It’s been pretty active on here the last few days, so fitting that I swoop in with another of my long winded Q&As Now that the catalyst behind Punk’s heel turn has been revealed, and the angle in question is reaching its conclusion, how do you rate the success of probably WWE’s most divisive decision in 2012?
As an overall verdict I think everyone who regularly comments on here knows where I stand, but I won’t ignore that it’s become a very complex situation which has produced some definite plus points. Most obvious being WWE’s now clear ultimate goal behind it, which while I personally look on a totally unnecessary (face Punk vs. face Rock would’ve been just as, if not more effective imo), off the back of things like Johnny Ace, Dolph Ziggler’s prolonged possession of MITB, etc… is tremendously encouraging in that they allowed for an angle to mature over several months rather than one or two. Especially gratifying as I began to have serious worries that they’d panicked into the decision in this particular case. And while the original decision I still can’t support, it has been the catalyst to many good mini-decisions since… putting themselves into a corner where they were forced to rely on Ryback’s drawing power as a character rather than a stat, and personally I don’t think the loss of his win streak has damaged him that much if at all – if he could be a little more impactful in the ring (lose these moves which make him inadvertently look small) he’d be a much needed dose of intensity in an otherwise lukewarm era… The Heyman factor no doubt was a direct plug into the subconscious of a specific demographic which desperately has felt neglected for such a long time, and that particular alliance was always going to be a work primarily as a heel faction (if Punk had stayed face, they would’ve had to feud instead)… the birth of The Shield, as a faction and it’s individual members, though probably would’ve came into the scene at some point anyway has been one of WWE’s rare successful attempts at credibly installing the gang faction with a clear purpose – don’t reference me with any pitiful Nexus garbage. Their existence at the moment is good, and each individual members futures look great – having never seen him before the angle began I instantly get the buzz surrounding Dean Ambrose, he just has the aura of a star (needs a better stage name mind you lol).
But even with these little sprinkles of redemption, half a year on I look at this massive decision and just think nothing but fail, taking a guy who was growing slightly stale and giving him a major ideology shift in response (almost like hearing some static on your phone line and changing the phone, internal wiring and provider in response). The moment you turn the Punk character into the generic, production line weasel heel which he’s basically become you evaporate everything he stood for from MITB11 all the way to Raw 1000, the golden age of CM Punk as a brand without question. Now his identity is that of yet another smart fan favourite whose been placed in this neat little weasel heel box, a la Christian, something the CM Punk I’m referring to would yak at the mere thought of. Though I greatly applaud Phil Brooks for somehow still managing to entertain me on occasion (he could read the yellow pages and I’d be entranced at times), this has damaged him considerably and ruined in my eyes what should’ve been a fascinating title reign which resonated in the memory, as opposed to one I need to remind myself even now was longer than the six months of it he was heel. And with regards to him beginning to go stale, all he needed was someone to either amplify the roots to his character in the manner Jericho did or someone to act as the polar opposite to what he believed in, playing the constant nemesis role (something Daniel Bryan didn’t do in either case – the long standing feud in which he began to lose his edge).
He never needed to become the bad guy, nor the good guy he was dangerously veering towards. He just needed to revert back to being the freedom fighter. By all means keep the bad guy in reserve, the CM Punk character has enough dualities in him to turn on his own without a manufactured nudge, but don’t do it a year after he breaks through the W shaped ball and chain.
CM Punk - Heel Turn Verdict
posted on 2/2/13
Completely in agreement with you regarding the heel turn, it was simply unnecessary in my view. The only reason I could think of for it was the lack of a heel champion at the time and an apparent dislike of face vs face matches.
With that being said, I think now that Punk has lost the title, the heel character may be at least a little more relevant and exciting.
I watched the Raw after the Rumble and his ranting and raving was brilliant, far better than anything he had produced recently. I'm not sure where they're heading with the Punk heel character but, after last Monday, I have at least a slight hope that they have a bigger plan that they're working towards.
NB I also love the Shield. I love every time they come out and I love the way that they are keeping them strong by having them beat down 3 established superstars each segment.
I hope that they continue in this vein for a while with an already established path in mind because they're one of my favourite things about the WWE right now. If they could give Ambrose a live mic more, they would be my favourite.
posted on 3/2/13
The Shield are a great demonstration of how pivetal branding can be in a push. It's the difference between them looking like men and The Nexus looking like children. And in Dean Ambrose they have someone who greatly intruges me. He has a great battle worn look and moves/holds himself very interestingly - you could picture him as a great psycho or fundamentalist. I've heard he's good on the mic aswell
posted on 3/2/13
punk went heel so he could loss the belt and cena can play the under dog role never give up crap v the rock.big E should of had the ryback streak ryback looks to small and does't sell very well and don't get me start on how well he does his own move
posted on 3/2/13
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu1qrnJlzQA
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Skip to 1.24 - That man has to be in the Hall of Fame.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hVZV54a9M8
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Radio show chat
Its obvious what happened at the Royal Rumble was fixed. It was predictable.
Tyrant Bully Vince wants his 2 fav a $$ k$$ers on main event for wrestlemania
Its a shame the WWE Championship will not be a 6 man challenge inside the elimination at the elimination chamber ppv like the WHC is.
Also love the Shield promos. Ambrose is brilliant on the mic & Reigns is a future champion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edWfXz7vBOA
Believe in the Shield (of Justice)
posted on 3/2/13
Ambrose is great on the mic, Rollins isn't too bad, either. I'm expecting the next stage in their development to be cutting more promos, possibly as a build up to Wrestlemania.
Anyone watch Raw last Monday? There were some pretty interesting revelations.
posted on 3/2/13
thank goodness cm punk lost the belt - most pathetic wrestler ive ever seen
posted on 5/2/13
Punk now needs a run withouth the belt but needs to be used in liue of his character. He has sits within a paradigm that is pretty exclusive! No other character comes close in terms of depth, delivery and emotivness. The weasel heel is so shockingly bad it's insulting and an indication of the writers inability to construct and present a character.
Punk doesn't need to rock bottom the Rock to become a heel, nor does he have to squash the big show to become a face. He is this era's Austin, an anti hero! However he doesn't have the characters around him that subconsciencely affirm that. I.e Austin had a super face in the Rock, or the mega face that was DX. With the prior 2 interchanging status, whilst he stayed the same, thus adding to the ambiguity of us character.
Cena is the top face( not counting the Rock, and I won't start in the farce there!) But due to the lack of respect folk have for him, he won't command 100% sway.
Ryback..yes he is big big face, but he isn't a pure face character. Monsters are not faces, look at big show, he is hot stuff at the minute.
So punk has no house to set his furniture in so to speak! He needs to exist with at least 2 super faces to meet the requirements his persona demands.
Yes the shield are a super heel entity, but they are suffering from a "flattering of interest". The shield are a manifestation of our angst and desire for a complete shake up in the WWE's play book.
Unfortunately they are playing to our subconsciencely needs to have change at the highest level. Very very rarely will top guys get squashed by newbies!! But due to the hype around these guys, it will continue to happen. So every time Cena, Sheamus, Ryback get chinned, it's a manifestation of our deep seated desire for a complete clear out.
I doubt the WWE Have done this intentionally, so I dnt expect a new "era" to be rushed in soon.
posted on 5/2/13
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