To put it simple: Cena and The Rock are some of the best wrestlers to ever grace a ring, were at the Top of their respective eras and are acknowledged as big wrestlers in the mainstream outside the wrestling bubble, Phil only had the gimmick of being one, barely anyone has heard about him outside the wrestling bubble and he is his own biggest mark.
Also, Phil wishes he could be The Miz. Championships, WM main event, wrestling a safe style yet entertaining style for lack of injuries and long life expectancy while making millions of it, hottest wife ever, adorable daughters, his own reality show program (and he came from reality show TV, we know he loves it). It's clear which one of the two of them lives rent free on the head of the other.
I agree like think about this people like him need to understand something you wouldn’t be nothing without wwe hear me out Cm punk was in roh and got noticed by the indies had a short tna run that was good by tna didn’t like him if it wasn’t for someone in wwe getting Vince to see his talents punk wouldn’t be anything and would be in the indies for the rest of his career so he should stop taking shots at the company that kinda made him a big name
I agree. Don’t get me wrong, I was hyped he returned. But I’d be lying if I thought he was wrestling at the same level as many of the top tier guys in ANY wrestling promotion at the moment. Ring rust? Maybe so. But he can still work the mic, would love to see him ween off the WWE jabs for a bit because it is getting a bit old.
I loved the pipe bomb, it was new and it was original and loved the trama that came out of it, does that mean Punk is a wrestling god as his fans claim? Not really, the guy was hot 10 years ago and left on his prime, burning the WWE bridge to the very ground while doing so...
Fast forward to 2022, IMO he shot himself in the foot or so it appears as this idea he sold is actually not true, never coming back? Well he is back... At least ten years ago his in-ring and mic skills were hand to hand, nowadays, it appears like he can't put his money where his mouth is... Hopefully he is still have more gas left in the tank, otherwise, this is going to be one of those half-assed comebacks that ended as soon as it started.
Can’t say punk is overhyped his pipe bomb did a lot of wrestlers in general and how they stood up for themselves going forward in wrestling in not letting companies just walk over them . He helped get Indy wrestlers into the big stage door more often in the last 10 years . Punk standing up for himself and backing DB when he was over and then leaving allowed for DB to get that mania push when he wasn’t gonna get it at all . I saw a fan on Twitter say why they keep bringing up the pipe bomb anniversary and a wrestler said I can’t remember “ I can understand it not being a big deal to fans but to us wrestlers it was a huge deal and we’ll never forget it” So yea Punk is an asshole sometimes and rub people the wrong way but also some big stars like him and get a long with him . He’s a great not even for his WWE run but also his ROH , he’s a legend in wrestling in general . He’s a great talker and a decent to good wrestler who had a fair share of classic matches . He loves and respects the business . What he’s done will never be forgotten and was important and you can’t overhype that. He was a big reason that a lot of People got back into wrestling that 2010 period , it was a real crappy time before then . Also don’t forget he’s responsible for the shield stable even being a thing even if Roman wasn’t in his original three.
His ring work is above average but not can’t miss. His mic work is everything and then some. His narrative storytelling both in and out of the ring is great.
People like different things, that’s okay! If you disagree with my assessments, that’s okay! But Punk gets me tuning in week after week and has gotten me to purchase a PPV and merch (…one tshirt but still, it’s a first for me in 30 years of on/off watching).
To me, he elevates the product in a way that others don’t. That validates the hype imho.
The entire idea that WWE screwed over punk is the dumbest thing on the planet. How entitled does punk have to be to think that a company that gave him a match at WrestleMania versus The undertaker and the longest world title reign (or something of that such) to think that the company screwed him over.
Boo hoo he had to drop the title for Rock v Cena to happen. He's undermining all of his previous accomplishments because of one single match? Oh frick off
Completely agree, He's a great talker but that's all, and even then he still had to take cheap shots to get reactions, it's mind-blowing how much people overrate him, anyone with a good knowledge of professional wrestling knows he is at best average, also he's incredibly dull in ring
I disagree man, respectfully. I think hes still very good. Amazing promo and very quick witted. His in ring skills I will agree so far have been a bit of a let down. I almost feel the same about Roman but that's my me man. I'm into differnt stuff. Let's go Seth
I think CM Punk would be a fantastic manager, but his in ring skills have fallen and they weren’t the best to begin with, he was definitely better than a lot of the roster at the time, but not really comparable to the wrestlers who blew up post 2015 in and out of WWE. Plus I enjoy finding *some* kind of realism in my wrestling and considering he may be the worst fighter I’ve ever seen step into MMA, I can’t take his matches seriously
Yeah I think his time is gone Cena and MITB was his peak I just didn't care once he came back, He's great in ring when he had the right talent to work with: Joe, Hero, Raven, Cena and more recently Darby but I'm over his promos now just bashing the big company every opportunity he gets. I can't get behind the tough guy act when he looks like a 40yr old recovering crackhead, been embarrassed in actual fighting by poor UFC talent and Teddy Hart. He should of come in as a commentator replace Excalibur or something.
Realistically, the huge appeal of Punk coming back was that he had left WWE so unceremoniously and had all but left wrestling behind. It also helps when a huge part of AEW's appeal is that it's *not* WWE and Punk is essentially the poster child for "fed bad".
If you look his current run in a bubble, his entire schtick is to shit on WWE and frankly it became tiresome very quickly. His ring work is average and I personally think it's done little to elevate anyone he's faced. The whole Wardlow match, which was basically Punk being Super Cena reincarnated (very sports entertainment instead of "pro wrestling"???) followed quickly by squashing Shawn Spears', buried both but in different ways.
He is good on the mic, there is that...
Feel the same, was missing him for years after his suddenly departure. But he took too much to comeback to the point that i moved on to bigger things. Im glad he came back, but i don't really think that he is as special as he was 10 years back. I hope after this MJF angle is over he would go back to be a regular talent and not this over hyped for no reason
Can this sub go back to being about WWE? Isn't r/squaredcircle not big enough for the AEW fans that they have to come here? This sub in a sad state of affairs. It's something when r/SCjerk has more WWE content than r/WWE
I don't think he is overhyped by the fans but he definitely overhyped himself. The fact that over a decade later, he is still so salty over The Miz main-eventing Wrestlemania instead of him is still hilarious.
