CM Punk vs Brock Lesnar Feud

[Troy]

*SPOILERS* If you haven't seen RAW yet then please look away now *SPOILERS*

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CM Punk returned to RAW after a successful return to the ring last night at Payback where he defeated Chris Jericho. During the match there was some tension between Paul Heyman and CM Punk especially when Heyman nearly cost him the match. On RAW tonight CM Punk said to Heyman that whilst he is a 'Paul Heyman Guy' he isn't his client. Heyman seemed fine with that and wished Punk luck in his mainevent match with World Heavyweight champion Alberto Del Rio. Punk won that match thanks to countout but it was post match when things started to get interesting. Brock Lesnar's music hit and he came down to the ring and grabbed a microphone before facing off with Punk. Everything seemed fine until Brock suddenly hit Punk with the F5 to close the show. Big development with two of Paul Heyman's guys facing off in a feud. Punk decided that he was going to work separately from Heyman and immediately Brock is sent after him.

This is a huge opportunity for Punk. Since returning after WM last year Lesnar has had just four matches, one with Cena and three with HHH, so Punk is in very good company as the third guy Lesnar feuds with since coming back to WWE. It doesn't seem like WWE would rush this build so I doubt that they will face off at Money In The Bank but SummerSlam is only two months away. That would be the perfect place for this match and would be a good addition to one of WWE's biggest PPVs.

What are your thoughts on a Lesnar/Punk feud? Do you think that they will have their first match at MITB or SummerSlam? How do you see the feud playing out?

 

[Nate]

Re: CM Punk's next feud *RAW SPOILERS*

This is now how I expected CM Punk to be booked at all... but I really can't complain about this at all!.

 

[Crippler]

Re: CM Punk's next feud *RAW SPOILERS*

I'm expecting Axel/Punk at MITB then for him to be facing BROCK! at summerslam.

 

[Troy]

Re: CM Punk's next feud *RAW SPOILERS*

I'm expecting Axel/Punk at MITB then for him to be facing BROCK! at summerslam.

I like this idea but with the IC title on Axel I wonder how they will book it. Do they book the match with no title on the line and just have it as a straight forward grudge match?

It does seem like the best way to schedule it with Brock saved until SummerSlam whilst using Axel to continue the feud and get Punk on the MITB card.

I was surprised that this was Lesnar's next feud but looking at the roster it works. Punk is the biggest name they have other than Cena and there are no other major part timers around at the moment so Punk fits. Plus it is an easy setup with Lesnar and Punk both being Heyman guys.

 

[Dod Draper]

Re: CM Punk's next feud *RAW SPOILERS*

I love it.

Contrary to some other people's opinions, I really like CM Punk as a face. I think this feud is good for both guys, too (who else are they both going to feud with over the summer?) and has a great foundation in the Punk/Heyman dynamic. Even when Brock's not on TV, we should get some great back and forths between Punk and Heyman.

 

[Killz]

Re: CM Punk's next feud *RAW SPOILERS*

I can't wait for the build tbh. You can imagine Lesnar not being around for a few shows and you can see the merit in having an Axel/Punk match at MITB but it'll be AFTER the MITB pay-per-view business will pick up.

I can't wait to see Punk get destroyed as he tries to outwrestle Lesnar. So far Lesnar's matches have been against powerhouse brawlers but Punk isn't much of a striker beyond his muay thai stuff so it's going to be a hell of a job convincing the world Punk is a threat. I expect him to go with submissions and pure wrestling though to try and prove he's the best. It'd be a hell of a rub to win relatively cleanly for Punk heading into winter but I don't think they'd bury Lesnar like that.

Now that I'm typing I'm suddenly thinking of a half-turn for Heyman down the line you know. Maybe he starts with a chip on his shoulder about Punk, gets Lesnar in to teach him a lesson, but after Punk is truly brutalised repeatedly Heyman actually steps in as a friend and screws Lesnar at Summerslam? Lesnar stays your mega-heel guy, Heyman shows an ounce of humanity which might be cool and the image of Punk being destroyed coupled with some promos about Lesnar being part-time and ditching the business, shoot-style, might give Punk that big-time babyface thing he had in 2011? Just thoughts. So many ways to book this.

 

[Crippler]

Re: CM Punk's next feud *RAW SPOILERS*

I like this idea but with the IC title on Axel I wonder how they will book it. Do they book the match with no title on the line and just have it as a straight forward grudge match?

