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For those who read my articles about CM Punk before, you’d know that I’m one of his biggest fans. Right from the beginning of his run in the WWE, he was one of my favourites. Unlike the other “superstars”, he wasn’t handed anything. When CM Punk says he is “The best in the world”, it isn’t a gimmick for him. CM Punk truly believes and has always believed that he was the best in the world.
Right from the beginning of his career, Punk never liked being “the second guy” or playing the second fiddle. Punk always wanted to be the best, and that was the reason he did some outrageous things, right from wrestling 90 minute matches to coming up with and executing the “Summer of Punk” storyline in Ring of Honor in 2005; CM Punk always wanted to be the guy.
So it came as no surprise when Punk used his leverage and forced the WWE to make him the WWE champion in 2011. Punk is one of those rare individuals who’d do anything to get what he deserves, and from 2011, Punk became the top guy in the WWE. After nearly six years, Punk made the WWE and the WWE Universe realize that he wasn’t just another needle in a haystack, but he was CM Punk.
Whether he was the clean-cut babyface or the ‘Saviour of the masses’, CM Punk performed at a level higher than anybody else in the WWE, and when he said he was the best wrestler, the best talker and even the best commentator, most of the fans agreed. CM Punk became the centre of attention in the WWE, and held the WWE championship for 434 days.
Now that we covered the past, let us come to the present. CM Punk is currently involved in a hot storyline with Paul Heyman. The Punk – Heyman story dates back to 2005 when CM Punk signed with the WWE. Heyman was the only person who believed in Punk, and he put his neck out for him. With Heyman turning his back on his “son”, this feud has been personal and intense. Although some people see it as a demotion for Punk, from being the face of the WWE to feuding with the WWE Intercontinental champion, I see it as something else. For once, I believe Punk should take a back seat to the current sensation, Daniel Bryan.
There are two reasons why Punk should/is taking a back seat in the WWE at the moment. Punk is a legitimate main eventer. For the past couple of years, Punk has proved time and again that he is franchise material, contradictory to popular belief back in 2009 – 2010. For CM Punk, he has “made it”. He doesn’t need to win matches to establish himself, nor does he need the WWE title to be the number one face of the company in Cena’s absence, much like John Cena last year. Punk, for what it’s worth, will always be the number one face of the WWE.
The first reason Punk should take a back seat is because of Daniel Bryan. Bryan is in the prime of his career, and has been red hot for the past few months. The WWE Universe has unanimously selected Bryan as the next face of the company. With Bryan now involved in the hottest feud since the Summer of Punk angle couple of years ago, this is arguably the make or break of Daniel Bryan’s career.
Punk doesn’t need to be in the main event, but Bryan does. Punk doesn’t need the WWE title to solidify himself as the face of the WWE, but Daniel Bryan needs the title to establish himself as a bona fide main eventer. Although people would argue that Bryan broke those shackles when he won the WWE title at SummerSlam, there is still some way to go before Bryan reaches his full potential. Not only will Bryan benefit when that happens, but also the WWE Universe will witness the emergence of a phenomenon, much like CM Punk.
The second reason being Punk is at a level where he gives credibility to his opponents. Much like The Undertakers and Shawn Michaels’, Punk has proven himself, and lends credibility to those he feuds with. So the best possible way to utilize this is to have Punk feud with the upper mid-carders and mid-carders who are on the verge of breaking out. This is where WWE dropped the ball with Curtis Axel.
With WWE making Axel look like a chump in front of CM Punk, they missed the perfect opportunity to put Axel over, and it is too late for the fans to take Axel seriously. With the possibility of a new “Paul Heyman Guy” debuting this Sunday, Punk can be used to immediately push the new superstar (and I hope it is Sami Zayn).
Although Punk seems to be taking the back seat for now, it is best for business (sorry Hunter). Not only does WWE get the opportunity to create a new mega star, much like they did with Punk in ’11, but Punk can also elevate other superstars during his hiatus from the main event scene. Punk is and will always be a main eventer, and it’ll be a refreshing break for Punk till he’s placed once again in the title hunt, which I predict will happen sooner rather than later. CM Punk doesn’t need the WWE title, but the WWE needs CM Punk to create new stars.
