We are talking about a different generation of fans. Older fans wouldn't run up to Punk, because Social Media wasn't around back in the day. You would have to be a serious person in the industry to know the dirt, or just have magazines. These days with Forums and Twitter, people feel like they are friends with Punk just because they follow him. So they pull out their Smartphones and rush him for pictures.
True, but HBK was kept humble by Taker. If he stepped over the line he would get beaten up. In this day in age, who would beat up Punk on the current Roster; it can't be Taker, HHH. You need someone who wrestles on the high card that could take him in the back and dust him up.