CM Punk; WWE Has Me Hooked Again (2011 Official Pro Wrestling Thread)

[brettac1]

I still don't understand why the Rock hates Awesome Truth so much that he has to team with his hated rival on Sunday. It makes zero storyline sense at all. The annoying thing is that WWE keeps grabbing for these short term fixes to bump the ratings a tiny bit, or to try to bump the PPV buyrates up, instead of taking the time to build some stars with some lasting impact on those things. Dolph Ziggler just screams out as a guy who should be champion. Not US Champion. Get him away from Eddie's widow and make him mean in the process. The last thing they need are more weak heels. Look at Mark Henry - that's what a heel should be. That's why Smackdown goes up in the ratings. They should keep the belt on him for as long as possible and have him continue to crush and "injure" babyfaces, because it's good business.

[PrinceEatMeat]

I agree with you. It's really obvious that the whole Cena/Rock teaming up thing is just to get PPV buys and TV ratings. Everyone will want to see The Rock in the ring again. I am in that boat myself, so I can't say that upsets me much. Ziggler is definitely a star. He doesn't need Vickie watering him down. I think he should be in line for a much bigger push. I also love the Mark Henry heel character. They should've built him this way a long time ago, and in the main event picture. I think Big Show could obviously play the same role if he was heel. I like something different like this in the main event and title picture. I really hate the boring heels that get by with stupid managers like Vickie. I also want the old, ruthless, heel Randy Orton back. Not this stupid babyface character he's been playing. I also have no idea why they are using Mason Ryan as a face, it makes absolutely no sense at all. Guys like him are only credible as heels. I would also like to see Cody Rhodes get a bigger push. I think he's ready for it.

[brettac1]

Heel Orton would be excellent. I actually wasn't watching at all when he was a heel, and I am laid up from a car accident at the moment - any suggestions on stuff I should check out from that period, as far as PPV's and stuff?

 

Definitely agree on Cody Rhodes. I like him. Guys like Ziggler/Swagger/Rhodes all have potential to me, if they just had the right angle. All of them can definitely get it done in the ring, especially Ziggler. The one thing I do like that they are doing with him is having him wrestle twice on two PPV's in a row now. The guy can carry the ball. I am scared that they will make him a face out of the inevitable split with Vickie, which would just be an awful idea.

 

Also, I certainly want to see The Rock back in the ring. I just don't like how they got there. He's awesome. The other thing that is annoying, though, is that this whole thing is set up to give Miz and Truth no chance on Sunday - two weeks in a row they have gotten beat down by only one member of the opposing tag team. So, basically the draw in that match is "will Rock and Cena get along?". Don't really like that. I am also very curious to see how they work the roles in the Rock/Cena match/feud. I don't think either of them can work heel at this point. Rock probably could if Mania wasn't in Miami, but Cena is a face for life right now.

[PrinceEatMeat]

I really enjoyed the entire Orton heel era. There was Rated RKO when he teamed with Edge, and Legacy was pretty good with Rhodes and DiBiase. I enjoyed the 2009 Royal Rumble where he and Legacy just dominated the whole thing and he ended up winning. It was something new for a change in the Rumble match. I also enjoyed when he won the WWE Title 2 separate times at No Mercy 2007. Had two outstanding matches with HHH. His feud with DX was good, as was his feud with Shawn Michaels. I was just a fan of his character during that whole era. He's still kind of goes crazy at times, but it's not like when he was a heel. He enjoyed the legend killer era too. Just wouldn't hold anything back, and would punt every legend in the head that he came across with no remorse. Now they are just trying to turn him into another Cena. Just browse through his wikipedia page and you'll get a breakdown of his feuds during that period.

[jerichoholicninja]

It seems pretty obvious to me that Awesome Truth will win by some sort of miscommunication between Rock and Cena. Boom, there is your angle going into Wrestlemania.

[PrinceEatMeat]

I still think The Rock might just turn on Cena. Give him a Rock Bottom and walk out. Or they could go with the less predictable thing and have Cena walk out on Rock.

