One thing I underestimated about Punk was how great and how much comedy was in his ability to take an ass whuppin. Shawn Michaels spent a career taking Tex Avery bumps out there, and shyt is what makes him one of my all time favorites.
Punk got the "make'em mad" persona, a good finisher, and crazy charisma. Like Shawn and Bret were putting on gold in a dead era following the steroid scandal, Punk is trying to find greatness in an era trying its damnedest to distance itself from Chris Benoit. It's overblown, cartoonish, and sometimes just laughable. That's exactly the era that followed the Hogan era, and that has to mean a repeat of the attitude era of some identity is on the horizon.
Heel Punk may not ignite that next movement, but he damn sure will help father that into fruition like HBK did the attitude era.