It’s about time CM Punk confronted some penalties.
Kayfabe penalties, to be clear. Lord is aware of, the previous couple of years for Punk have been all about real-life ramifications, in order that’s not what that is about. This is about feud stability. The storyline scales. Making positive that the CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre feud, and future one-on-one match hype, is all it may be. And now that Seth Rollins is within the combine, promising a reckoning, this specific angle could get the additional footing it must maintain going.
Because we don’t know when Punk vs. Drew is going on for realsies. SummerSlam appears/appeared like the right time for it – in addition to Rhea vs. Liv – however that’s all depending on how damage rehab shakes out for everybody. Punk screwing Drew at Money within the Bank was an thrilling in-the-moment little bit of enterprise but it surely finally left an askew aftertaste. It was too near the Glasgow Screwjob and it undercut the beat-down Drew gave Punk the week prior, which had already occurred, unsatisfyingly, off-screen (maybe because of Punk’s restricted physicality).
Now I simply need Drew to triumph soooo freakin’ badly.
I’m an enormous fan of each skilled wrestlers and have been method invested on this very good, drawn-out story, however now it looks like we’re within the Sisyphean weeds. It’s only a repetitive curse for Drew now. Like when Sandman (the comedian guide deity, not ECW’s chain-smoking Captain America) hexed that man into having an eternity of waking nightmares-within-waking-nightmares. It’s fairly ugly to observe. It’s too one-sided now and bordering on full comedy.
I’m a giant CM Punk mark/smark/stan/simp/appreciator. Like many. Someone who’s maybe even made too many excuses for his anger points and impulse management obstacles up to now. And even I wish to see him get obliterated right here. Drew returning and giving him a beating isn’t sufficient. We simply did that. It barely caught. In reality, Drew even getting a Claymore victory over Punk doesn’t really feel like sufficient both. I’d hate to see this head into residence invasion territory, however… is that our final recourse?
We’d all be over the moon if AJ Lee appeared again on WWE TV once more, however I don’t assume that’s how we’d need it to go. There was some on-line hope that she’d be the one to distract Drew at MITB however that was largely as a result of A: she’s part of the story now due to the bracelet, and B: Punk was alleged to be down for the rely due to the beating.
At this level, Punk doesn’t simply have to lose. He can’t solely lose his match with Drew. Drew must win. Drew must get that title one way or the other. Things want to come back up Milhouse. Because beneath this fabulous circus, I feel there’s an precise relatable and worthy message creeping up right here. That violence begats violence and also you wind up selfishly creating cycles of retribution that you simply don’t anticipate. Seth promised that as quickly as Punk is again he’s going to interrupt his arm earlier than he may even say the title “Drew McIntyre.” Which sounds good. It’s time for Punk to get caught within the loop of simply deserts.
This has been an all-killer/no-filler feud and it says quite a bit that I’m now really in search of Punk to get punked in a giant method. Punk hasn’t actually expressed any profession aspirations upon his return apart from, on the outset, profitable the Rumble. So there’s no apple cart to upset right here, actually. Drew is straightforward to wreck and spoil as a result of his targets are at all times clear. That means the best way to get at Punk is to thwart his revenge towards Drew.
And I suppose additionally kidnap Larry or one thing? Oh, man. What if Drew Big Boss Man’d Larry to Punk? As in, Larry will get Pepper’d. Honestly, that may be unimaginable. And old style Punk would then maintain Larry out of public view for it to work. The bit can be too sturdy to withstand. And then Drew may promote shirts that learn “I fileted for this.”
Speaking of revenge schemes, Jeff Jarrett did wind up getting the ultimate phrase with Adam Page, and the Owen Cup on Dynamite, when he counted to 3 and handed Bryan Danielson the large bloody win. That was a fantastic, becoming end that now units Danielson as much as headline All In with Swerve.
I’ve been posting a variety of polls in these columns as of late and not likely following up on them so let’s really look again to final week and what y’all wished for Cody Rhodes and his championship.
With about 2,200 votes, 55.5% of you of us wished Cody to maintain his WWE Universal Championship till he faces The Rock. But then, if he needed to lose the belt, the vast majority of the votes went to Randy Orton as the brand new champ. About 38% (with LA Knight second at 21%). I suppose I’m by no means not marveling at Orton’s enduring fandom. Which appears to have even grown greater now since his return.
I get that he’s additionally one of many few remaining long-timers left in order that routinely produces some reverence, however he’s at all times been the CBS of WWE for me. Like, wildly profitable however I don’t know a single fan. As if his fandom exists inside a completely completely different pocket universe from something I work together with. It’s like if S.W.A.T. heard voices in its head.
In closing right here, I’ve received a ballot to wiggle atcha. There’s quite a bit happening this week, from Mariah May turning on Toni Storm to Rhea Ripley returning proper as Dominik begins doing residence plate slides into Liv Morgan’s crotch to Joe Hendry teaming with Trick Williams in NXT*. This ballot, although, considerations the Howdy-Gable angle.
*It’s wild to me that Hendry’s in NXT, spreading pleasure and silliness, whereas Bo Dallas, the OG Hendry, is darkish and twisted and leaving our bodies in his get up on RAW.
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