|
| Article: |
Author |
| The New (Straight) Edge? |
Matt Barnes |
Has WWE turned CM Punk into its new caretaker champion?
We’ve written a lot over the years here at FSM about the nature of transitional world heavyweight title runs within World Wrestling Entertainment. We’ve also written a lot about the way WWE has handled multi-time world champion Edge, a man who’s waited patiently in the wings and grabbed every opportunity handed to him, all the while never complaining and never needing to really ruffle any feathers to make a massive success out of his career.
Men like Edge are few and far between in this sport: company men who, having achieved their dream of working for the biggest wrestling company in the world, are happy to go with the flow, but can always be relied upon to turn tragedy into triumph whenever a superstar in injured and they need to be handed the ball. In Edge, WWE has a man they can always turn to, a man who won’t ever be a PR disaster and a man who turns the other cheek when he is overlooked or lost in the shuffle. In many ways, Edge is the perfect employee… or, at least, was until he accidentally injured himself not too long ago.
Such perfect all-round performers with such an outstanding attitude rarely come along more than once in a lifetime. In CM Punk, however, WWE seems to have done the near-impossible and signed a man who’s just as willing as Edge to pick up the reigns when necessary and do a stellar job with whatever he’s handed. What’s more, Punk is talented, popular (more than any WWE executive might think, in fact) and has an incredible ability to turn almost any opportunity to his favour, without ever treading on the toes of those ‘established’ stars around him.
Punk’s most recent run has been a joy to behold, with his slow and subtle heel turn proving a genuine highlight of recent WWE programming. Not surprisingly, some argue that Punk’s signing with WWE, relentless rise to the top and recent heel turn are all the results of WWE listening to the internet fans who’ve been espousing Punk’s virtues for a long time and claiming that he’d be far more effective as a heel. However, FSM reckons that any such evaluation is wishful thinking…
More likely is the fact that WWE signed the former Ring Of Honor talent on the recommendation of its own talent scouts (snapping him up before TNA got their mitts on him), watching his talents in both developmental and the WWE ring – essentially, the whole thing is a case of cream always rising to the top. What’s more, the fact that Punk has recently turned heel is likely more of a response to Punk’s failed world title tenure last year than any previous experience he may have in the role. We should just be thankful that Punk finally has the opportunity to do what he does best on the biggest stage in wrestling…
For the rest of this feature, check out issue 44 of FSM - available at WH Smith and all good retailers. (For US readers we are now carried at Borders and Barnes & Noble, so check for local availability or click here to subscribe.)
Back to Articles Menu |
 |
|
