Posted in: Mr. Tito
MR. TITO STRIKES BACK - Did the WWE Win the CM Punk Debate?
By Mr. Tito
Apr 5, 2015 - 12:55:43 AM

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Hindsight is a wonderful thing... During Thanksgiving 2014, CM Punk appeared on Colt Cabana's podcast and delivered a NO HOLDS BARRED interview on his WWE career since 2011. It was that rare moment where heard a wrestler openly talk negatively about the WWE because most pro wrestlers realize that the bridge isn't worth burning down. After all, if you truly want to make money in the professional wrestling business, but as an active wrestler or a legend, it's through the WWE. TNA payouts have dropped, Ring of Honor didn't grow as expected after Sinclair purchased them, and while Japan/Mexico could pay well, you'll have to live in those countries to perform. Options to make real money in wrestling is pretty much limited to WWE.

But CM Punk burned that WWE bridge down and pissed on the ashes. Other wrestlers have tried to "stick it" to the WWE but usually did so by working for the competition. Because you couldn't fault someone for wanting to still make a living in the wrestling business, guys like Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Sean Waltman, Christian, Davey Boy Smith, etc. could come back and do business with the WWE again. Guys who have burned the WWE, such as Jeff Jarrett and Lex Luger for leaving the WWE abruptly and without notice (even though contracts expired) have never been welcomed back with open arms. CM Punk is in the latter class but possibly worse. In that interview, he accused the WWE of breaking promises on booking, poor healthcare, other wrestlers using performance enhancers, and withholding payouts for merchandise or Pay Per Views.

So where is CM Punk now? He announced that he signed a deal to compete with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and is attempting to train right now to become a MMA fighter. The WWE doctor named by CM Punk is suing him for claims made on that Cabana Podcast. Meanwhile, his real life wife, AJ Lee, just announced her retirement...

Where is the WWE? Well, they just scored their record live gate for Wrestlemania 31 and exceeded over 5 million viewers for the RAW following that event.

With over 4 months to reflect on what CM Punk said and also the WWE's response, it's becoming pretty evident to me that the WWE won this argument or debate.

Consider the response by the WWE and Vince McMahon following CM Punk's November 2014 interview. Crickets... The most that was ever said was by Vince McMahon and Triple H on the Steve Austin Live Podcasts. For both, Vince and Triple H played it cool and said they were shocked that CM Punk actually felt that way about his profession. Furthermore, both suggested that CM Punk never came to WWE officials to express his anger and burnout over his health or booking. Professionally deflected CM Punk's words and both Vince/HHH have said nothing about CM Punk ever since. Better yet, they've treated AJ Lee like a professional. She hasn't been jobbing and has in fact won the Divas Title twice since CM Punk left following Royal Rumble 2014. WWE gave her time off to heal a neck injury, too...

Speaking of AJ Lee, remember those Tweets she sent Stephanie McMahon following the Academy Awards? Stephanie was applauding Patricia Arquette for Oscar Award winning speech on equal pay for women when AJ Lee chimed in:

@StephMcMahon Your female wrestlers have record selling merchandise & have starred in the highest rated segment of the show several times,

@StephMcMahon And yet they receive a fraction of the wages & screen time of the majority of the male roster. #UseYourVoice


Better yet, this whole situation represents WHY Vince McMahon is a great CEO/Board Chairman for the WWE Corporation, even at his older age. The "Internet Wrestling Community" rips this guy regularly for being "senile" or "out of touch", yet for both CM Punk's podcast interview and AJ Lee's Tweets, he acted like the executive in charge. Reportedly, Triple H was FURIOUS at what was alleged in CM Punk's interview. However, it was just kept to anger backstage... Vince had a chat with his young apprentice... By the time Triple H's podcast interview with Steve Austin rolled around, Triple H was professional in responding to the CM Punk questions. Then, you have Stephanie McMahon... She was upset at the AJ Lee Tweets but again, Vince McMahon, acting as both a father and chief executive, instructed Stephanie on how to respond: Thank you @WWEAJLee, I appreciate your opinion. #UseYourVoice. Short, sweet, and puts AJ Lee i her place with professionalism. Egg on AJ's face, especially when Stephanie McMahon, a female, has a major role herself in the WWE. Ditto for her mom, Linda, former CEO of the WWE Corporation.

