Mustafa Ali moved to RAW?

[Smart Marx]

Because nobody can talk, wrestle and elude charisma in the way CM Punk did (at least since he left). He has the It Factor.

WWE also did him dirty and many have "walked out on us" including The Rock. All was forgiven when he came back.

 

[Smart Marx]

Austin did the same in 02, he just came back quicker and fans didn't care one bit.

I just mentioned Rocky, but Austin, too. I was mad at him for a quick second but was over it by the time he came back in 2003.

 

[Cwalker]

Rock didn’t walk out. They didn’t renew his contract in 04

 

[Smart Marx]

It's hard to renew a contract when the man spent 75% of the time between 2001 and 2004 doing movies. He was never here.

Why pay a man to do movies? Also, not renewing doesn't mean never showing up for anniversary Raws and special 1000 episode specials.

 

[Chris]

I lost a lot of respect for Austin actually. I was like 13 and still thought it was the wrong way of handling business

That's fair, can't argue with this. I think if you agree with Punk's booking complaints like most of his fans do then they'd support him coming back just like they supported him leaving most likely (though they probably thought he'd go somewhere else instead of hte UFC ) which is how I feel about Austin as well. He had legit complaints, handled it wrong though

 

[Chris]

I don't really like the Rocky comparison tbh, it was much more of a mutual thing even if Vince obviously would have preferred him to stay. Punk and Austin both legit no-showed a Raw.

 

[Hoss]

I don't support Punk coming back because WWE's creative team and business dealings are even shadier now than when he left.

If he wants to make a difference in the wrestling world, he should go to AEW or NJPW. Or help David Starr establish a union or some shit.

 

[Cwalker]

That's fair, can't argue with this. I think if you agree with Punk's booking complaints like most of his fans do then they'd support him coming back just like they supported him leaving most likely (though they probably thought he'd go somewhere else instead of hte UFC ) which is how I feel about Austin as well. He had legit complaints, handled it wrong though

By 2002, Austin was a fading star IMO. I will and always have agreed that he shouldn’t have lost to Brock Lesnar in a KOTR Qualifying Match. If you don’t wanna save that match for a Mania, it should’ve been the KOTR Final.

But let’s not act like this was‘98 Austin. By 2002, Rock had been replaced him as THE guy.

 

[Smart Marx]

I don't really like the Rocky comparison tbh, it was much more of a mutual thing even if Vince obviously would have preferred him to stay. Punk and Austin both legit no-showed a Raw.

Rock disappeared for 7 years. Punk has been home for you guessed it 7-years (almost).

I really don't think no-showing a Raw over creative differences and leaving wrestling to do movies really makes a difference.

The biggest problem for me is Rocky literally declined every invitation to make guest appearances in those 7 years.

There was legit bad blood for a while between the two sides. And him and Austin aren't the only two. Many wrestlers have"left."

 

[Chris]

Rock disappeared for 7 years. Punk has been home for you guessed it 7-years (almost).

I really don't think no-showing a Raw over creative differences and leaving wrestling to do movies really makes a difference.

The biggest problem for me is Rocky literally declined every invitation to make guest appearances in those 7 years.

There was legit bad blood for a while between the two sides. And him and Austin aren't the only two. Many wrestlers have"left."

Well we have to disagree here bc I find a big difference in these two things Literally walking out with no or little notice on the day of the show is much different and I think should only be supported if you think his reasons are right, but even then (as with Austin) I think it's the wrong way to handle things in 99% of cases. That said, I think you can still be excited for a Punk return and dislike how he left WWE, these aren't mutually exclusive opinions

 

[Smart Marx]

I don't support Punk coming back because WWE's creative team and business dealings are even shadier now than when he left.

If he wants to make a difference in the wrestling world, he should go to AEW or NJPW. Or help David Starr establish a union or some shit.

Punk going to any competitor would be huge. AEW, Impact. NWA or whomever would get am massive uptick.

I'd support him in NJPW, but I'm not sure the environment there would be for him. He even talked about Will Ospreay the other day.

 

[Cwalker]

Rock didn’t leave on bad terms. Austin and Punk did. Eventually shit went sideways between Rock and WWE, again, they somehow FORGOT to resign him. And in regard to the whole movie thing, let’s be honest, we’d probably all make that same choice.

There’s a difference between leaving and walking out. Rock left for 7 years. Punk and Austin voluntarily said “Fuck that, I’m not showing up.”

 

[Smart Marx]

Well we have to disagree here bc I find a big difference in these two things Literally walking out with no or little notice on the day of the show is much different and I think should only be supported if you think his reasons are right, but even then (as with Austin) I think it's the wrong way to handle things in 99% of cases. That said, I think you can still be excited for a Punk return and dislike how he left WWE, these aren't mutually exclusive opinions

In the sense of walking out on the fans there's really no difference. He's not showing up to wrestle for us so there reasons are erroneous.

As far as ethically, sure. You have a point. You shouldn't no-show a Raw, but was he really advertised for anything for that night?

 

[Cwalker]

Only to start his Mania feud

 

[Smart Marx]

Rock didn’t leave on bad terms. Austin and Punk did. Eventually shit went sideways between Rock and WWE, again, they somehow FORGOT to resign him. And in regard to the whole movie thing, let’s be honest, we’d probably all make that same choice.

There’s a difference between leaving and walking out. Rock left for 7 years. Punk and Austin voluntarily said “Fuck that, I’m not showing up.”

He still said fuck the fans when he decided to literally never come to a guest show he was asked to do for 7-years. He still walked out on the wrestling world. Even before the contract. He was never here. He worked maybe 2-4 months out of each of his last 4 years with the WWE.

Would we all make that choice, sure. We he still decided to do movies over wrestle for his fans. He still left the WWE. The reasons are whatever.