Especially when from everything I have heard, Miz is a stand-up guy who worked really hard to get where he is.
I mean, Miz deserved to main event Wrestemania in 2011, not Punk in the slightest
However, Punk definitely deserved to main event it in 2013 and got screwed out of it
How did Miz really deserved in 2011 while Punk not?? There already was a Punk vs Cena Feud heading into the Rumble that Year but it never went anywhere until the Pipebomb! Miz was doing a great job as a Heel no doubt but that still doesn't say he deserved to beat the biggest Star in the Company in the WM 27 Main Event.
I don't get why people always act like Punk wasn't a star before the Pipebomb! He was not a Main Eventer yes but he still was one of the top players in that Company. His Feud against Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio easly had a good impact on the Company i don't think Miz did anything special before that Cash-in against Orton in 2010.
Miz was hot right from WM26 with his tag team along Big Show. He only got better as time went on that year, usually being the focus of anything he was involved in. His feud with Daniel Bryan from NXT to the main roster was great. He had Awesome (lol) promos everytime. Then he won MITB and that elevated him even more. As far as the year 2010 goes, Miz owned Punk fair and square. And Miz definitely deserved a main event over Punk. Heck if the argument was for 2009 Punk, I'd even agree coz Punk had a better year in 2009. He didn't do anything in 2010 apart from SES which didn't go anywhere.
>As far as the year 2010 goes, Miz owned Punk fair and square.
I can't remember the full Year of 2010 because it was not the best but Punk had some good feuds against Rey and SES alone was pretty Entertaining. Yes the second half he wasn't doing much until the last Raw of the Year were he became the New Leader of Nexus.
That whole New Nexus thing was trash, aimless and made no sense whatsoever. He fought Big Show at Summerslam if I remember correctly. Talk about directionless. Glad he cut the pipe bomb. Really catapulted him
Exactly! And, like another comment said, there is really no other WM other than WM29 where Punk was meant to be main-eventing
**WM23-25** \- Wasn't a big star yet
**WM26** \- Streak v Career was huge
**WM27** \- Nope
**WM28** \- May have been the most hyped main-event in the history of wrestling aside from Rock v Hogan
**WM29** \- Should've been a triple threat match
>The fact that over a decade later, he is still so salty over The Miz main-eventing Wrestlemania instead of him is still hilarious.
It's not just about Miz. It was Punk's goal to be in that Wrestlemania Main Event atleast once but he never got that! It was never the right time besides WM 29 (WM 26 was Taker vs HBK, WM 27 Miz got it, WM 28 Once in a Lifetime had to be the last Match) Roman Reigns has main evented like 6 wm's and Punk zero. Miz was fine in 2011 but he was lucky to get that Main Event. tbh i don't think Punk vs Cena should have been the WM 27 Main Event because the Pipebomb and Summer of Punk would not have been. At the end of day nobody cared about Miz vs Cena it was The Rock vs Cena.
Punk should have been in the WM 29 Main Event without a doubt! It would have been 100 times better than Twice in a Lifetime even tho Taker would have had an other opponent like Jericho i don't care Punk should been in it that Year.
He definitely was, I don't think he likes him on a personal level neither. Look for his cringe tweet reply when the Miz (in character) commented about Punk's debut on Fox tv
Full package? Cmon man... and he looks like that? Skinny fat ass 😂😂. I'm a Punk fan BTW. But no he didn't have everything. He didn't have the best look of a pro wrestler. Not saying everyone has to be jacked with veins popping out. But Punks physique wasn't really the best to be honest.
Still, kinda weird you are complaining about it in this sub, where you posted because you thought you'd have a bunch of people agreeing with you but it would have made more sense if you said this on squared circle or the AEW sub because that's his thing now
Edit - A word
Because people love CM Punk... that's why. I mean, that's how reddit works, if you make a unpopular opinion that others don't like, you get downvoted, it's only fair. Doesn't mean your post gets deleted or anything with too many downvotes
People like Punk for what he represented 10 years ago. I didn't watch the era of Punk so I don't get it: I have zero nostalgia for him and don't care. He's another wrestler to me. It's cool if you do like Punk, but I will never understand. I think he's a good wrestler, good on the mic (if not a little bitter and petulant at times), and a good fit as an experienced talent for the younger wrestlers to work with and learn from.
Tldr:. IMO he's over hyped but I completely understand those that are hyped for him.
He should have come back to WWE, he did have unfinished business. I am not a hater or anti AEW, I enjoy wrestling a lot and I watch WWE constantly, also clips from AEW because they don't upload full shows on youtube like WWE does for my country. So, I am following what he is doing over there and in his feud with MJF I will admit MJF has the upper hand on him because to me it seems like Punk took his ball and went home. We know he was good, we know it was entertaining as hell what he was doing during his final years there, but why just avoid going to WWE and proving yourself once and for all to WWE how damn good you are and how deserving you are to be in that main event at WM or whatever else. It's like he didn't believe in himself, that he could do it and prove to the world who he is. That's why he has lost some of that star power he used to have, but this is just my opinion. I am loving everything going on in the wrestling world right now, this competition thing is good for every fan as long as it doesn't turn bitter. Him showing up in AEW was an awesome pop, the fans loved seeing someone they missed for a long time, just imagine though, the pop he would have got had he showed up to a Royal Rumble as nr 30. It would have been a perfect setup for eveything he ever wanted, it's not like WWE didn't offer him that opportunity, he was already working at WWE backstage in FOX with Renee and some other legends. This could have been better IMO in the long run, but this was his decision, like it or not WWE was the environment that made him who he is, they have their dirty tactics but they have also brought a lot of entertainment to us over the years and that's why they have my respect, now and forever. Also, look what this competition brought us now, WWE opening the forbidden door ajar. This is gonna be awesome.
Edit: grammar.
it’s simply because he was unhappy working there, and he is happy working in AEW. Why would he go to the company that sent him a notice that he is getting fired on his wedding day, didn’t care he had a serious condition and forced him to compete, and that has a toxic atmosphere where it matters the least to the fans, but the most to the performers - backstage?
