TSC Evaluation #7: CM Punk

[stro]

I was contemplating giving him an 8 but then I saw this...


And that's what makes a wrestler a legend. You can ignore his sloppy elbow, his preachy at times whiny promos, you even ignore the fall out if they literally shifted the culture. Punk had people tuned in, old and new wrestling fans. Because of Punk, guys like Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Nakamura and others recognized indy stars are being hired. Do you think if it wasn't for Bryan and Punk we'd have Owens and Balor as the first champions of a new title?

Nah, Punk is a legened. Ten.

Punk did nothing to change wrestling. This idea that he was some kind of trail blazing dude is crazy to me. WWE's thing going back to the early/mid 80s has been "take stars that were hot in smaller promotions and make them superstars here". They gave Randy Savage, who was smaller than Bret and HBK, a year long title reign during the biggest era of WWE (size and money wise) after being a super hot star in the Memphis area, traditionally the least respected territory of the era. Then in the 90s, they went with Bret, HBK, and Austin, all "average" sized guys in comparison to previous champions.

The indies are the modern day analogues of the post territory era. Punk getting signed and getting a push is about as big of a deal as any random dude in 1986 getting signed and getting a push. Paul London and Spanky got signed years early and got big pushes as well, especially considering how small they were and how they couldn't cut promos. Bryan getting over like he did had nothing to do with Punk. NXT becoming essentially a super indie had nothing to do with Punk and everything to do with getting the biggest stars they could outside of WWE, which happen to be indie and Japan guys.

Being surprised Punk got the push he got is like being surprised that Macho or Rude or Warrior got the pushes they got. Punk was just following down the path Savage/Bret/HBK made for him. He was an extension of that. He cut down no paths for other wrestlers.

 

[Metal Face]

tfw Punk will get rated higher than Steiner...

Any way, I liked Punk a lot. Pretty much one of the reason's I stayed watching the product from 2009-2013. Dude was a superb heel, played his part perfectly. The Punk/Hardy feud IMO is the best feud since the switch to PG. SmackDown in 2009 brehs was just

I'll give him an 8.

 

[Playaz Eyez]

CM Punk gets an 8 from me. I had basically been keeping up with him since probably 2003, so it was cool to see his growth over that whole time. He was loaded with charisma and could talk. Didn't have to yell or anything, but he was very measured in his promos, and either you loved to cheer him, or loved to boo him. He was much better as a heel than a face (especially when his last face run he was basically washed and high fiving Goldust, and looking totally unmotivated). He put on very good matches with pretty much anybody. Had a varied enough moveset (even after being toned down), but was mostly great at psychology. He knew exactly how to draw you in without being very high risk. Him leaving was the catalyst for Bryan's explosion, and the rise in indie guys being more accepted today. I have no problem with the way he left. Sometimes it just beez like that.

Small note, they could have done so much more with the Straight Edge Society gimmick. That could have been an updated Raven's Flock type of thing. Sucks that they were used as Big Show's punching bags and disbanded without much fanfare.

 

[TheWhackMamba]

I know it's "woulda/coulda" talk, but he would've done it eventually.

He probably will in 5 years

 

[mrken12]

He probably will in 5 years

He's probably never coming back.

 

[thenatural]

I gave him a 7. Veered towards an 8 but I couldn't do it.

 

[MushroomX]

He probably will in 5 years

He's probably never coming back.

I side with @mrken12

• Bad Back and Knees
• HHH won't allow him, bad blood
• Punk has lost his passion for Fighting in general

 

[mrken12]

-Mic work/promos: 10. One of the best all-time on the mic, dude reminded me of Jake Roberts in that he didn't have to shout or raise his voice to keep you captivated

-Personality/gimmicks: 9. From arrogant ROH douchebag to Straight Edge Savior to the anti-face preacher to the disenfranchised tweener, Punk had some very memorable gimmicks

-Ring work (along with some of your favorite matches/feuds): 9. Always enjoyed his matches, and while not the best technically, had the skills and psychology to have great matches. Cena at MITB 11, Lesnar at Summerslam and his feud with Mysterio probably his best in WWE, without even touching his ROH classics

-Overall rating (which doesn't have to be an average of the above scores): 9. One of my all-time favourites but I reserve 10's for the likes of Austin, Rock, Macho and Angle. If 9.5 was an option I'd have picked that

@The Great One how you gonna give my boy a 1 and not explain why

TGO never even dropped a response. Just gave a 1 and left.

 

[Ill Lou Malnati]

Mic skills - 8
Personality - 9
Ringwork - 8. Favorite matches: vs Cena at MITB, vs Hardy at Summerslam, vs Lesnar. I've never followed ROH, so that's why I'm leaving those oft-mentioned indy classics out.

Overall: 8

 

[YakSpiller]

He would be legendary if he wasn't such a headache to deal with.

So many moments missed because he acts like a spoil brat.

 

[Notorious 1 E.Y.E.]

hes an 8

 

[TransJenner]

Lol at people saying he'll never come back


I'm sure he will eventually, maybe not soon but one day ,nothing wrong with that

 

[Jmare007]

I'm almost certain he'll wrestle again. Not sure if it's gonna be in a WWE ring though.

 

[Notorious 1 E.Y.E.]

I side with @mrken12

• Bad Back and Knees
• HHH won't allow him, bad blood
• Punk has lost his passion for fake Fighting in general

Fixed

 

[Chris Cool]

Him leaving was the beginning of the descent into the era we in now. I don't give a damn how hard yaw hype these nxt dudes, shyt is straight.