CM Punk -- His Rise to Greatness And The Agony Of Staying Relevant: 'The Oh, My Back ... My Neck And My Back' Story by the staff at The History of Professional Wrestling Facebook Page

With CM Punk's debut UFC match put off once more combined with the news of his back surgery, die-hard marks have hit the interwebs with housing bubble like hope that he may forego his Make-A-Wish UFC career only to return to the WWE. I scoffed at the idea both personally and publicly via Twitter where I suggested his ambitions should lead him elsewhere due strongly to his injuries and overall physical health at this juncture. But the interactive marks would not be deterred with logic or facts. After all, the world is flat again, even if it isn't, and no one has times for facts. But fair enough.

So a twitter war of Kanye like proportions quickly ensued where stiff elbows were thrown, and Muay Thai knee shots were landed. Everyone involved came out of the experience bloodied and bruised, and the fight called a draw. But some interesting thoughts born themselves from the heated conversations, ones that led me into taking a serious look at Punk since he quit the WWE, and the potential, if any, were there upon his inevitable return to the WWE. In considering the overview of such a return, my thoughts immediately gravitated to the divisiveness that exists in the sport of wrestling right now pitting smart fans against casual fans. A consideration that has to be had for anyone, not just Punk, in making a long overdue return to the flagship of the sport.

Naturally the Punk marks stated emphatically that such a move would get a Road Warrior like pop as the whole of the IWC would immediately embrace him as one of their own. I don't know that they would. The love affair with Punk, and conversely, the fallout that stemmed from which – the rise and fall of Bryan Danielson as the unaffiliated protagonist, non prototypical face of the WWE – set the stage for much to happen, and happen it did. The most notable being the 'turn of the century' by the smart fans on a casually geared product. So it opens a very unique Pandora's box of considerations here if and when Punk makes a Rock like return.

Will he get that Road Warrior pop as fans have suggested, or would it be more along the lines of a Batista shaming that I fear? By all rights, the formula that has worked for decades in keeping someone off camera, or even out of the WWE for a period of time translates into a 'buzz' and/or some type of championship run upon their return. But this formula doesn't work where its the obvious 'get' that fans are tired of seeing, and acts incongruous to what Punk, through his persona, stood for. So in essence, he would be selling out twice. And where the fans might forgive one, would they be willing to forgive both? I would venture to say no; especially in this bellicose environment.

Creatively, I don't see that anything has changed from the point of his departure to now. What and how he translates that initial pop upon his return to the WWE into something sustainable as he works a championship run would presumably be haphazardly put together and still lacking that great protagonist to Punk's naturally smug and self serving heel persona; the only persona that would work where the WWE doesn't have, nor is capable of creating a franchise heel to put the title on. The only viable option right now would be Lesnar, but Brock is becoming the top face of the company. And Lesnar versus Punk has been done, and didn't carry with it that epic appeal that you expect out of your two franchise players.

Punk, for all that he once brought to the table in away of athleticism, in-ring ability, and charisma, couldn't draw on his own, and the numbers bear this out. Arguably one of his best matches came at Money in the Bank 2011 where Dave Meltzer gave the Punk versus Cena match a coveted five star award. The overall pay per view only drew 195,000 buys worldwide with 139,000 domestic however. But yes, it was marginally up from 2010's Money In The Bank that drew 164,000 buys worldwide – 98,000 domestic. And this is one of the mid tier pay-per-views unlike WrestleMania or Summer Slam that the WWE truly invests in.

Fast forward to Summer Slam 2013 and the dual main events of Punk versus Lesnar, and Cena versus Daniel Bryan where the buy in rate was a paltry 298,000 worldwide, which was down significantly from 2012's Summer Slam average of 350,000 buys for an event headlined by Brock Lesnar vs Triple H. This is a significant argument to make even though I focus upon only two of the eighteen pay-per-views Punk was affiliated with while with the WWE. And this point dissuades any notions that Punk in the modern environment would make anything more than a temporary, albeit marginal impact if and when he were to return to the WWE. It is my contention that for as much as CM Punk did for the sport by way of kicking in the door on the prototypical WWE type, thus allowing the boys from the Indy scene a serious look where and when they would have been readily dismissed, Punk's contributions have come and gone, and his significance fading.

But this has been a topic of debate that has yet to address the giant elephant in the room – the manner in which he left the WWE and the inevitable heat that he drew from which. Specifically, the one bridge you don't want to burn was burned not so much with Vince, who has traditionally put dollar signs above company loyalty, but with Triple H. So for Punk to come back, and say he goes for a championship run (why else would he return?), at some point he would have to face his comeuppance from Triple H, and there we are back at the point and factors that led him into quitting in the first place where he didn't want to play a part in a long term program leading into WrestleMania with Hunter. But we are getting ahead of ourselves here.

