Sad part is, they took them 2 years

[The Rated R CMStar]

You watch a show of Smackdown, the once in a while ECW and the 3hour editions of Raw and there's one man that always, always gets mic time. CM Punk.

CM Punk has been over for practically his entire stint in WWE since his debut, however, for those people not familiar with his ROH stint, there was always one gripe on the man: lack of mic time. Hell, there were some people that went as far to say that CM Punk couldnt work a mic at all.

Why did it took WWE until 2009 and a heel turn to finally give Punk a mic constantly? I don't know. I do know that his first World title reign on Raw could have been saved from failure if he was given a little more time to work the mic.

So, who do you blame (we love blaming) on this one? WWE creative and booking for not realizing the mine of gold they had with Punk and a microphone, or CM Punk for not reaching the level of awesomeness he does now in a regular basis while being face?

 

[Airfixx]

'Gimmick' has much more scope as a heel, but yeah, I do think maybe a little more mic time may have helped him as a face... Can't even remember any promo's and when you consider he fueded with a mic god like JBL that's a sad thing.

 

[soulreaper545]

This is my problem with Punk, he came in and stated he lived a straight edge lifestyle and they let that be. now almost 2 years later they are decided to turn his life style into one of the dumbest gimmicks i have ever seen. A guy who promotes anti-drug use should be a role model for the kids, not calling them drug users every week then, having R-Truth come out and make it seem like drugs are a good thing.

 

[THE Brian Kendrick's Biceps]

This is my problem with Punk, he came in and stated he lived a straight edge lifestyle and they let that be. now almost 2 years later they are decided to turn his life style into one of the dumbest gimmicks i have ever seen. A guy who promotes anti-drug use should be a role model for the kids, not calling them drug users every week then, having R-Truth come out and make it seem like drugs are a good thing.

For a dumb gimmick it works awfully well. Besides, the character is more about Punk's preaching for restriction than the fact that he's straight edge, while Truth and such are more the voice of freedom. Anyone who can't see that has issues.

 

[ScottyShowman]

You watch a show of Smackdown, the once in a while ECW and the 3hour editions of Raw and there's one man that always, always gets mic time. CM Punk.

CM Punk has been over for practically his entire stint in WWE since his debut, however, for those people not familiar with his ROH stint, there was always one gripe on the man: lack of mic time. Hell, there were some people that went as far to say that CM Punk couldnt work a mic at all.

Why did it took WWE until 2009 and a heel turn to finally give Punk a mic constantly? I don't know. I do know that his first World title reign on Raw could have been saved from failure if he was given a little more time to work the mic.

So, who do you blame (we love blaming) on this one? WWE creative and booking for not realizing the mine of gold they had with Punk and a microphone, or CM Punk for not reaching the level of awesomeness he does now in a regular basis while being face?

I TOTALLY AGREE!!

CM Punk was so hot when he came to the WWE in 2006. They really killed his momentum. Luckily he's talented enough to get it back. I seriously believe that CM Punk has the potential to be as big a star or bigger than Steve Austin. I just hope it's not too late.

 

[He who knows more than Nation]

^^Bigger than Steve Austin?? I love Punk, love him, but even at his best in RoH, he nor anyone on the roster looks like the next Austin. Cena is their top dog and he isn't even in sniffing distance of Austin. I just don't think people realize how big and important Austin was, but this thread isn't about him...

Punk is an awesome talent, his "holier than thou because I'm straight edge" gimmick is entertaining and he is best used as a heel than a face. Now their giving it time to flourish, kudos to the SD! booking team.

 

[Tsaalyo Phoenix]

This is my problem with Punk, he came in and stated he lived a straight edge lifestyle and they let that be. now almost 2 years later they are decided to turn his life style into one of the dumbest gimmicks i have ever seen. A guy who promotes anti-drug use should be a role model for the kids, not calling them drug users every week then, having R-Truth come out and make it seem like drugs are a good thing.

Thank you! Yes, I love how he's treated like a heel and booed the hell out of for telling the audience not to swallow a bottle of pills. Like, really, WWE?

 

[Airfixx]

Maybe those that don't see the heelish nature of Punk don't believe in freedom of choice either....?

Admittedly, I thought the fued with Jeff had an awkward dynamic because Jeff has PROVED he is a fuck-up and was a fair target for Punk, but not everyone that has a drink, smokes dope or whatever is.

CM Punk was far from being my introduction to the straight edge ethic/lifestyle and whilst I respect it, it doesn't mean to say I CHOOSE to live my life that way.


If in any further doubt, listen to Christian's comments about Punk on this weeks ECW....

 

[ScottyShowman]

potential is open ended word. He's got the goods, he was a super popular face when he came to WWE. His ROH interviews showed a charisma and intensity like few wrestlers on the planet. He was in the ring with DX and the crowd was chanting CM PUNK CM PUNK. He didn't even do anything major in the WWE yet.

You never know.

 

[Soul_of_Ruby]

Punk did have one memorable promo w/ JBL during their feud. It was the one where JBL was trying to get Punk to drink, but Punk threw it in his face. I thought that one was really good and I still watch it sometimes.

He really should have gotten more mic time during his WHC title run as a face, though. Punk is great on the mic as a heel AND a face.

 

[noumenon]

I think them eventually handing the mic over to Punk on a regular basis has to do with having so few guys in the company right now who can work the mic at all. So many people (including some of the main eventers) are just plain awful on the mic. I like to think of guys like Jericho, Punk and Miz as designated mic men in the company right now. The guys that they know no matter when, and in what context they're handed the mic they're going to deliver.
They probably saw a little spark of potential in Punk on the mic while in his face run and chose to give it a shot upon his heel turn. And let's face it, Punks current gimmick of a PREACHY asshole would come nowhere near close to working without above average mic skills.

 

[JurassicBonez]

He's alot better on the mic as a heel than a face. Granted some of his promos are repetitive, but still good. He gets more mic time (and sometimes opens the show) with a promo while ANY of the champs don't. Least they realized he's good on the mic.

 

[LKP]

The reason for the slow time with the mic was he came into the wwe as a face. If he was a heel we would have seen a much better CM punk. Punk now though has mic skills in wwe's eyes hes a young guy with so much ahead of him 2 years or not im glad he finally has the almost level he had in ROH. I wrote about 3 long paragraphs on this situation 50 mins ago but i went to post and it would not let me and i lost it all, im not retying it.

 

[Airfixx]

Punk did have one memorable promo w/ JBL during their feud. It was the one where JBL was trying to get Punk to drink, but Punk threw it in his face. I thought that one was really good and I still watch it sometimes...

Ahhh... That would be SNMEvent I believe... One of the few shows I missed that year.

Will 'ave a look.

 

[The Rated R CMStar]

While I think Soulreaper is wrong by stating it's a dumb gimmick (how dumb can it be when it turn Punk into one of the most over men in the company), it does point out something severely wrong with WWE when a man telling us to not use drugs, drink or smoke is booked to get booed by telling us that. Punk gets it to work with his awesome mic work, but the logic underneath is indeed rotten.

I mean, I remember watching a promo on ECW where Tiffany was actually booked as a face by telling us that she drank because she liked being human and having fun with their friends and basically called Punk a weirdo for being straighedge.

Not exactly the kind of message to give to kids.