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Phillip Jack Boots, better known to the world by his ring name CM Punk, has enjoyed a stellar career in professional wrestling. Punk got his start in a backyard wrestling and was bundled into a tag team called the Chick Magnets, along with wrestler CM Venom. Yes, that's right, the enigmatic initials stand for Chick Magnet. Let that sink in.
Nonetheless, CM Punk soon embarked on a more formal entry into the world of sports entertainment. He was trained by Ace Steel at the Steel Dominion wrestling school, but he kept the CM Punk name. In fact, he has never performed using any other alter ego...except for a recent MKE show, where he wrestled under a mask.
CM Punk's sudden, unconventional return to sports entertainment has many wondering if the WWE will send out feelers toward him for another possible run with the company. Given that the company is currently preparing to air Smackdown Live on Fox, and is facing a new challenger for the North American pro wrestling market in the form of All Elite Wrestling, the company may be looking to sign as much big-name talent as possible.
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But the question at hand is, should WWE even try to get CM Punk back under contract? Here are five reasons why they should, and five why they should not.
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#1 Should try to rehire CM Punk: He has excellent mainstream media appeal
CM Punk has something that the WWE values highly. It's not the support of the WWE Universe or his technical wrestling acumen. Rather, simply put, it's his name recognition value. CM Punk is well known to both wrestling fans and outside of the pro wrestling industry. He's known to the mainstream media because of his foray into Mixed Martial Arts.
Though CM Punk does not have the impressive MMA accolades that Brock Lesnar brings to bear, just having competed at all makes him someone that average, non-wrestling fans are likely to know. Even Dana White admits that the cards featuring CM Punk outsold other UFC pay-per-views with more skilled fighters as the headliners. If CM Punk can do that for UFC, imagine what he could do for WWE if he chose to return to the company.
#1 Should not rehire CM Punk: He's been unsuccessful in the UFC, damaging his credibility
So far, CM Punk has had two UFC Mixed Martial Arts fights. In his first bout, he was devastated by Micky Gall, an MMA journeyman and a man who many considered a 'soft pick' for CM Punk's first fight. Gall destroyed CM Punk in less than two minutes on the first round.
In his second fight against the somewhat more worldly Mike Jackson, CM Punk managed to go the distance. This, however, is no Rocky story; Punk had next to no offense and looked terrible. This prompted MMA commentator Joe Rogan to declare that putting Punk in the ring with Jackson was just like putting "a puppy in a cage with a pitbull."
CM Punk originally used a phony mixed martial arts background to build credibility for his pro wrestling character. However, with his two devastating losses in the octagon, he won't be able to play that card any longer. Yes, CM Punk is a well known name, but for many it's for all the wrong reasons.
#2 Should try to rehire CM Punk: He's a top tier technical wrestler
While there are other wrestling stars who have been more successful in mixed martial arts, such as Brock Lesnar or Bobby Lashley, their pro wrestling acumen is adequate, at best. CM Punk on the other hand is one of the most celebrated performers and in ring workers of the modern era. After training in the Steel Dominion, he would work the independent scene for several years until he got on Ring of Honor's radar.
In 2002, Ring of Honor was still struggling to build its brand name, and one of the major stars of the company was Raven. Raven and Punk feuded for months, during which time Punk learned Raven's uses of psychology to enhance match storytelling. Naturally, CM Punk also became an even better wrestler because of time spent at the Honor Dojo.
By the time he debuted on the ECW revival run by WWE, Punk was a seasoned veteran and technical wrestling master. If he returned to the company, he would fit right in with new recruits like Ricochet and Adam Cole.
#2 Should not rehire CM Punk: His attitude backstage was problematic
CM Punk is an incredible wrestling talent, and he knows it. But while it's fine for the CM Punk character to act arrogantly and dismissive of other wrestlers and their opinions, it's another matter entirely when Phillip Jack Boots acts that way backstage far away from the ring or cameras.
CM Punk's problems with other talents seem to go on and on. The Hardys are known to be no fans of his, and The Undertaker once got angry with CM Punk for not dressing in a suit while on tour as world champion.
While Undertaker eventually forgave Punk and even had a five-star match with him, there clearly is a pattern to CM Punk upsetting people backstage. No matter how brilliant you are at your job, getting along with your co-workers is essential. And since CM Punk has proven he has a real problem with this, hiring him back to WWE may not be the best decision.
#3 Should try to rehire CM Punk: He has excellent microphone skills
Back on June 27, 2011, WWE put on a Raw 'Supershow,' and the fans in attendance and those watching at home had no idea how 'super' the show would end up being. CM Punk put John Cena through a table, which seemed standard sports entertainment fare. However, what happened next is what arguably made CM Punk into the household name he is today.