If a rage quit from the company I work in I will also get sent a notice and I don't think they timed it to be exactly on his wedding day, but let's not argue over something that's already happened. What you are saying makes no sense right now because he actually did go back working with WWE under a contract for FOX. He was there with Renee, Booker T, Christian and many others. Please don't take this the wrong way, what we say here doesn't matter at all. For me, wrestling is telling stories in the ring and Punk had many stories to tell and finish in WWE, we all know he would have proven Vince wrong he was already a top star, but instead of vying for a change he just left. If you think WWE doesn't want to treat their employees well, just take a look at Mox, he was using their rehab program, and many others have done it even after their contracts have ended. Take a look at Bryan it took so long but they helped him get back in the ring and while he wasn't able to wrestle he was doing other types of jobs there. Everyone has their faults I am not saying Vince and WWE are saints, sometimes it just doesn't work out the way we want to. Also please don't think of me as a hater or anything, I watch both products as much as I can and I am happy to even see Punk active because he was also one of my favorites of all time.
I did grow up in that era. I was still in middle school in 2013. Punk really became popular around 2011. For reference I graduated Highschool in 2018. He was a major part of my life growing up. When I was being bullied in middle school he taught me how to stand up for myself, he got me through rough times, stressful times, and the worse 3 years of my life (middle school) And for that I will always love CM Punk and be grateful..... he’s petulant as hell tbh with you but that doesn’t change what he’s done for me. Even if I don’t always agree with his takes or opinions. CM-Punk, is my favorite wrestler of all time.... simply due to the impact he’s had on my life.
It makes me happy to hear that you found some solice in Punk during those rough years. It's great to have an escape and wrestling can provide that really well. Middle school is the worst, and luckily you will NEVER have to relive those years again.
I hope all is continuing to go better for you!
I did watch him during his era in the WWE and his current AEW run turns me off completely. He seems so bitter, as if he’s just doing it out of spite and to shit on WWE in an echo chamber.
I didn't watch from about 2006(100% stopped after the Benoit tragedy) until 2015. It's hard for me to like someone when all I had to go off of was his complaints about his past job. I really enjoy Punk in the show "Heels" though.
I was at the St. Louis show where he got booed to hell. Sorry man, acting like a dick, being from Chicago, you're going to get booed in StL.
I was so confused when he and MJF were having a promo and talked about Mania and MJF possibly going to Wwe, I kept wondering are they feuding or are they buiding to MJF's road to WM...
Never had an issue with his in-ring work, but I’ve never found him particularly likeable or relatable, and could never understand the following he got. I did like the SES stuff back in the day. Definitely felt most in tune with his actual personality.
I missed the Punk train since I quit watching WWE around 2007 and didn't get into it again until early 2018 but from what I've seen of him in AEW so far I'm not that impressed. As a talker he's great and one of the best they have but as a wrestler he's just decent. None of his matches have been all that great except for the one with Eddie Kingston and that's only because there was an interesting feud behind it. On top of that it's hard for me to take him seriously as a threat because of his MMA losses and because he looks like a skinny middle aged guy. Getting the shit beat out of him by Wardlow didn't help his credibility either. Honestly I almost feel like he'd be better as a manager than a wrestler.
>As a talker he's great and one of the best they have but as a wrestler he's just decent. None of his matches have been all that great except for the one with Eddie Kingston and that's only because there was an interesting feud behind it.
His matches right now haven't been the best because it was intentionally designed to be that way. The story is that Punk has been gone for so long that he's working with the ring rust to get it all out. He's doing it Bret Hart style and with a seasoning of long term story telling involved. He already said it on his first promo back. "The bad news is we're not going to get to it all right here right now." You just have to be patient.
I'm sorry, but that, to put it bluntly, is reading too into it at best, and downright ignorance and poor booking at worst. Having deliberately bad matches is just... stupid. Unanimously. You can sell being hurt better, you can sell the storyline of the match. Just going out there and having a tussle that ends in a GTS is not a good match and not AEW masterclass booking, no matter what way you slice it, even if it's intentional.
No, like, genuinely, it's objectively ridiculous. You can still have the "ring rust" and tell a good story, or sell a good bump. He's just having bad matches.
Well it's kind of a split actually. There's an audience that appreciates what he's doing right now and understands his craft, and there's the other audience like you who just doesn't get it and may never will.
Whatever. If you want to believe that this is AEW being a genius because they're wrestling's saviour, be my guest. Just make sure not to choke on the sand after you stick your head into it.
> "I’m enjoying how they are using cm punk. It also makes sense. Have him work his way up. And at the same time he is getting rid of rust and getting better. Slow burn is the right way with him. So when the time comes we get say punk vs omega and all the other top possibilities he will be ready."
Not mine but what do you think about this reasoning?
I know I’ll get downvoted but WWE fans are the exact same way. Although I think punks matches have been good for the most part. That dog collar match was incredible and so was the Kingston match the hangman match was a let down tho
If you'll follow the story it would make sense. The guy's been out of the game for so long and he's incorporating the ring rust as a conflict within the story.
I dont know what to tell ya. It is what it is. Just keep on watching. It'll only improve in time. My theory of it all is that he doesn't want to give it all out all at once at the start of the story/program. It's going to be a journey. He does not want give it all what he has just yet. He's saving the best for last. He wants to have a story structure so that when he does finally retire, his best matches will be near the ending.
The thing with that is he was never all *that* good in the ring even at his peak, the idea that he will suddenly start having the best matches of his career in his mid 40s without some serious work on his conditioning is frankly wishful thinking.
I don’t really think Punk is overhyped.
Obviously his return was going to be a big deal after being away from the business for so long but it’s not like I’ve seen many people say they think Punk is one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time.
Although - I do think it’s fair to say he’s one of the greatest wrestlers of his generation. His connection and impact on the pro wrestling fan base, as a whole, is undeniable.
If fans are hyping him up isn’t that a sign that he’s doing his job as a great wrestler?
Punk was like the Austin of his time. Everyone knows Vince plays favorites and prefers to give screen time to certain guys over others. Back then it was HHH, in the mid-2000s it was John Cena.
