Now that all of the hoopla surrounding last week’s 1,000th episode of WWE Monday Night Raw has worn off and the landmark show itself is in the books, it’s time to look forward to Raw 1001 and beyond. For me, there was one key development that occurred last week at Raw 1000 that is likely to be the point of focus between now and SummerSlam 2012 at the veryleast: WWE Champion CM Punk’s attack on The Rock after Punk’s WWE Championship match with John Cena got tossed out:
As a result of last week’s actions highlighted in the above clip, many people think that CM Punk has made a full heel turn. After all, not many people can attack The Rock and be cheered or heralded for it. However, I wholeheartedly disagree with this sentiment, and let me tell you why.
Ever since CM Punk beat John Cena at last year’s Money In The Bank PPV in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois to ignite the live crowd and the entire WWE fan-base in ways that haven’t been seen in years, Punk has slowly lost his luster as the anti-heroic “Voice of the Voiceless”. This is through no fault of his own — CM Punk is clearly the best in the world — but as I mentioned in my last column following this year’s MITB PPV, Punk may be WWE Champion but he’s just not being given the same perks or prestige that guys like John Cena and The Rock have gotten during their own runs as THE CHAMP, and he always seems to be relegated to the middle of the PPV card rather than the top where he belongs.
WWE even teased this sentiment in a backstage segment between Punk and Eve a few weeks ago, when Eve claimed that Punk must be feeling overshadowed by The Rock, John Cena, Triple H, the Big Show, Brock Lesnar and even AJ:
Therefore, I feel that Punk SHOULD feel LEGITIMATELY slighted for these transgressions against him, and I think that many people in the crowd would agree that Punk should be featured more prominently across all of the main event slots.
The bottom line is this: CM Punk attacked The Rock last week, but that does NOT mean he has to suddenly turn his back on the WWE Universe. Instead, I hope he kicks off Raw 1001 with a PIPE BOMB to remember, not on us, but on THEM, as in WWE management (Vince McMahon), John Cena, The Rock, Triple H, Brock Lesnar, the Big Show, and even AJ since she is the new Raw General Manager.
Ultimately, I want CM Punk to get that edge back, to once again become the “Voice of the Voiceless”. His character — and the WWE — is just more fun that way, and that is NOT something I’ll be rooting against … Will you?
That’s all from me — CB.
