The CM Punk heel turn

[Summer of Punk]

WWE is doing something they haven't done in a long, long time. They're taking a top face (meaning top 3-4) and turning him heel. All their heels in the past few years have either been turns of midcard guys (Punk, Truth, Christian, Bryan, Kane) or guys that were brought up as cowardly heels (Miz, Del Rio, Sheamus, Barrett, Rhodes, Ziggler). Jericho turned in 2008, but he wasn't a top 3-4 guy at the time. Edge turned, but was only a face for a couple months. Big Show has never been a top 3-4 guy.

This is where things are different with Punk. Punk was without a doubt the #2 face in the company. He has proven over and over that he can win matches clean (kayfabe). This is the real test. Will they turn him to a little bitch coward like every other heel (outside of monsters like Kane, Batista, Henry, or Show) or will they actually do something different with him and make him look like a legitimate threat to guys like Cena, Sheamus, and Orton?

That is the one thing that has been missing in today's WWE. No heel is really a threat. Over the past year, the top 4 faces in the company have been Cena, Punk, Orton, and Sheamus. The top heels have consisted of Miz, Del Rio, Bryan, Christian, and Barrett. Going into a match, I wouldn't have believed that any of those heels could beat any of the faces clean. It takes a lot away from a match when you know that none of the faces will be tapping out to Del Rio's armbar. Nobody believed that Christian would ever beat Orton with a simple killswitch or spear and then get the pin. There always had to be something else happening which caused the heel to get lucky.

So, long story short, they need to make Punk a threat. By all means, give him some dirty victories. After all, he is a heel. They just need to keep the Best in the World thing going. Let someone like Orton tap out to the Anaconda Vice. It won't kill Orton, but it will make Punk matches more interesting knowing that anything can happen.

[KBC]

I'm not sure about this. I don't think this is a full blown heel turn. I think it was more of a message that he's tired of playing second fiddle to people like The Rock and Brock Lesnar. This feels more tweener to me than anything else.

[The Champ]

Am I seriously the only person who heard the Lawler line at the end of the show?

Because it's baffling to me how he spelled out that it was a turn and everyone still is somehow doubting it.

[Summer of Punk]

I'm not sure about this. I don't think this is a full blown heel turn. I think it was more of a message that he's tired of playing second fiddle to people like The Rock and Brock Lesnar. This feels more tweener to me than anything else.

He's definitely a heel. There's no such thing as a tweener. He is going to be booked like a heel.

[booman]

Yep, that was a FULL blown heel turn folks. CM PUNK=FANTASTIC HEEL!

[KBC]

I heard the line Champ. But he reacted like it was reluctance on his behalf. Like he wanted to do it and yet he didn't. That's the way that I read it his reaction. Maybe I'm wrong. But he seemed stoic and not really emotional.

[The Champ]

That's how Jerry Lawler talks in 2012, that's not out of the ordinary.

[KBC]

Sorry I meant Punk's reaction at the end of the show before he hit the GTS on The Rock and after the replay.

[Summer of Punk]

Sorry I meant Punk's reaction at the end of the show before he hit the GTS on The Rock and after the replay.

I think the cold, blank stare signified his heel turn. Him turning his back on Cena when Show was beating him up was a heel move as well.

[Finn]

I think the cold, blank stare signified his heel turn. Him turning his back on Cena when Show was beating him up was a heel move as well.

This, I think that the not helping could've been seen as just having had enough...but then smashing The Rock and then hitting him with the GTS was the finishing touch on the turn.

[spladle125]

When Phillip called me the other day he said he was ready for a heel trun because he dislikes fans, kissing babies and doing media. I am sur he is happy

[Push Goldust]

Punk is sick of the chaos in WWE, he's sick of part timers like The Rock coming in and stealing the spot light. He's sick that even though he thought changed everything one year ago with his speech, he has in actuality changed nothing. When Rock announced he would be challenging for the title at Royal Rumble, it made him physically sick. Even Cena couldn't call shots like that. Cena had to endure a gruelling money in the bank match to earn a shot. But Rock? He waltzes down the ramp and announces he's robbing another main event from the guys who are here 365 days a year breaking their necks for this business?