[TracyThom]

I'd love to see it, but I don't think they would turn Cena heel. Too much money in merchandise sales. Plus, he is the #1 wish granter with Make a Wish Foundation. If you have Netflix, the WWE documentary The John Cena Experience is streaming. Dave Meltzer has commented how involved Cena is with charities, but I had no idea. I have nothing but respect for the guy after watching that.

 

An interesting side thought on turning Cena heel... Do you remember how the Hart Foundation (Bret, Neidhart, Davey, Owen, and Pillman) were heels in America but super-babyfaces in Canada? I'm curious if there is a scenario on how Cena can be a heel to adults, but still be a babyface to the kids. About 50-75% of adults boo him now, but it would be interesting to see him 100% heel.

[brettac1]

It seems pretty obvious to me that Awesome Truth will win by some sort of miscommunication between Rock and Cena. Boom, there is your angle going into Wrestlemania.

I think Rock and Cena win a glorified squash and then have a sort of falling out after when it is celebration time where Rock ignores Cena or something, since they foreshadowed that on Raw. My guess is that they completely botch Wrestlemania. Granted, that's a pretty safe bet with the company with any angle that has potential, but I think it happens.

[LouisEly]

Remember, Wrestlemania is in Miami, The Rock's hometown.

 

If they are going to turn Cena heel, that's the time and place to do it.

[brettac1]

If they turn Cena, they don't have another top face to take over. He's their #1 merch seller and draw as a face. He won't turn for a long, long time.

[radman12484]

I thought I read somewhere that CM Punk is now the #1 seller for merchandise in the WWE now. Punk should win the title and run with it through Wrestlemania beating Ziggler in the WWE Championship Match. Also have been reading a lot lately that Austin wants to face Punk at Wrestlemania IF the money is right. So I am guessing WWE is probably looking at Dallas for next years Wrestlemania to have Punk vs. Austin.

 

A Cena heel turn is more likely then ever at Survivor Series. Will it happnen? Probably not. However, there is no way Awesome Truth gets over in this match unless Rock or Cena screw eachother over or if Awesome Truth has help from a few people (Nash, ADR, Ziggler, etc). Cena will be getting boo'ed out of the building at Wrestlemania whether he's a heel or not.

 

Wrestlers in the WWE that deserve pushes in my book goes as follows: Dolph Ziggler, Cody Rhodes, Daniel Bryan, Tyson Kidd, and Wade Barrett. By push I mean taken to the next level for these guys. Ziggler, just like all of you have said, he's great in the ring and on the mic. He should be a top 3 heel in the WWE and in the WWE Title picture with or without Vickie. Rhodes is another one who should be World Champion. He's a guy who would be great as a top heel on Smackdown, his character is great with the paper bag thing. Daniel Bryan, he should be at least be caring the mid card right now. US Champion or IC Champion, doesn't matter. Tyson Kidd isn't getting used right at all. The matches he has had with Bryan and other guys on Superstars have been great. Barrett has gotten main event chances. Just needs to be taken to that next level.

[brettac1]

What about Curt Hennig's kid? McGillicuddy or whatever.

 

Wrestling needs a heel as amazing as Mr. Perfect again. Ziggler can be that dude.

 

I think Punk is mostly just another guy now, nothing special like he was before the MITB match and stuff. Like, why in the world is he getting involved in an announcer storyline? If he's supposed to be cool, I don't think that does any good. Austin would be an awesome match, though. He's the man.

[brettac1]

So, they have Ziggler eat a pin from Orton after about 10 seconds. Awesome.

[brettac1]

Yup... Just as stupid as expected in the main event.

[brwrsfan]

Ziggler had an entire match before that tag match right? I guess that kinda makes sense to get him out of there. That being said....the WWE seems to just botch stuff. I've vented on the PG angle that i think is ruining it all, but aside from that, they just don't develop people or storylines right.

 

Everything changes week to week or PPV to PPV (which is only like 3 weeks apart these days). There is no surprises, no sudden heel turns, nothing. Look back at the "glory days" of Wrestling and just about every superstar was a big heel at one poine or another and now it won't happen because of the money involved with merchandise. And when someone does get popular like CM Punk, they take all the stuff people liked (being a rebel, going against the company, etc) and basically just ignore it and make him into a goof.

