WWE: CM Punk's year so far - future goals and opportunities

CM Punk

There comes a point in everyone’s life, where they experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Nothing remains forever, and the same applies to fame or in this case, being on top of the ladder in professional wrestling.

With the dawn of the new year, the longest reign in the past 25 years as the WWE champion came to an end when CM Punk lost the WWE title to The Rock, at the Royal Rumble.

With WWE planning for John Cena-Rock II for this year’s WrestleMania, they did not think twice about taking the title off CM Punk, thus ending something phenomenal, which hasn’t happened in the WWE for the past two decades.

CM Punk’s meteoric rise to fame started in 2011, more than 5 years after signing with the WWE! CM Punk’s frustrations pushed him over the edge, as he delivered an earth shattering promo during the summer of 2011.

Since then, CM Punk held the WWE title for a phenomenal 434 days, beating the likes of Jericho, Cena and Daniel Bryan in the process. With the title being taken off Punk, he was put into a program with the Undertaker, and the duo stole the show this year at WrestleMania to no one’s surprise.

Punk then took some time off to heal his nagging injuries, and returned at Payback against Chris Jericho in his hometown of Chicago.

With Punk now involved in a feud against Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman, one wonders what WWE has in store for CM Punk after his feud with Lesnar.

There are rumours floating around about Punk being frustrated with the WWE management once again, and Punk made it clear that he isn’t interested in the fame WWE brings to him.

The last time Punk voiced his frustrations, WWE put the title on him for more than a year! One would imagine that Punk will be inserted back in the main event scene for the WWE championship. But what other alternatives does the WWE have for CM Punk?

With Punk being the number 2 guy in the company, he needs to be actively involved in top tier feuds. So the question now remains: Where will Punk go from here?

Feud with Randy Orton

With Randy Orton looking set to cash-in his Money in the Bank briefcase at SummerSlam, thus turning heel in the process, it would be wise for WWE to insert CM Punk into the mix.

Punk and Orton aren’t new to each other, as they feuded in 2011, culminating in a match at WrestleMania. With CM Punk being a good guy now, he needs to feud with someone other than the likes of Cena and Bryan, and whom he hasn’t faced in the past two years.

This leaves the likes of Randy Orton and Alberto Del Rio for Punk to get into a program with.

Dream feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin

I’m not saying this will happen, but if it does, it is going to be much bigger than Rock-Cena. Austin and Punk aren’t like John and Dwayne; they are the absolute opposites, yet they have the same style.

It is well known that CM Punk is one of Austin’s biggest fans, and even wore his shirt during his infamous promo on RAW couple of years ago.

Since then, rumours about a possible Punk-Austin match at WrestleMania have started, which can be ‘larger than life’ in today’s era.

Austin has stated in his interviews that he is 100% pain free now, and would be willing to work a match if it felt “perfect”. In other words, Austin is willing to work a match if the storylines were amazing, and who better to face Austin than a guy who is the exact opposite of Austin’s character?

Punk has also stated in his interviews that he would turn heel in a heartbeat if he had to work a program with Austin, and like Cena-Rock, the seeds would be sowed much before WrestleMania time if it were to happen.

Feud with the ‘Paul Heyman guys’

For those who remember the 2003 period of Smackdown!, it was predominantly about Angle-Lesnar and Angle-Benoit feuds when Angle was the WWE champion, and it worked so well because of Team Angle.

With Kurt Angle having back-up, it gave more meaning and importance when Benoit and Lesnar finally got their hands on the champion.

Similarly, I can see WWE putting one more guy under Paul Heyman, and Punk going after Heyman and his stooges. Giving Paul Heyman a guy like Drew McIntyre would not only save a fast drowning career, but would also strengthen the stable of Heyman since Lesnar won’t be around often.

It will also make the moment when Punk finally gets his hands on Heyman that much more memorable and impactful.