Initially I was shocked when he left. Then I found I didn't really miss him too much, though this was probably more due to the push the Shield were getting and some very intriguing Wyatt segments keep in me entertained.

Now that those distractions have passed I think i would like to see him come back. He's still so massively over with audiences that I think a real trick would be missed if he didn't come back at all.

As I understood, he was actually planning to retire pretty soon anyway before any rumoured disputes hit the headlines. I'd love for him to come back into the Authority angle, possibly even involving him with AJ as the seeds of a feud against Steph are quite possibly already being sewn. Just as Vince had Stone Cold waiting around every corner, I'd love to see Punk becoming a cancer to Triple H.

As ever, just my own opinion. Just grateful we've finally got a topic to get stuck into. Saddens me how dead this board has become

I can honesty say without exaggeration that CM Punk is/was easily the worst pushed wrestler in WWE's history

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He's not even the current worst pushed wrestler

the problem wasn't that they didn't push punk enough it was more they didn't push enough others well enough to stop the same old boring repetitive feuds being the only option

the problem wasn't that they didn't push punk
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Nor did I say that? He got pushed yes, but all his pushes were dreadful. First MITB win where he ended up being a pathetic underdog World Champion. Second World Title run had that ridiculous screw job angle involving Teddy Long which was never explained. The Summer of Punk...............don't really need to say much more.

At no point during a single one of his pushes was Punk made to look savvy or efficient, he always ended up coming off as opinionated and stupid.

Exactly saying that, I just thought of one feud where WWE got it right with him and his opponent. Against Jericho

Just as Vince had Stone Cold waiting around every corner, I'd love to see Punk becoming a cancer to Triple H.
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Not quite sure the dynamics of that would work to the same degree as Austin/Vince or even HHH/Bryan. Punk is very much viewed as an Austin light, and HHH in this incarnation isn't even close to Vince McMahon.

I've always seen Punk filling more of a Jake The Snake role myself.

hmmmm

For me, Punks rise was more to do with modern fans.

They love a rebel. I suppose it all started with Stone Cold Steve Austin. He made a heel "cool"

It's no surprise that we see the likes of Bray Wyatt and Cesaro for example being cheered on when taking on the faces like Sheamus.

I'm not sure what WWE does to address that - or whether it needs to be addressed at all.

With regards to the push when he was champ - I thought it was one of the more prominent title reigns in modern WWE history. He held the title for hundreds of days, breaking records and was even paired by the top mic guy in the industry - Paul Heyman.

Anyone who followed Punks career long enough would know that technically, he's nowhere near as good as people make him out to be.

For me, Seth Rollins is a better wrestler than CM Punk - although not as good on the mic. Although Seth is still in his early days - But there's no doubting that The Shields introduction to the WWE has been a very very good Contingency which has made the mourning of Punk.., minimal

It's not that the heel is 'cool' in the modern era, it's that WWE for whatever reason are incapable of booking their top baby faces as attractive propositions. Fans will rally behind a face worth rallying behind, see Daniel Bryan as the recent example. Equally fans will have no problem resenting the heel if he's in the way of the baby face, see Dave Batista. One way WWE can address this imbalance quickly is identify which of their wrestlers are perceived by the fans to be held down by their outdated methods of creative operation - cos in this era you can guarantee that individual is going to be a face, and on the flip side anyone whose perceived to fit that outdated mould is going to get heel heat. It won't sort out everyone's role but it's a start.

Seth Rollins is an interesting one. He's certainly not Punk on the mic, wouldn't exactly call him a donkey on the mic either. If he ever makes it to the heights Punk did he'll have to chain wrestle more than he currently did, he's still somewhat stuck in spot monkey mood for now. But WWE do seem behind him for the moment, the fact he bares an obvious resemblance to Punk in look and background can only help him while that wound is still fresh.

punk's straight edge crap waspoor and so it didn't work for me. we miss punk but not that version

Punk Hope he comes back. Gone tired of seeing the same old crap matches each week.

Only person in WWE close to Punk overall right now is Ambrose. And he'll probably be another wasted talent.

Starting to go off WWE again.

wwe has been pretty good recently, doesn't really miss punk

Starting to go off WWE again.
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wwe has been pretty good recently, doesn't really miss punk
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I agree. In fact, I don't think the roster has been this strong in years.

The product does feel like it needs something. It's been going in the right direction the last few years, but because the overall roster isn't reaching it's potential like it's done in previous eras they're having to rely on one angle or one talent to gel everything else together so often. At this precise moment they've not got that and it clearly shows.

What's a crying shame is that talent could've been Bray Wyatt.