 

I've said for years now that my interest in WWE was fading and they kept just barely keeping me around but even that is about to go I think. Watiing to see one more WM and then it might be all done and over.

[brettac1]

He did, and it was really good and he won... but then he gets in with Orton and seriously ate an RKO within seconds of Orton tagging in. If they were to have him win the Rumble and give him a push, they shouldn't have buried him like that. He did get jumped by Ryder after his first match, but that didn't get mentioned at all during the survivor match, which could have worked a little bit.

[patrickgpe]

the ziggler - punk match last night was a very good match for raw. hopefully they continue to groom him and vicki for the top heels.

[JimH5]

the ziggler - punk match last night was a very good match for raw. hopefully they continue to groom him and vicki for the top heels.

 

Agree fully on the Ziggler/Punk match. Terrific action, lots of near falls. Vickie is great in her role. Punk went awkwardly out of the ring, and I thought he was legitimately injured, and I made an audible gasp when Ziggler did that front slam toward the end of the match. Best match I've seen on Raw in a long time.

[brettac1]

I hope Vince, etc. saw dollar signs when they watched that match and that they do book Ziggler to win the Rumble and keep the belt on Punk until Mania. There will actually be a decent amount of "wrestling" at the show if they do and have Daniel Bryan challenging for the big gold belt. The time is definitely right to push Ziggler to the moon.

[BrewCrewForever]

the ziggler - punk match last night was a very good match for raw. hopefully they continue to groom him and vicki for the top heels.

 

Agree fully on the Ziggler/Punk match. Terrific action, lots of near falls. Vickie is great in her role. Punk went awkwardly out of the ring, and I thought he was legitimately injured, and I made an audible gasp when Ziggler did that front slam toward the end of the match. Best match I've seen on Raw in a long time.

I third that. Fantastic match. Love Punk and Ziggler is really growing on me as a major heel. I like Brett's idea of Ziggler winning the Rumble and going Punk vs Ziggler at WM28. Maybe a title vs title match. That would be sweet.

[brettac1]

I'd rather they somehow get the US belt off of him before then and have him focus on the WWE title. Maybe they can somehow work a split between he and Vickie into that, while somehow keeping Ziggler heel. The quicker he can move past Woo woo woo and stuff, the better.

[BrewCrewForever]

I'd rather they somehow get the US belt off of him before then and have him focus on the WWE title. Maybe they can somehow work a split between he and Vickie into that, while somehow keeping Ziggler heel. The quicker he can move past Woo woo woo and stuff, the better.

Yeah I would like to see him and Vickie split, but somehow keep Ziggler heel. Not really sure how they could do that though. I'm sure they can find a way.

Maybe Ryder beats Ziggler for the US Title at TLC, with Ziggler still looking strong somehow and then Ziggler sets his sights on the WWE Title.

 

[ELCABALLO45]

I have no idea what took me so long to find this thread. Couple thoughts.

 

Zigger - Agreed completely on the statements going on in here. He really has a chance right now to be their top heel. His match against Punk on Monday was awesome. They need to capitalize of this and realize the talent Ziggler has on the mic and in the ring.

 

Cena - Really wish he would turn heel. However, this will not happen. Cena heel could be a gold mind.

 

I really like the push they are giving Cody Rhodes. I think if not Ziggler he could be the next big heel. He is so good in the ring and he is good on the mic.

[PrinceEatMeat]

I'm looking forward to the feud between Cody Rhodes and Booker T. I think Booker will do a really good job of elevating him. He definitely still has it in the ring. They could have a really good match in my opinion. I'd like to see Booker do one last run in the ring. Also, did anyone see this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZzdJHeb9ns It's a promo that they briefly gave the link to during Raw last week. Speculation is that it's Jericho or Taker. There are reports that it is in fact Jericho, but we'll see. I really hope it is. I wanna see him feud with Punk so badly. I'd also like to see him feud with The Miz.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Also, based on the promos airing on Raw and Smackdown, it seems like Kane might come back with the mask again. That would be sweet.