No. It had to stop. Punk saw Big Show run down the ramp and interrupt another chance for the fans to enjoy a wrestling match. A wrestling match. That's what CM Punk does. But no. It's the same every month. Big build up to a great match and somebody spoils it all to avenge a grudge. What a joke? Where is the authority in this company? Well, I'll get to that.

But where is the back patting for somebody STILL in this company? Why does The Rock get the spotlight? Why not Cody Rhodes, Zak Ryder, Christian or even Ziggler? Why is this Attitude Era rub still getting air time? Why did WWE call every former wrestler to attend the 1000 Raw when in fact they had a full god damn roster available to them? This was the showcase event! Why not showcase the talent CURRENTLY on offer? It's certainly not the Rock.

CM Punk stood up for everybody in the locker room by GTS'ing the Rock. He even stood up for Cena. Punk doesn't hate Cena, but if Cena can't get the job done and represent the people at the back, then it's up to Punk. Punk will go to the Rumble and beat the Rock, then he'll go to Wrestlemania and beat which ever other Attitude Era star gets in his way. Whether it's the Stone Cold dream match everybody is looking for or just HHH finally getting the squash he deserves.

I mean that's the problem right? It's that HHH is in control and giving his buddies the airtime Punks buddies deserve. So after The Rock, Punk will take HHH the following month and then at Wrestlemania? Punk ends this attitude bullshit by finally beating the poster boy of WWE. By pinning Stone Cold at Wrestlemania for the WWE title and putting an end to the Attitude era once and for all.

[Finn]

Punk is sick of the chaos in WWE, he's sick of part timers like The Rock coming in and stealing the spot light. He's sick that even though he thought changed everything one year ago with his speech, he has in actuality changed nothing. When Rock announced he would be challenging for the title at Royal Rumble, it made him physically sick. Even Cena couldn't call shots like that. Cena had to endure a gruelling money in the bank match to earn a shot. But Rock? He waltzes down the ramp and announces he's robbing another main event from the guys who are here 365 days a year breaking their necks for this business?

No. It had to stop. Punk saw Big Show run down the ramp and interrupt another chance for the fans to enjoy a wrestling match. A wrestling match. That's what CM Punk does. But no. It's the same every month. Big build up to a great match and somebody spoils it all to avenge a grudge. What a joke? Where is the authority in this company? Well, I'll get to that.

But where is the back patting for somebody STILL in this company? Why does The Rock get the spotlight? Why not Cody Rhodes, Zak Ryder, Christian or even Ziggler? Why is this Attitude Era rub still getting air time? Why did WWE call every former wrestler to attend the 1000 Raw when in fact they had a full god damn roster available to them? This was the showcase event! Why not showcase the talent CURRENTLY on offer? It's certainly not the Rock.

CM Punk stood up for everybody in the locker room by rock bottoming the Rock. He even stood up for Cena. Punk doesn't hate Cena, but if Cena can't get the job done and represent the people at the back, then it's up to Punk. Punk will go to the Rumble and beat the Rock, then he'll go to Wrestlemania and beat which ever other Attitude Era star gets in his way. Whether it's the Stone Cold dream match everybody is looking for or just HHH finally getting the squash he deserves.

I mean that's the problem right? It's that HHH is in control and giving his buddies the airtime Punks buddies deserve. So after The Rock, Punk will take HHH the following month and then at Wrestlemania? Punk ends this attitude bullshit by finally beating the poster boy of WWE. By pinning Stone Cold at Wrestlemania for the WWE title and putting an end to the Attitude era once and for all.

It'll never happen...I would think with him going in saying stuff like this it only serves to end up with him eating a Stunner and losing at Mania. Would be nice the other way, whatever happens I'm interested but this is the idea I've sort of had for a while now.

[RkoZ420]

I just hope he gives us a 2011 style pipe bomb then tosses the Happy Meal Championship into a garbage can then reveals a new (hopefully better looking) WWE Championship.

[mysteriofan]

CM punk and SCSA for WM29 maybe? Steve said he'd face punk if punk turned heel I believe...this could be it. I can't help thinking this is all leading to Rock/Cena II. RR'12, Rocks wins the title and maybe Cena wins the rumble, WM29 we get Rock/Cena.