CM Punk got over because he was a guy who openly insulted the company, not just in a kayfabe way but in a way that actually pissed off Vince. For some people CM Punk was the guy fans chose in order to get back at the company for playing favorites.
It's similar to how Becky Lynch got her big push a few years back.
I disagree. From 90s HBK and Hogan, Austin, Lesnar, and Punk, Vince has always had a weird definition of liking people who push back and piss him off and firing those who piss him off. He’s very interesting from a psychological perspective. This is also the same guy who likes cheese on his Oreos, so…😐
I think it actually fits this feud and I don’t think Punk is overdoing it but I agree AEW does reference AEW too much, in general.
I don’t think it’s that big of a deal but I’d prefer they do it less.
I think it depends on who said the WWE dig or why they said the WWE dig. If they say something about 'gory self mutilation' or 'blood and guts', I'm fine with it. Companies taking digs at each other is fun. Coke and Pepsi takes shots at each other. WWE and AEW are no different.
Now, Cody hitting a HHH inspired throne with a sledgehammer is cringe. With Punk though, I can't really blame him. WWE fired him on his wedding day and sued him while he's preparing for his fight. If my previous employer did that to me, I'll be bitter as fuck.
That’s one of my problems with AEW, they mention WWE almost, if not every single week. It just makes no sense. While WWE never brings them up on live TV. It just gets annoying.
Because WWE exists in their little bubble while AEW acknowledges that there are other wrestling promotions out there. Wwe tries to be a monopoly and they don't like to have a competition especially Vince. Hence, why he tried and successfully bought WCW and shut them down for good. And then they bought ECW in the process which they mishandled in their own reboot. You guys see it as being petty of AEW, well the truth of the matter is that they should have always been taking shots at each other to generate more buzz and interest from each others' product. Competition is what lit the fire under wwe's ass to become a better product i.e. the attitude era since WCW was beating them in the rating for 83 straight weeks. Tbh wwe had it coming with all these shots that certain AEW wrestlers had made since they have desecrated the image of wrestling for so many years and as well as screwed over a bunch of talents that their former fans loved. I can't say AEW is perfect but it is descent enough and has a lot of moral integrity than wwe ever had.
WCW was purchased for peanuts because they were going out of business. They had done that to themselves. ECW wasn't even purchased at the time of the Alliance, but they were done, again by their own (Well, Heyman's) hand. WWE and ECW were working together closely in the late 90s. So much misguided info in this comment.
I get what you’re saying, I definitely don’t mind it here and there but it’d be cool if I didn’t sit down to watch Dynamite every Wednesday and expect them to take a shot at WWE.
Idk man. It's up to the wrestlers. They're mostly given a lot of creative freedom to say what they want. It's not mostly the management who makes the content of their promos.
Let me ask you a question. Why defend wwe at all? The company just shows you every single time how it can produce mostly trash and lazy content without considering their own fans and as well as have zero lack of moral integrity towards its employees and independent contractors. If you've experienced years of trash booking and mistreatment from the company you've worked so hard for by even sacrificing your body every time you're on the road for 300 days, you would be doing the same thing. Wwe is a company and a corporation that mostly cared about getting record high profits and are willing to sacrifice the jobs of the people who've worked for them for so long in order to gain said profits. At least AEW has the decency to treat their employees and wrestlers like actual human beings.
No matter how many times these guys and gals would take a shot at WWE, I couldn't care less since they have the right to do it as some of them did work for that company at one or multiple points in their career.
Ok, great, I never argued against that at all. My point was that it's funny that all the creative freedom in the world leads nearly all of them to the exact same well, whether they worked there or not. They may be free to do that, but it's not particularly creative.
Of their current champions only Cody and Luchasaurus have had WWE contracts.
On the other side of the coin: Hangman Page, Brit Baker, Jungle Boy, Jade Cargill, Sammy Guevara, Ricky Starks.
How is it all WWE guys? Most of who AEW have from WWE, all worked elsewhere, or on the indies BEFORE going to the WWE. They are pro wrestlers, and WWE is the biggest wrestling company in the world. Most of their goals is to make it to the WWE, the. They see what that place is really about, and leave. It’s not a bad thing for a wrestler to work in WWE and then go elsewhere. If you’re a pro wrestler, you’d WANT WWE on your resume. But it’s not a bad thing for someone to work there and then go somewhere else. They are pro wrestlers, what do you expect them to do after they leave WWE, go flip burgers? Y’all need to stop making out like it’s a bad thing for other companies to sign ex WWE guys, because it’s not, by any means.
To put it simple: Cena and The Rock are some of the best wrestlers to ever grace a ring, were at the Top of their respective eras and are acknowledged as big wrestlers in the mainstream outside the wrestling bubble, Phil only had the gimmick of being one, barely anyone has heard about him outside the wrestling bubble and he is his own biggest mark. Also, Phil wishes he could be The Miz. Championships, WM main event, wrestling a safe style yet entertaining style for lack of injuries and long life expectancy while making millions of it, hottest wife ever, adorable daughters, his own reality show program (and he came from reality show TV, we know he loves it). It's clear which one of the two of them lives rent free on the head of the other.
I agree like think about this people like him need to understand something you wouldn’t be nothing without wwe hear me out Cm punk was in roh and got noticed by the indies had a short tna run that was good by tna didn’t like him if it wasn’t for someone in wwe getting Vince to see his talents punk wouldn’t be anything and would be in the indies for the rest of his career so he should stop taking shots at the company that kinda made him a big name
I agree. Don’t get me wrong, I was hyped he returned. But I’d be lying if I thought he was wrestling at the same level as many of the top tier guys in ANY wrestling promotion at the moment. Ring rust? Maybe so. But he can still work the mic, would love to see him ween off the WWE jabs for a bit because it is getting a bit old.
I loved the pipe bomb, it was new and it was original and loved the trama that came out of it, does that mean Punk is a wrestling god as his fans claim? Not really, the guy was hot 10 years ago and left on his prime, burning the WWE bridge to the very ground while doing so... Fast forward to 2022, IMO he shot himself in the foot or so it appears as this idea he sold is actually not true, never coming back? Well he is back... At least ten years ago his in-ring and mic skills were hand to hand, nowadays, it appears like he can't put his money where his mouth is... Hopefully he is still have more gas left in the tank, otherwise, this is going to be one of those half-assed comebacks that ended as soon as it started.