It does seem like the best way to schedule it with Brock saved until SummerSlam whilst using Axel to continue the feud and get Punk on the MITB card.

I was surprised that this was Lesnar's next feud but looking at the roster it works. Punk is the biggest name they have other than Cena and there are no other major part timers around at the moment so Punk fits. Plus it is an easy setup with Lesnar and Punk both being Heyman guys.

Non-title match, grudge match. Have punk call out Heyman in search of answers and he starts getting aggressive cause Heyman continues to lie to him about having nothing to do with it then as he's about to give him the GTS, Axel runs out and beats him down.

 

[Troy]

Re: CM Punk's next feud *RAW SPOILERS*

Non-title match, grudge match. Have punk call out Heyman in search of answers and he starts getting aggressive cause Heyman continues to lie to him about having nothing to do with it then as he's about to give him the GTS, Axel runs out and beats him down.

Sounds good, book it please.

With regards to the eventual Punk/Lesnar match how do people think it will play out? Is it going to be more of a brawl or focus more on mat wrestling/submissions? Is Lesnar going to control the majority of the match with Punk getting little offence in or will it be pretty even?

 

[Crippler]

Re: CM Punk's next feud *RAW SPOILERS*

Sounds good, book it please.

With regards to the eventual Punk/Lesnar match how do people think it will play out? Is it going to be more of a brawl or focus more on mat wrestling/submissions? Is Lesnar going to control the majority of the match with Punk getting little offence in or will it be pretty even?

BROCK! beating the shit out of him STIFF style, hopefully cutting him with an elbow, but Punk comebacks with stick and move attacks or submissions to keep him grounded.

 

[Keith]

Re: CM Punk's next feud *RAW SPOILERS*

Sounds like a great feud in the making, should produce some very heated promos and lead to at least one excellent match.

The Heyman issue is interesting too. long term would like to see him stay with Punk. But I think it would be nice if should they face at summerslam than they do a Mr Perfect type deal from 92 where Heyman offers his services to both, but on the night it is unclear whose side he is on.

 

[The Cork]

Re: CM Punk's next feud *RAW SPOILERS*

I think I speak for everyone in saying the only right way to book this would be Punk getting squashed in 18 seconds ala Daniel Bryan/Sheamus style.

 

[ThatGuyFromNukemHigh]

Re: CM Punk's next feud *RAW SPOILERS*

I can't wait for the build tbh. You can imagine Lesnar not being around for a few shows and you can see the merit in having an Axel/Punk match at MITB but it'll be AFTER the MITB pay-per-view business will pick up.

I can't wait to see Punk get destroyed as he tries to outwrestle Lesnar. So far Lesnar's matches have been against powerhouse brawlers but Punk isn't much of a striker beyond his muay thai stuff so it's going to be a hell of a job convincing the world Punk is a threat. I expect him to go with submissions and pure wrestling though to try and prove he's the best. It'd be a hell of a rub to win relatively cleanly for Punk heading into winter but I don't think they'd bury Lesnar like that.

Now that I'm typing I'm suddenly thinking of a half-turn for Heyman down the line you know. Maybe he starts with a chip on his shoulder about Punk, gets Lesnar in to teach him a lesson, but after Punk is truly brutalised repeatedly Heyman actually steps in as a friend and screws Lesnar at Summerslam? Lesnar stays your mega-heel guy, Heyman shows an ounce of humanity which might be cool and the image of Punk being destroyed coupled with some promos about Lesnar being part-time and ditching the business, shoot-style, might give Punk that big-time babyface thing he had in 2011? Just thoughts. So many ways to book this.

LMFAO. It is not hard at all to try and make people believe Muay Thai is a threat to brawlers. Historically speaking, Muay Thai warriors were known for fighting armed soldiers, and winning. Its only not perceived as a dangerous style due to how limited it can be used in MMA, where most people recognize the style from.

 

[Killz]

Re: CM Punk's next feud *RAW SPOILERS*

LMFAO. It is not hard at all to try and make people believe Muay Thai is a threat to brawlers. Historically speaking, Muay Thai warriors were known for fighting armed soldiers, and winning. Its only not perceived as a dangerous style due to how limited it can be used in MMA, where most people recognize the style from.

