From the Mind of the Maniac:
C.M. Punk and the sale of ROH
It’s the story of two great tastes that could taste great together.
PWInsider has been reporting for several weeks that WWE is trying to re-sign C.M. Punk, as his current contract expires this summer. Punk, for his part, seems reluctant to re-up with the company. And who can really blame him? Let's take a look at some of the booking he's endured.
- The Straight Edge Society was one of the better built angles on SmackDown. Punk, Gallows, Serena and Mercury were creating one of the best factions seen in WWE for sometime. In a way, it harkened back to the Attitude era. Each member had their own personality, and was actually allowed to show it.
Then Mercury got injured. Serena got released. And the SES just sort of faded out. There was no real blow off. No explanation. It was just gone. Soon thereafter, Luke Gallows got his walking papers as well. What had been so promising just vanished.
- The finale to Punk's outstanding (if a bit too long) feud with Rey Mysterio was the 'Hair versus Mask' match at Over the Limit 2010 in which Punk had his head shaved. Punk and Mysterio meshed well together, and had Punk not been busted open during the final match the feud likely would have ended on a high note.
To cover his bald head, and protect him while the wound healed, Punk donned an SES mask over the next few weeks. It was going to be a big deal when he lost the mask as we build toward the reveal. Oh wait, Big Show just pulled it off… never mind.
- On his move to Raw, Punk was given leadership of the "New" Nexus. A group that hadn't really mattered since the night they debuted last summer. During the build to WrestleMania, Randy Orton systematically knocked off every member of the group. Leading Punk to proclaim that he was just using them anyway. Until a couple weeks later when they were all back as his followers again for no apparent reason.
Everything C.M. Punk has been given to do over his time in WWE, he's done and done well. This is a rare man who can get heat in his own hometown against John Cena. His promos are almost always solid to excellent. He was so good as an announcer that the company considered putting him in the role permanently. I'd place him as the best heel in WWE today.
We've also recently learned of the sale of Ring of Honor to the Sinclair Broadcasting group. And in my opinion, this is where the C.M. Punk story gets interesting.
Sinclair is planning to relaunch ROH on television later this year. TV tapings start in early August. Now, I'm sure many of us would like to see C.M. Punk in a place where he could not only be a great personality, but a great wrestler as well. I'm sure the timing is not lost on those in power for all companies involved.
To break it down...
- Ring of Honor could jump start their new era by bringing back one of their most popular former Champions.
- Punk would have a viable option that didn't include the letters TNA.
- WWE might clue in to the fact that they need to work on their storyline follow-through and working with their talent.
Granted, only two of those things have a real chance of happening. But it's the two that count.
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