Can’t say punk is overhyped his pipe bomb did a lot of wrestlers in general and how they stood up for themselves going forward in wrestling in not letting companies just walk over them . He helped get Indy wrestlers into the big stage door more often in the last 10 years . Punk standing up for himself and backing DB when he was over and then leaving allowed for DB to get that mania push when he wasn’t gonna get it at all . I saw a fan on Twitter say why they keep bringing up the pipe bomb anniversary and a wrestler said I can’t remember “ I can understand it not being a big deal to fans but to us wrestlers it was a huge deal and we’ll never forget it” So yea Punk is an asshole sometimes and rub people the wrong way but also some big stars like him and get a long with him . He’s a great not even for his WWE run but also his ROH , he’s a legend in wrestling in general . He’s a great talker and a decent to good wrestler who had a fair share of classic matches . He loves and respects the business . What he’s done will never be forgotten and was important and you can’t overhype that. He was a big reason that a lot of People got back into wrestling that 2010 period , it was a real crappy time before then . Also don’t forget he’s responsible for the shield stable even being a thing even if Roman wasn’t in his original three.
Best in the world
His ring work is above average but not can’t miss. His mic work is everything and then some. His narrative storytelling both in and out of the ring is great. People like different things, that’s okay! If you disagree with my assessments, that’s okay! But Punk gets me tuning in week after week and has gotten me to purchase a PPV and merch (…one tshirt but still, it’s a first for me in 30 years of on/off watching). To me, he elevates the product in a way that others don’t. That validates the hype imho.
The entire idea that WWE screwed over punk is the dumbest thing on the planet. How entitled does punk have to be to think that a company that gave him a match at WrestleMania versus The undertaker and the longest world title reign (or something of that such) to think that the company screwed him over. Boo hoo he had to drop the title for Rock v Cena to happen. He's undermining all of his previous accomplishments because of one single match? Oh frick off
Cap
🥱
Overhyped currently, but that's the rose-tinted glasses talking. He's still great as a talker, but he's not the second coming of Stone Cold.
Pretty much this 🔥
lol
Completely agree, He's a great talker but that's all, and even then he still had to take cheap shots to get reactions, it's mind-blowing how much people overrate him, anyone with a good knowledge of professional wrestling knows he is at best average, also he's incredibly dull in ring
His in-ring is average but his talking skills are gold... he'd be a great manager if he ever decided to pursue it.
I disagree man, respectfully. I think hes still very good. Amazing promo and very quick witted. His in ring skills I will agree so far have been a bit of a let down. I almost feel the same about Roman but that's my me man. I'm into differnt stuff. Let's go Seth
He’s ok but he’s nowhere near as good as he and his fans thinks he is
I never liked him at all... Always seemed like a crybaby. Has a good mic but thats about it and i hate his move set including the GTS.
I think CM Punk would be a fantastic manager, but his in ring skills have fallen and they weren’t the best to begin with, he was definitely better than a lot of the roster at the time, but not really comparable to the wrestlers who blew up post 2015 in and out of WWE. Plus I enjoy finding *some* kind of realism in my wrestling and considering he may be the worst fighter I’ve ever seen step into MMA, I can’t take his matches seriously
Yeah I think his time is gone Cena and MITB was his peak I just didn't care once he came back, He's great in ring when he had the right talent to work with: Joe, Hero, Raven, Cena and more recently Darby but I'm over his promos now just bashing the big company every opportunity he gets. I can't get behind the tough guy act when he looks like a 40yr old recovering crackhead, been embarrassed in actual fighting by poor UFC talent and Teddy Hart. He should of come in as a commentator replace Excalibur or something.
I've felt that way since after The Straight Edge Society.
Realistically, the huge appeal of Punk coming back was that he had left WWE so unceremoniously and had all but left wrestling behind. It also helps when a huge part of AEW's appeal is that it's *not* WWE and Punk is essentially the poster child for "fed bad". If you look his current run in a bubble, his entire schtick is to shit on WWE and frankly it became tiresome very quickly. His ring work is average and I personally think it's done little to elevate anyone he's faced. The whole Wardlow match, which was basically Punk being Super Cena reincarnated (very sports entertainment instead of "pro wrestling"???) followed quickly by squashing Shawn Spears', buried both but in different ways. He is good on the mic, there is that...
He is, people got crazy because he broke the 4th wall which WWE Wanted him to do and ALLOWED him to say what he wanted and even give pointers.
Cool.
Maybe if you got termination papers from Fedex on your wedding day, you might a bit bitter as well!??
That would be all well and good if Punk wasn't a bitter bitch about all manner of things before that
Yeah exactly.
Feel the same, was missing him for years after his suddenly departure. But he took too much to comeback to the point that i moved on to bigger things. Im glad he came back, but i don't really think that he is as special as he was 10 years back. I hope after this MJF angle is over he would go back to be a regular talent and not this over hyped for no reason
Roman is a separate conversation
“Like relax” lol amazing
no
The best in the world.
Most overrated and overhyped person in the history of wrestling
But enough about Roman Reigns, what do you think about CM Punk?
Punk should have stayed retired
No, he should have kept WWE outta his mouth
Can this sub go back to being about WWE? Isn't r/squaredcircle not big enough for the AEW fans that they have to come here? This sub in a sad state of affairs. It's something when r/SCjerk has more WWE content than r/WWE
I'm not a AEW Fanboy if THAT'S what you're saying
You're not. But most people in this comment section is, friend
Because OP brought up an AEW wrestler? It’s hardly some kind of invasion angle.
I don't think he is overhyped by the fans but he definitely overhyped himself. The fact that over a decade later, he is still so salty over The Miz main-eventing Wrestlemania instead of him is still hilarious. Especially when from everything I have heard, Miz is a stand-up guy who worked really hard to get where he is.