"LMFAO"? Ok...well, unfortunately WWE is not based on historical accounts of the real world and the fact is that Brock's strikes are positioned and built as being practically match finishers whereas Punk deploys that style of strike regularly during the majority of his matches and it is positioned as being his answer to the classic right hand or european uppercut or chop to the chest etc etc

Given that this is the case, you wouldn't be able to suddenly claim Muay Thai is the way to put the guy down or the world would ask why it hasn't put guys smaller than Brock down/why Punk hasn't used it up until now so yes, I think it would very much be difficult to make Punk's typical style a threat. This is exacerbated by the efforts both Hunter and Cena had to go through in order to pin Brock.

I would book Punk being brutalised because that's all that is believable. Then you do an alignment turn or something mega-shady if you want Punk to win and if not just have him be valiant and not tap/stay down or whatever before Brock goes over clean.

 

[ThatGuyFromNukemHigh]

Re: CM Punk's next feud *RAW SPOILERS*

"LMFAO"? Ok...well, unfortunately WWE is not based on historical accounts of the real world and the fact is that Brock's strikes are positioned and built as being practically match finishers whereas Punk deploys that style of strike regularly during the majority of his matches and it is positioned as being his answer to the classic right hand or european uppercut or chop to the chest etc etc

Given that this is the case, you wouldn't be able to suddenly claim Muay Thai is the way to put the guy down or the world would ask why it hasn't put guys smaller than Brock down/why Punk hasn't used it up until now so yes, I think it would very much be difficult to make Punk's typical style a threat. This is exacerbated by the efforts both Hunter and Cena had to go through in order to pin Brock.

I would book Punk being brutalised because that's all that is believable. Then you do an alignment turn or something mega-shady if you want Punk to win and if not just have him be valiant and not tap/stay down or whatever before Brock goes over clean.

So there wasn't Russian heels during the Cold War era? There wasn't Middle Eastern heels during Desert Storm, or following 9/11? Isnt there a King on the announcers table? Didn't they bring up Irish history when Sheamus won KotR? hmmm..... sounds to me like they enjoy using history.

You want a smaller guy who beat Brock? Before Cena & HHH even tried? Eddie Guererro. Its also not hard to explain, since 90% of Muay Thai is illegal in MMA, so Brock never would have experienced it in the octagon.

 

[Killz]

Re: CM Punk's next feud *RAW SPOILERS*

So there wasn't Russian heels during the Cold War era? There wasn't Middle Eastern heels during Desert Storm, or following 9/11? Isnt there a King on the announcers table? Didn't they bring up Irish history when Sheamus won KotR? hmmm..... sounds to me like they enjoy using history.

You want a smaller guy who beat Brock? Before Cena & HHH even tried? Eddie Guererro. Its also not hard to explain, since 90% of Muay Thai is illegal in MMA, so Brock never would have experienced it in the octagon.

Aha ok well no, first of all, I literally went on to reference the art of professional wrestling: I wasn't at any point alluding to gimmicks BUT even though I didn't have them in mind you're obviously 100% right, WWE DO use history but usually only to bolster their characters. They will rarely (if ever? I've never heard of it) reference techniques inside the ring from a bygone era for someone to go over someone much larger. I mean yeah we've had amateur to pro crossovers but you get what I'm saying.

I think the attention span and memory of both creative and the fanbase is short. I think you've got to look at the current drive for the characters and realise that hype packages and references are only going to go back as far as Cena in reality. Brock is almost a new beast now. Sure, Punk may very well mention smaller guys who have beaten him to get into Brock's head or try to convince him that he's a threat BUT what I'm saying is in his last 3 outings, the outings on everyone's mind, Brock has DECIMATED superstars higher on the card and bigger from a phsyical standpoint. Guys who Punk isn't positioned as being on the same level as. How do you have Punk roundhouse slap (or whatever the Muay Thai term for those strikes is) Brock into defeat when he's taken sledgehammer shots and the like and kicked out, you know?

I actually hope Punk beats him a-la Cena at Extreme Rules except Punk maybe makes him tap or whatever. Hell of a moment. All I'm saying is there's no way in hell you can take what Punk does right now in his matches and say "well historically speaking Muay Thai totes knocks people out and by the way it's illegal in UFC so one punch is going to knock Brock out". I'd laugh and switch over if they tried it.

EDIT: Excuse me I see what you might be saying about styles from history/other areas actually. i guess things like Sambo? Again, would be cool for a new star or if Punk had never done Muay Thai strikes before but unfortunately not the case.