment about Mr. H's selling out or something of the sort. Mr. H's can retort stating that at least he's never walked out on the company. More banter ensues, blah blah blah. Leak a report that Punk and Mr. H's had a confrontation followed by Hunter sporting a shiner from a Punk sucker punch. Announce on WWE.com that they wish Phil Brooks, aka CM Punk all the best in his future endeavors. Step 2. 30 days later CM Punk shocks the world and again shows up in an ROH wrestling ring. He says he actually wants to be a wrestler and not an entertainer and spends the next 2-3 months wrestling for them. (For those that are like, WHAT!? WWE and ROH have a working relationship that those in the "know" have read about but the casual wrestling fan would have NO idea) He would more than likely end up the ROH World Champion and ROH would get some more viewers. Step 3. On September 15, 2013 at Night of Champions where John Cena will undoubtedly be defending the WWE Championship Phillip "CM Punk" Brooks will make his triumphant return, ROH Championship in toe and demand that he's inserted into the WWE Championship match between Cena and Wade Barrett. Punk will walk out of the event with not only the ROH title but also the WWE Championship slung over his shoulders. TNA is starting to gain a tiny bit of momentum and if they can capitalize on the civil unrest amongst wrestling fans, they might be able to gain some ground before the end of the summer. If the WWE wants to garner some interest in time for Survivor Series, they should take a hint from this wrestling fan. Do something UNHEARD of. When you have one of the best workers in the world and arguably the best mic man in the industry and your best angle for him to take some time off is to "walk out" on the WWE(for a second time mind you), you're doing something wrong. Do something edgy and interesting. Build up ROH like you did ECW in the 90's and get some fans interested. You might as well grab some headlines in the meantime. Agree with me or not, that's my 2 cents.
Figured I'd fire up the ol' writing hand again and see what I could come up with. Let me have it kids!
Problem is ROH is so bush league that this story would need some time.....as in ROH needs to grow a whole lot more to be able to carry the weight of that storyline. Now would not be the time. Plus I think they missed the boat on a C.M. Punk-leaving-WWE storyline when he won the title from Cena in that classic match in Chicago. THAT was the time to have him leave and tour with the belt. The buzz was there and they simply got impatient and raced to a rematch. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QurAhNoyOnk]Cm Punk vs John Cena Money in the Bank 2011 WWE championship - YouTube[/ame] Now what I think is best is for Punk so simply go away for a while and go completely silent. When it's time to bring him back, there's just one story to tell with him. His climb back to the title.
I'm with you on the fact that they missed the boat on the actual timing of this. But the brass in the E overshadow Punk by having him appear like a snitch. Let him off the chain on the mic or release him from his contract. It'd be like making the Undertaker a biker or something. ;) But for real, I think this angle would help build up ROH and generate some big time buzz in the wresting community.
Release him from his contract? That's not going to happen. Sure he's had issues with creative but he's not leaving the WWE anytime soon. He is being taken off TV and house shows so he can heal. I'd expect him back for something at Summerslam, make his time off long enough where his return is worth the wait.