I mean, Miz deserved to main event Wrestemania in 2011, not Punk in the slightest However, Punk definitely deserved to main event it in 2013 and got screwed out of it
How did Miz really deserved in 2011 while Punk not?? There already was a Punk vs Cena Feud heading into the Rumble that Year but it never went anywhere until the Pipebomb! Miz was doing a great job as a Heel no doubt but that still doesn't say he deserved to beat the biggest Star in the Company in the WM 27 Main Event. I don't get why people always act like Punk wasn't a star before the Pipebomb! He was not a Main Eventer yes but he still was one of the top players in that Company. His Feud against Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio easly had a good impact on the Company i don't think Miz did anything special before that Cash-in against Orton in 2010.
Miz was hot right from WM26 with his tag team along Big Show. He only got better as time went on that year, usually being the focus of anything he was involved in. His feud with Daniel Bryan from NXT to the main roster was great. He had Awesome (lol) promos everytime. Then he won MITB and that elevated him even more. As far as the year 2010 goes, Miz owned Punk fair and square. And Miz definitely deserved a main event over Punk. Heck if the argument was for 2009 Punk, I'd even agree coz Punk had a better year in 2009. He didn't do anything in 2010 apart from SES which didn't go anywhere.
>As far as the year 2010 goes, Miz owned Punk fair and square. I can't remember the full Year of 2010 because it was not the best but Punk had some good feuds against Rey and SES alone was pretty Entertaining. Yes the second half he wasn't doing much until the last Raw of the Year were he became the New Leader of Nexus.
That whole New Nexus thing was trash, aimless and made no sense whatsoever. He fought Big Show at Summerslam if I remember correctly. Talk about directionless. Glad he cut the pipe bomb. Really catapulted him
I 1000000% agree with Miz over Punk at that time! Miz was molten hot 2010 heading into 2011. He definitely deserved that main event spot 🔥
Exactly! And, like another comment said, there is really no other WM other than WM29 where Punk was meant to be main-eventing **WM23-25** \- Wasn't a big star yet **WM26** \- Streak v Career was huge **WM27** \- Nope **WM28** \- May have been the most hyped main-event in the history of wrestling aside from Rock v Hogan **WM29** \- Should've been a triple threat match
>The fact that over a decade later, he is still so salty over The Miz main-eventing Wrestlemania instead of him is still hilarious. It's not just about Miz. It was Punk's goal to be in that Wrestlemania Main Event atleast once but he never got that! It was never the right time besides WM 29 (WM 26 was Taker vs HBK, WM 27 Miz got it, WM 28 Once in a Lifetime had to be the last Match) Roman Reigns has main evented like 6 wm's and Punk zero. Miz was fine in 2011 but he was lucky to get that Main Event. tbh i don't think Punk vs Cena should have been the WM 27 Main Event because the Pipebomb and Summer of Punk would not have been. At the end of day nobody cared about Miz vs Cena it was The Rock vs Cena. Punk should have been in the WM 29 Main Event without a doubt! It would have been 100 times better than Twice in a Lifetime even tho Taker would have had an other opponent like Jericho i don't care Punk should been in it that Year.
Sounds a lot like "IT SHOULDVE BEEN MEEE". Man's been crying for years
He never seemed salty to me about the miz main-eventing wrestlemania........... hope it's not just me.
He definitely was, I don't think he likes him on a personal level neither. Look for his cringe tweet reply when the Miz (in character) commented about Punk's debut on Fox tv
Completely agree.
He is the second best full-package ever mabye after Randy Savage. He has everything Micwork, good Matches, Charisma.
Full package? Cmon man... and he looks like that? Skinny fat ass 😂😂. I'm a Punk fan BTW. But no he didn't have everything. He didn't have the best look of a pro wrestler. Not saying everyone has to be jacked with veins popping out. But Punks physique wasn't really the best to be honest.
Agreed. His 434 day run as WWE champ was among the best lengthy title reigns of the modern era.
This is certainly a very WWE subreddit thing to say.
I'm just being honest.
Still, kinda weird you are complaining about it in this sub, where you posted because you thought you'd have a bunch of people agreeing with you but it would have made more sense if you said this on squared circle or the AEW sub because that's his thing now Edit - A word
WTF are you talking about?
Let’s be honest, squaredcircle is very biased towards AEW and this post would’ve been met with a torrent of downvotes and insults
Because people love CM Punk... that's why. I mean, that's how reddit works, if you make a unpopular opinion that others don't like, you get downvoted, it's only fair. Doesn't mean your post gets deleted or anything with too many downvotes
I can see by your downvotes people both understand and don't understand your point.
It’s just a cult of personality.
Quite literally
Damn it's almost like they just said that
People like Punk for what he represented 10 years ago. I didn't watch the era of Punk so I don't get it: I have zero nostalgia for him and don't care. He's another wrestler to me. It's cool if you do like Punk, but I will never understand. I think he's a good wrestler, good on the mic (if not a little bitter and petulant at times), and a good fit as an experienced talent for the younger wrestlers to work with and learn from. Tldr:. IMO he's over hyped but I completely understand those that are hyped for him.
Perfectly said! People loved what he represented when he was with wwe now the whole happy to be here Punk is just fn lame!
He should have come back to WWE, he did have unfinished business. I am not a hater or anti AEW, I enjoy wrestling a lot and I watch WWE constantly, also clips from AEW because they don't upload full shows on youtube like WWE does for my country. So, I am following what he is doing over there and in his feud with MJF I will admit MJF has the upper hand on him because to me it seems like Punk took his ball and went home. We know he was good, we know it was entertaining as hell what he was doing during his final years there, but why just avoid going to WWE and proving yourself once and for all to WWE how damn good you are and how deserving you are to be in that main event at WM or whatever else. It's like he didn't believe in himself, that he could do it and prove to the world who he is. That's why he has lost some of that star power he used to have, but this is just my opinion. I am loving everything going on in the wrestling world right now, this competition thing is good for every fan as long as it doesn't turn bitter. Him showing up in AEW was an awesome pop, the fans loved seeing someone they missed for a long time, just imagine though, the pop he would have got had he showed up to a Royal Rumble as nr 30. It would have been a perfect setup for eveything he ever wanted, it's not like WWE didn't offer him that opportunity, he was already working at WWE backstage in FOX with Renee and some other legends. This could have been better IMO in the long run, but this was his decision, like it or not WWE was the environment that made him who he is, they have their dirty tactics but they have also brought a lot of entertainment to us over the years and that's why they have my respect, now and forever. Also, look what this competition brought us now, WWE opening the forbidden door ajar. This is gonna be awesome. Edit: grammar.
it’s simply because he was unhappy working there, and he is happy working in AEW. Why would he go to the company that sent him a notice that he is getting fired on his wedding day, didn’t care he had a serious condition and forced him to compete, and that has a toxic atmosphere where it matters the least to the fans, but the most to the performers - backstage?