Punk went up to the stage on Raw, sat down cross-legged, and proceeded to deliver a red hot 'shoot' style promo in which he pretty much put down each and every member of WWE management and their top stars of the era, like John Cena. While Punk was supposed to be delivering a heel promo--he put down the fans in the audience too, saying they were lining Vince McMahon's pockets--what he said reflected the opinions of so many that he wound up being cheered.
The man who delivered the 'pipe bomb' promo is a man you definitely want in your company, even if you can't completely control what he's going to say. After all, to quote Eric Bischoff, controversy creates cash.
#3 Should not rehire CM Punk: He doesn't get along with Triple H
Vince McMahon has ruled the WWE for over forty years, and there's no doubt that the chairman of the board has taken both the promotion and sports entertainment to new heights. However, all good things must come to an end, and it may be approaching time for the seventy plus-year-old Vince McMahon to retire. If that happens, there's a very short list of who could replace him as the man with all the stroke in WWE, and Triple H is on the top of that list.
Unfortunately, CM Punk has never gotten along with Triple H. Their backstage disagreements are the stuff of internet legend, mostly stemming from an appearance CM Punk made on Colt Cabana's podcast where Punk dragged Triple H pretty hard. Why would WWE rehire someone they know could cause disagreements with management? It doesn't make good business sense no matter how popular CM Punk is.
#4 Should try to rehire CM Punk: He's a cult of personality
CM Punk's popularity cannot be overstated. Even when he's not employed by WWE, indeed hasn't worked for the promotion in many years, there are STILL CM Punk chants that sprout up unbidden all over arenas across the country.
And if a show is taking place in Chicago, CM Punk's hometown, WWE just accepts as inevitable that the chants will take place. The fans aren't chanting just to annoy WWE officials; their chants are a sign of homage to a man who they follow with almost slavish devotion.
CM Punk fans are die-hard, rabid, and yes, a bit cultish. For whatever reason, CM Punk has just the right mix of ingredients to be a massively popular pro wrestling superstar. WWE can't afford to miss out on being over to this magnitude and should rehire the straight edge superstar.
#4 Should not rehire CM Punk: He has a lot of sour grapes
One of the major reasons that CM Punk cited for leaving the WWE was his treatment by the company. CM Punk believed that he was not being treated as the major star that he is, and among his complaints were having to lose to Triple H.
But when you objectively examine CM Punk's career, you find that he was actually treated quite well by the WWE. ECW Champion, WWE World Champion, Intercontinental Champion, World Tag Team Champion...CM Punk held nearly every title available during his WWE run. Not to mention that after his 'pipe bomb' promo he essentially became the star of Raw each and every week as he jousted verbally with John Laurinaitis.
And as far as losing to Triple H goes, the WWE locker room is full of athletes who would LOVE the opportunity to lose to CM Punk or John Cena because of the prestige facing those men would bring to their careers. CM Punk has a lot of sour grapes, and most of them are not warranted. There's no point in hiring someone as bitter as CM Punk to a new contract since he'll probably just act the same as last time around.
#5 Should try to rehire CM Punk: He still has a lot to offer, and not just in the ring
CM Punk is a great technical wrestler, as we have established. He's also a cult of personality, possessed of fantastic mike skills, and has mainstream media recognition for his name. However, his biggest contributions to the WWE could come from areas no one is expecting.
A man who has spent decades wrestling at all levels of sports entertainment, from the indie scene to the big leagues of WWE, has a vast storehouse of knowledge about the sport. The knowledge he can pass on and share with up and coming WWE superstars.
Not to mention that Punk's mike skills could be taught, as well. He could help other wrestlers refine their promos and interview skills. And last but not least, CM Punk has proven to be a capable and worthy commentator in times past. Certainly, he's at least more intelligible than Booker T. CM Punk has a lot to offer the WWE, and not just in the ring.
#5 Should not rehire CM Punk: He has many legal battles
There's nothing like litigation to bring out people's ugly sides. That was certainly the case when CM Punk was sued by WWE doctor Chris Amann. Once again, all of the drama can be traced back to Colt Cabana's podcast. During the podcast, CM Punk stated that a lump on his posterior was diagnosed as a staph infection by a non-WWE doctor; However, when he showed it to Chris Amann the WWE official misdiagnosed and treated it.
This resulted in an anti-defamation lawsuit brought against Punk by Amann, paid for by the WWE. CM Punk won that court case, but not without ruffling even more feathers in the WWE by his statements made during the litigation. Now CM Punk is being sued by his former best friend, Colt Cabana. Is someone with so many legal disputes really the type of star WWE needs right now?
There you have it; Five reasons the WWE should try to hire back CM Punk, and five that they should not. Questions or comments? Please leave them after the article and as always thanks for reading!