[Rated-R-Ron]

While I'm aware of what Lawler said, this wasn't a heel turn in my opinion.
True, the crowd did turn on Punk, but I think from a storyline standpoint he was just making a statement on Rock and was being a man. Punk was also quite outspoken about not liking the Rock this past year or so while being a babyface champion, so this isn't the first time he's showing anti-rock sentiments.
Punk was never a white meat babyface and has plenty shades of gray, that's why I say no way this was a heel turn.

Side note: even though they didn't make a big deal out of it, I'm glad we finally got the "Cash it in and lose" angle out of the way.

[mysteriofan]

Actually Cena didn't lose, Punk lost via DQ, the only thing different here was Cena didn't win the title

[Push Goldust]

It'll never happen...I would think with him going in saying stuff like this it only serves to end up with him eating a Stunner and losing at Mania. Would be nice the other way, whatever happens I'm interested but this is the idea I've sort of had for a while now.

A boy can dream Finn... a boy can dream.

[Engel]

If Punk is gonna do a heel turn, he is will not do it half assed. This should be great. He is from the Terry Funk school for heels. Punk is far, far more effective as a heel than a face too.

Here is the classic heel promo from Punk in RoH. 5 minute he goes from the top face to top heel.

[Oncall]

Actually Cena didn't lose, Punk lost via DQ, the only thing different here was Cena didn't win the title

So the MITB streak is over, no longer has everyone who cashed in become champion, that's the loss that was being refered to I assume.

[Ashman]

While I'm aware of what Lawler said, this wasn't a heel turn in my opinion.
True, the crowd did turn on Punk, but I think from a storyline standpoint he was just making a statement on Rock and was being a man. Punk was also quite outspoken about not liking the Rock this past year or so while being a babyface champion, so this isn't the first time he's showing anti-rock sentiments.
Punk was never a white meat babyface and has plenty shades of gray, that's why I say no way this was a heel turn.

Side note: even though they didn't make a big deal out of it, I'm glad we finally got the "Cash it in and lose" angle out of the way.

Nope. He's pretty much been full on babyface since losing to Triple H until last night, with a few well placed pipebombs.

You're kidding yourself if you don't believe this is a major statement about where his character is going. I only see it as a positive thing, unlike folks such as Champ, because I see it as him going back towards a more natural fit for a character. He can slide back into pipebomb mode effortlessly now.

I've also gotta believe this is a setup for more interesting major arcs long term where the crowd will divide. I almost convinced we're heading towards Cena/Rock, Punk/Trips and Taker/Lesnar at Mania next year now.

[Todd]

I'm not sure I would have done it. From a company standpoint I would say it's risky, they don't have many guys that can play a face like Punk can. From a personal standpoint, I think his face run still had legs, but I understand that they wanted the shock factor. They got me, I didn't see it coming even though Punk was tweeting about something huge all week.

It will however be fantastic. Punk is an incredible heel. I guess they thought they'd never get a better chance of a full-blown heel turn, they had to use Rock while he was around. The segment went over really well, I was just so happy that it didn't end with Rock getting the better of Big Show and standing tall.

[Engel]

I think they may be turning Dragon face to compensate. With AJ as GM, I can see this easily being set up. Dragon works better as a face. Would be a good way to mix shit up and send these two to fight other guys before mixing them up again.

[Todd]

I agree but it all seems like hassle. Punk had already made the full transition, his merch sales were sky-high, his reactions were enormous, he's the closest thing to John Cena since DX in 2006. I think they're taking a risk. They don't know that Dragon will get over as a face with the masses.

I'm really looking forward to this and Punk as a heel is brilliant but I think from WWE's standpoint, it's risky.

[Rated-R-Ron]

I almost convinced we're heading towards Cena/Rock, Punk/Trips and Taker/Lesnar at Mania next year now.

That's a horrible line up my friend, I hope you're wrong. Rock/Lesnar(Can't get bigger than this), Cena/Taker (Needs to happen already, atmosphere will be off the charts) Punk/Austin?(Lots of talk about it, people want to see it) and Trips can go you know where.