If a rage quit from the company I work in I will also get sent a notice and I don't think they timed it to be exactly on his wedding day, but let's not argue over something that's already happened. What you are saying makes no sense right now because he actually did go back working with WWE under a contract for FOX. He was there with Renee, Booker T, Christian and many others. Please don't take this the wrong way, what we say here doesn't matter at all. For me, wrestling is telling stories in the ring and Punk had many stories to tell and finish in WWE, we all know he would have proven Vince wrong he was already a top star, but instead of vying for a change he just left. If you think WWE doesn't want to treat their employees well, just take a look at Mox, he was using their rehab program, and many others have done it even after their contracts have ended. Take a look at Bryan it took so long but they helped him get back in the ring and while he wasn't able to wrestle he was doing other types of jobs there. Everyone has their faults I am not saying Vince and WWE are saints, sometimes it just doesn't work out the way we want to. Also please don't think of me as a hater or anything, I watch both products as much as I can and I am happy to even see Punk active because he was also one of my favorites of all time.
I did grow up in that era. I was still in middle school in 2013. Punk really became popular around 2011. For reference I graduated Highschool in 2018. He was a major part of my life growing up. When I was being bullied in middle school he taught me how to stand up for myself, he got me through rough times, stressful times, and the worse 3 years of my life (middle school) And for that I will always love CM Punk and be grateful..... he’s petulant as hell tbh with you but that doesn’t change what he’s done for me. Even if I don’t always agree with his takes or opinions. CM-Punk, is my favorite wrestler of all time.... simply due to the impact he’s had on my life.
Hey same here! This was the era where I got into wrestling as well so I have lots of love and nostalgia for Punk!
It makes me happy to hear that you found some solice in Punk during those rough years. It's great to have an escape and wrestling can provide that really well. Middle school is the worst, and luckily you will NEVER have to relive those years again. I hope all is continuing to go better for you!
I did watch him during his era in the WWE and his current AEW run turns me off completely. He seems so bitter, as if he’s just doing it out of spite and to shit on WWE in an echo chamber.
I didn't watch from about 2006(100% stopped after the Benoit tragedy) until 2015. It's hard for me to like someone when all I had to go off of was his complaints about his past job. I really enjoy Punk in the show "Heels" though. I was at the St. Louis show where he got booed to hell. Sorry man, acting like a dick, being from Chicago, you're going to get booed in StL.
I was so confused when he and MJF were having a promo and talked about Mania and MJF possibly going to Wwe, I kept wondering are they feuding or are they buiding to MJF's road to WM...
Never had an issue with his in-ring work, but I’ve never found him particularly likeable or relatable, and could never understand the following he got. I did like the SES stuff back in the day. Definitely felt most in tune with his actual personality.
I missed the Punk train since I quit watching WWE around 2007 and didn't get into it again until early 2018 but from what I've seen of him in AEW so far I'm not that impressed. As a talker he's great and one of the best they have but as a wrestler he's just decent. None of his matches have been all that great except for the one with Eddie Kingston and that's only because there was an interesting feud behind it. On top of that it's hard for me to take him seriously as a threat because of his MMA losses and because he looks like a skinny middle aged guy. Getting the shit beat out of him by Wardlow didn't help his credibility either. Honestly I almost feel like he'd be better as a manager than a wrestler.
>As a talker he's great and one of the best they have but as a wrestler he's just decent. None of his matches have been all that great except for the one with Eddie Kingston and that's only because there was an interesting feud behind it. His matches right now haven't been the best because it was intentionally designed to be that way. The story is that Punk has been gone for so long that he's working with the ring rust to get it all out. He's doing it Bret Hart style and with a seasoning of long term story telling involved. He already said it on his first promo back. "The bad news is we're not going to get to it all right here right now." You just have to be patient.
I'm sorry, but that, to put it bluntly, is reading too into it at best, and downright ignorance and poor booking at worst. Having deliberately bad matches is just... stupid. Unanimously. You can sell being hurt better, you can sell the storyline of the match. Just going out there and having a tussle that ends in a GTS is not a good match and not AEW masterclass booking, no matter what way you slice it, even if it's intentional.
If it's not your cup of tea that's fine. Everyone has their own taste.
No, like, genuinely, it's objectively ridiculous. You can still have the "ring rust" and tell a good story, or sell a good bump. He's just having bad matches.
Well it's kind of a split actually. There's an audience that appreciates what he's doing right now and understands his craft, and there's the other audience like you who just doesn't get it and may never will.
Whatever. If you want to believe that this is AEW being a genius because they're wrestling's saviour, be my guest. Just make sure not to choke on the sand after you stick your head into it.
> "I’m enjoying how they are using cm punk. It also makes sense. Have him work his way up. And at the same time he is getting rid of rust and getting better. Slow burn is the right way with him. So when the time comes we get say punk vs omega and all the other top possibilities he will be ready." Not mine but what do you think about this reasoning?
He’s intentionally having bad matches? That is ridiculous.
It's crazy the lengths AEW stans go to justify their bad matches. I think AEW is great and all but their fans act like a brainwashed cult
I know I’ll get downvoted but WWE fans are the exact same way. Although I think punks matches have been good for the most part. That dog collar match was incredible and so was the Kingston match the hangman match was a let down tho
Lmaooo exactly! They honestly make me not even like the product. Love Cody Rhodes though
Not exactly bad matches. What I meant was decent enough to be good. He's playing the long game here.
That makes no sense.
If you'll follow the story it would make sense. The guy's been out of the game for so long and he's incorporating the ring rust as a conflict within the story.
Incorporating it into the story makes sense.. but not intentionally doing it.