But say you go this route, and Punk makes a triumphant return, where do you go from there? The brands are splitting after Mania. And at this juncture, its the right thing to do for the WWE. Firstly, to make much needed room for the open invitational to the indies that will not only monopolize coveted camera time on NXT who will be hosting the series, but will secondly, and perhaps most importantly, turn SmackDown into a finishing school for the current crop of NXTers to transition into the mainstream casual product produced on Raw.

This is something that the WWE hasn't had before, but through which will ultimately provide longevity to talent as they fast track twenty years of much needed trade craft into a five to ten year run in the minors (NXT and SmackDown). But lastly, the brand split, if done correctly, will offer the WWE a wealth of talent to draw upon where and when it needs it. Or, conversely, something creatively pops that might direct or redirect the current trends into a new phase, or perhaps a new era that will ultimately be market tested on NXT, pushed up the ladder if and when it resonates to SmackDown, and finally on to Raw if it has staying power. To say that the entire sport of professional wrestling is counting on this reshaping of the company in looking to the WWE as that great hope of steering the ship away from niche based promotions seems understated given the scope of the storm its currently sailing.

But let's do some fantasy booking here. I agree that Punk could find a niche on SmackDown offering his tutelage and experience in an Indie-ques environment that he is accustomed to, all the while offering compelling matches with such talent he has great history with over the years – Zayne, Aries, Samoa Joe, Cesaro, and Styles. But ultimately this is a step backwards for him, and one that I'm not sure that he would be willing to take. Yes, his body is at the point where the damage done has aged him beyond his years. And this would definitely be a consideration as he makes a perceivable retirement run, but can the holy trinity of C's (cash, calendar, and creative) align in such a way to make this worth even considering?

Ultimately, I think so. This is the twenty anniversary of the NWO, and in that time since its inception, every viable promotion within the sport has tried to cash in on the gimmick in one facet or another. As we speak the WWE is about to have another go at it with Finn's Bullet club. And who could be a more compelling counterpoint toward which than a CM Punk? Got your attention? I thought so.
But Punk would have to be well fitted with an ensemble to counteract the likes of Balor, Doc Gallows, and Karl Anderson (the known members of this group thus far). And you would have to assume that such an ensemble would have to stem from NXT otherwise this would be a wasted venture in and of itself. So off the top of my head I would think Samoa Joe, Aries, and Zayne; all of whom are great workers and could mesh well in a return to the Indy type program that is fresh in NXT, and could potentially offer SmackDown its own identity after the brand split.

Through which, Punk would once again be a focal point thrust headlong once more into the limelight that he once lavished in. And it would be a perfect tie-in to the light heavyweight/cruiser weight tournament taking place on NXT, so there could be intermingling of talent from one show to the next, and vice versa as the story line progresses creating a greater, more viable buzz throughout the company as it did so. But for this to happen, no doubt certain assurances would have to be made toward a greater commitment than perhaps Punk is capable of making at this point in his life. Ultimately, this program would be a slow burner that has the legs to last at least a year if not well beyond as long as the players involved remain committed. The WWE no doubt understands this else why would they have invested as heavily as they have in signing the Bullet Club?

But if you don't go this route, this would still open up a cacophony of ideas for creative to toy with as they find the voice of SmackDown, and what will ultimately lead toward re-legitimizing the sport of professional wrestling as it immerses itself into the UFC pop that has been slowly building over the past decade. It is important to note, however, that UFC and professional wrestling continues to play a very symbiotic relationship in a myriad of ways, but specifically the same formulaic need to cultivate such stars that people can either root for or hate … viscerally hate for one reason or another. To this end, CM Punk could play a vital role in ushering in this 'Semi-Realistic' era of the sport.

But will he? That's the million dollar question. Without disparaging the man, he has shown the lengths he will go to in getting his way, and when he doesn't, the obligations that he will effortlessly toss aside in a childlike huff. Has he, since he initially left the WWE, grown in maturity and/or professionalism? I can't say. But I can speak of the potential that is there, and a further contribution to be made to the sport that he seemingly has a love/hate relationship with.
So where these are the immediate thoughts in a Punk return, for all those still clinging to hope while stealing from Bryan Danielson – Yes! Yes! Yes! – I would issue the caveat: Be careful in what you wish for.

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