When CM Punk decided to throw in the towel following a tumultuous and tempestuous relationship with the management, it was met with a unanimous reaction that can most closely be described as ‘appalling’.
The harassment that Punk had to endure with the WWE resulted in him leaving indefinitely, plus he was enamoured by the prospects of making it big inside the UFC octagon, leaving his legion of fans dumbfounded and surprised at the sudden meander of his career path.
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His debut in the UFC against Mickey Gall didn’t go too well, with him submitting in the first round, further shovelling his UFC prospects into the darkest alleys of uncertainty.
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Here are 5 reasons why Punk should have never quit the WWE in favour of the UFC:
#5 There will never be another outspoken iconoclast in the WWE
CM Punk was the embodiment of iconoclasm, something that hasn’t been seen since he forfeited his contract and moved out of the wrestling business to pursue a career inside the octagon.
The sharp-tongued antithesis to a ‘yes man’ left following the precept laid by the upper echelons of management that ejected him from the main event status and thwarted his reputation which was once glorified by his 400-day reign as the WWE Champion.
Also read: 5 Reasons CM Punk should not compete in the UFC again
Punk’s famous ‘pipebomb’ laid testimony to his outspoken ways, something which he didn’t shy away from exhibiting. The character that Punk exuded hadn’t quite been seen in the WWE, following the egress of Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock.
Punk helped bring back the ‘attitude’ in the World Wrestling Entertainment, the seeds of which were sown during the 1996-98 period. WWE constantly needs a character who can effortlessly play the role of a sceptic and no one could play that role better than the ‘Straight Edge’ patron.
#4 No one can do better character switches
Punk made all the waves as a babyface, exercising it with grace and elan. His reign as champion won him fans and followers in every arena he went to. Punk was a fan-favourite and there were no two ways about it.
However, at a critical juncture in his career, Punk came at crossroads with the management and the aftermath wasn’t as good as he thought it would be. Punk was forced by Vince McMahon to turn heel, something to which he initially showed reluctance to.
McMahon wanted Punk to drop the title to Daniel Bryan which wasn’t taken too well by him. Punk wanted an angle with The Rock as it sounded more challenging. However, knowing Vince McMahon, it would be extremely difficult to convince him into accepting your needs (unless you’re 6’4, big and beefy).
So, Vince made an unsavoury attempt of winning Punk’s confidence. He promised Punk a WrestleMania main-event match, something that he obviously did not uphold! Punk was forced to drop the title, turn heel in the frivolous attempt of bagging a match at the grandest stage of them all.
Despite the heel turn, Punk made a fantastic one, something the WWE Universe was already used to seeing. Punk’s transition into a bad-guy (something which he effortlessly excelled at) added fodder to sustain the fire that the WWE was always known for!
#3 Punk was the last of a dying breed
In an era saturated with childhood heroes and do-gooders a la John Cena, Punk dared to play a character that revived the interest of people who had given up on the WWE.
Adding my personal account, I wish to thank Punk for not being ‘another brick in the wall’ and for ushering in a paradigm that was much needed to sustain my dying interest in the sports-entertainment business.
With WWE going Parental Guidance, much to the groaning dismay of people my age, Punk was the only entity that kept the business going, pandering both to the young crowds and the seasoned appreciators of the wrestling business.
Punk would have melanged well with the likes of Nakamura, Finn Balor, Sami Zayn and other NXT talents, had he not turned down the contract.
While the old dogs (seasoned-fans) are sick and tired of the ‘Vince-backed Cena/Reigns hegemony’, a new-wave around the likes of the wrestlers mentioned above would be a welcome respite to the ears that are currently sore by the constant drones of “Hustle, Loyalty, Respect”.
Too bad Punk won’t be around if the turnaround happens, though!
#2 WWE lacks a proper main eventer
The current crop of the World Wrestling Entertainment lacks a proper talent to spearhead the main events. While there are enough big names to back that allegation up; the likes of Brock Lesnar, Goldberg, Cena and The Undertaker, there isn’t a full-time performer to get the job done every time!
On the other hand, the potential headliners like Balor and Rollins are currently nursing injuries, leaving a massive gaping hole that needs to be filled. Had CM Punk still been on contract, the void on the top would have certainly been filled by him.
Punk is missing out on the chance to catapult himself onto the main-event status, something that was previously elusive to him and partially influenced his decision to quit the business.
Following his not-so-amazing first-hand experience inside the octagon, Punk should think about returning to the squared-circle and reclaim what’s his… the top spot!
#1 A potential angle based around the ‘fourth wall’
Not entirely putting the blame on Punk, but equally on Vincent Kennedy McMahon… had Vince been a little smart, he could have played his personal conflict with Punk under the masquerade of a storyline.
Punk wants to be a main-eventer, Vince needs hard cash. Both could work in synergy and get their part from a storyline involving the power struggle between the two. Vince would have his cash-cow, while Punk would ascend to the top of the food-chain if both acquiesced to working together on this storyline.
Both Punk and McMahon are letting go of earning revenue out of selling one of the hottest rivalries ever!
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