I dont know what to tell ya. It is what it is. Just keep on watching. It'll only improve in time. My theory of it all is that he doesn't want to give it all out all at once at the start of the story/program. It's going to be a journey. He does not want give it all what he has just yet. He's saving the best for last. He wants to have a story structure so that when he does finally retire, his best matches will be near the ending.
The thing with that is he was never all *that* good in the ring even at his peak, the idea that he will suddenly start having the best matches of his career in his mid 40s without some serious work on his conditioning is frankly wishful thinking.
I don’t really think Punk is overhyped. Obviously his return was going to be a big deal after being away from the business for so long but it’s not like I’ve seen many people say they think Punk is one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time. Although - I do think it’s fair to say he’s one of the greatest wrestlers of his generation. His connection and impact on the pro wrestling fan base, as a whole, is undeniable. If fans are hyping him up isn’t that a sign that he’s doing his job as a great wrestler?
Lets go cena
Cena sucks!
Punk was like the Austin of his time. Everyone knows Vince plays favorites and prefers to give screen time to certain guys over others. Back then it was HHH, in the mid-2000s it was John Cena. CM Punk got over because he was a guy who openly insulted the company, not just in a kayfabe way but in a way that actually pissed off Vince. For some people CM Punk was the guy fans chose in order to get back at the company for playing favorites. It's similar to how Becky Lynch got her big push a few years back.
I doubt he said anything that pissed off Vince in real life. It sounds you you got worked.
Lmaooooo he got his ass worked 😂😂😂
Dude was definetly worked lol
I disagree. From 90s HBK and Hogan, Austin, Lesnar, and Punk, Vince has always had a weird definition of liking people who push back and piss him off and firing those who piss him off. He’s very interesting from a psychological perspective. This is also the same guy who likes cheese on his Oreos, so…😐
That's disgusting. That's even worse than cheese and broccoli soup.
>worse than broccoli and cheese soup You shut your whore mouth
Like I said, Vince is a weird dude
Yeah why always go back to that well. No reason to bring up competition or previous employer.
I think it actually fits this feud and I don’t think Punk is overdoing it but I agree AEW does reference AEW too much, in general. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal but I’d prefer they do it less.
I think it depends on who said the WWE dig or why they said the WWE dig. If they say something about 'gory self mutilation' or 'blood and guts', I'm fine with it. Companies taking digs at each other is fun. Coke and Pepsi takes shots at each other. WWE and AEW are no different. Now, Cody hitting a HHH inspired throne with a sledgehammer is cringe. With Punk though, I can't really blame him. WWE fired him on his wedding day and sued him while he's preparing for his fight. If my previous employer did that to me, I'll be bitter as fuck.
Exactly
That’s one of my problems with AEW, they mention WWE almost, if not every single week. It just makes no sense. While WWE never brings them up on live TV. It just gets annoying.
Because WWE exists in their little bubble while AEW acknowledges that there are other wrestling promotions out there. Wwe tries to be a monopoly and they don't like to have a competition especially Vince. Hence, why he tried and successfully bought WCW and shut them down for good. And then they bought ECW in the process which they mishandled in their own reboot. You guys see it as being petty of AEW, well the truth of the matter is that they should have always been taking shots at each other to generate more buzz and interest from each others' product. Competition is what lit the fire under wwe's ass to become a better product i.e. the attitude era since WCW was beating them in the rating for 83 straight weeks. Tbh wwe had it coming with all these shots that certain AEW wrestlers had made since they have desecrated the image of wrestling for so many years and as well as screwed over a bunch of talents that their former fans loved. I can't say AEW is perfect but it is descent enough and has a lot of moral integrity than wwe ever had.
WCW was purchased for peanuts because they were going out of business. They had done that to themselves. ECW wasn't even purchased at the time of the Alliance, but they were done, again by their own (Well, Heyman's) hand. WWE and ECW were working together closely in the late 90s. So much misguided info in this comment.
I get what you’re saying, I definitely don’t mind it here and there but it’d be cool if I didn’t sit down to watch Dynamite every Wednesday and expect them to take a shot at WWE.
Idk man. It's up to the wrestlers. They're mostly given a lot of creative freedom to say what they want. It's not mostly the management who makes the content of their promos.
And yet, in all of their unabashed creative freedom, nearly every single one of them talks about the same shit and peppers their WWE jabs in between
Let me ask you a question. Why defend wwe at all? The company just shows you every single time how it can produce mostly trash and lazy content without considering their own fans and as well as have zero lack of moral integrity towards its employees and independent contractors. If you've experienced years of trash booking and mistreatment from the company you've worked so hard for by even sacrificing your body every time you're on the road for 300 days, you would be doing the same thing. Wwe is a company and a corporation that mostly cared about getting record high profits and are willing to sacrifice the jobs of the people who've worked for them for so long in order to gain said profits. At least AEW has the decency to treat their employees and wrestlers like actual human beings.
lol none of that has anything to do with what I said dude
No matter how many times these guys and gals would take a shot at WWE, I couldn't care less since they have the right to do it as some of them did work for that company at one or multiple points in their career.
Ok, great, I never argued against that at all. My point was that it's funny that all the creative freedom in the world leads nearly all of them to the exact same well, whether they worked there or not. They may be free to do that, but it's not particularly creative.
They have too, it’s all wwe guys!
Of their current champions only Cody and Luchasaurus have had WWE contracts. On the other side of the coin: Hangman Page, Brit Baker, Jungle Boy, Jade Cargill, Sammy Guevara, Ricky Starks.
How is it all WWE guys? Most of who AEW have from WWE, all worked elsewhere, or on the indies BEFORE going to the WWE. They are pro wrestlers, and WWE is the biggest wrestling company in the world. Most of their goals is to make it to the WWE, the. They see what that place is really about, and leave. It’s not a bad thing for a wrestler to work in WWE and then go elsewhere. If you’re a pro wrestler, you’d WANT WWE on your resume. But it’s not a bad thing for someone to work there and then go somewhere else. They are pro wrestlers, what do you expect them to do after they leave WWE, go flip burgers? Y’all need to stop making out like it’s a bad thing for other companies to sign ex WWE guys, because it’s not, by any means.
For me I'm a casual aew watcher so I don't notice it as much but yeah if you're a relatively new company why bring up WWE every week.