The Greatest Heels in WWE History – Number 5

Continuing with our series of the greatest heels in the history of WWE, today we come down to number 5. There are certain individuals who don’t need a gimmick to be entertaining. Like the Roddy Pipers and Steve Austins, their persona is a mere extension of their true personality. It is often said that people try too hard to be someone else; a perfect gimmick is one which isn’t an outlandish version out of a comic book. It has to be believable, and although guys like The Undertaker did manage to pull off the impossible, such superstars come only once in a lifetime. The greatest characters are the true identities of these performers, which is tuned up or amplified to fit their character.

Former WWE Champion CM Punk.

Today, we look at a performer who took pride in being himself. He didn’t want to be the next “someone”, he wanted to be the first him. When people were praising wrestlers such as Bryan Danielson in the independent scene, he took it upon himself to showcase his talents. When other wrestlers were putting on 60 minute time limit matches, this certain wrestler was putting on 90 minute matches which were unheard of till then. He wasn’t trying to be like the Austins or Pipers, but was being himself. He truly believed that he was the very best, and his character took shape from his lifestyle. When he wanted a gimmick as a wrestler, he realized he didn’t need one. He could be professional wrestling’s best gimmick being himself. He is none other than the Second City Saint, CM Punk.

Punk’s career has been nothing short of being interesting and inspiring. When people told him he couldn’t do it, he went to the ring and did it anyway, no matter how arduous the task was. When Punk started off in the independent scene, he wanted to be the absolute best, and when people asked him how he was better than everyone else, Punk realized he could be the greatest villain by being honest. Punk began the Straight Edge crusade; in a world where people do drugs and consume alcohol, CM Punk became the Straight Edge messiah, and people loathed him for that. Although Punk was a babyface for the greater part of his career, it was his heel tactics that earned him fame and reputation.

Looking back at his career, one cannot help but be impressed with Punk’s audacity. When Punk was about to leave Ring of Honor in ’05, he didn’t want to go out as a “martyr”. Punk believed he deserved better, and turned on the fans in what was one of the greatest wrestling angles in professional wrestling history! As Punk stood in the middle of the ring amidst a chorus of boos, Punk realized that he achieved his purpose. Instead of having a bland send off, Punk gave the fans one of the best storylines they could ask for.

When Punk made his way to the WWE, he realized he was out of place. He wasn’t given the same freedom he had in the independent scene. And then, something happened. Punk brought back his old persona, and began preaching to people about living a straight edge lifestyle. With Punk feuding with Jeff Hardy, it was as if God was facing the Devil. Two extremes, who were complete opposites came face to face, and that was when Punk realized he could create magic. Punk became the most hated person overnight, as he started a self – righteous tirade against Jeff. Soon, Jeff was out of the WWE and Punk was the World Heavyweight champion. There was something that was still missing in Punk, and that was when he started the Straight Edge Society.

CM Punk became the “Straight Edge Jesus” as he called himself, and started “saving” people. With Gallows and Serena by his side, Punk became the most hated wrestler in the WWE. While performing at a house show, Punk was attacked by an old lady who yelled at Punk, saying he was the devil himself. Punk then knew that he found “it”, the one instance where you know you’ve been successful in becoming the best bad guy in professional wrestling. Punk didn’t need anything else except for a microphone, and the crowd despised him for that.

When WWE released Serena and Gallows, Punk’s momentum came to a halt. Although Punk carried on as the leader of Nexus, he was out of place once again. There are very few performers who’re loved and hated for doing the same thing. It all lies in the subtle nuances, the small things you tweak so that the people’s perspective changes. After the Summer of Punk storyline, Punk once again turned heel when he attacked The Rock, and formed the unholy alliance with Paul Heyman. The chemistry between Punk and Heyman made them the most hated performers in the WWE, and they set their sights on the legendary streak of The Undertaker.Punk came close to ending the streak at this year’s WrestleMania, but fell short in the end. This marked the end of his heel run, as Punk turned face once again.

There are very few performers who understand the psychology of the business, and can make the fans love them or hate them without changing any of their antics, and Punk is one of them. This places him at number 5 in our list of the greatest bad guys in WWE history.

Read other articles in the series here: Greatest Heels in WWE History