To WWE's credit, they have moved on from CM Punk's exit quite well... It was messy at first, particularly Wrestlemania 30 needing to be rebooked. However, the WWE had lots of developmental talent that they could elevate for the rest of 2014 in preparation for 2015. WWE booked the Shield against Evolution and that feud made Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, and Dean Ambrose into instant stars. Though Bray Wyatt has been overpushed from the start, he's been given great opportunity to show his in-ring ability during this stretch. Rusev was allowed to grow as a wrestler. WWE was able to unload its NXT developmental system and help thicken up the WWE roster. By Wrestlemania 31, the only reminder of CM Punk was a few troll chants during AJ Lee's matches. And in my opinion, the WWE's recent handling of their developmental system has caused some nice recruiting lately. NXT is stocked with some nice talent and will continue to replenish the WWE. With veterans like CM Punk out of the way, it "clears the deck" for developmental wrestlers to step up.

To Vince McMahon's credit, he has always weathered how cyclical the wrestling business can be, particularly on talent. Hulk Hogan leaves during 1993, he tries Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. Sure, it wasn't Hogan, but it kept things floating... Then, Vince had Stone Cold Steve Austin and the Rock while thickening up the bench during the late 1990's. Steve Austin gets hurt during 1999? No problem, we'll push Triple H, Chris Jericho, and Kurt Angle along with making the Rock as the top babyface. Austin and Rock aren't around much during 2002-2003? No problem... We have the developmental system to unload guys like John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Batista, and Randy Orton. And let's give the guy that CM Punk mainly rips, Triple H, some credit. Some of the talent he's developed (along with John Laurinaitis) and booked upon their WWE debuts have been major successes. Booking of newcomers, besides Fandango and Adam Rose, has been superb. Do you guys even remember how bad Orton, Batista, and Cena were during 2002 before they found their mojo as wrestlers?

WWE will just reload... Now, AJ Lee is gone... No problem. They'll just push Paige harder, give some of their current roster ladies an opportunity (Emma, hopefully), or just unload the NXT developmental ladies. You do realize that WWE actually employs Ric Flair's daughter, Charlotte? And she's actually quite talented as an in-ring performer and has the look to market. Many NXT fans are high on Sasha Banks as well. No AJ Lee? No problem...

I have to wonder about AJ Lee's recent retirement. If I were to honestly guess without knowing the real facts, she wants to have a family with CM Punk. Obviously, you cannot take wrestling bumps if you're trying to get pregnant. Those early months, especially...

But I wonder how much CM Punk's departure has made things extremely awkward for AJ Lee. Think about it... Punk walked out following the Royal Rumble 2014 with set plans for him to wrestle Triple H at Wrestlemania 30 and also working on the road for Houseshows. By Punk's actions, that all changes... That affects everyone in the WWE when one of the top stars just walks away. AJ Lee has to hear about that... Then, CM Punk utilizes legal action to challenge the WWE for unpaid royalties from merchandise or live event gates. AJ Lee might have to hear about that... And then, the Thanksgiving podcast with Colt Cabana which ripped AJ Lee's employer heavily. CM Punk then joins UFC and AJ Lee actually poses for pictures in front of the UFC logos. I could only imagine the meetings that WWE Officials repeatedly had in dealing with CM Punk's actions and how it related to his wife's future with the WWE.

Recently, fans were wondering why AJ Lee unfollowed CM Punk on Twitter and then re-followed him when wrestling news websites reported on that action. Furthermore, CM Punk posted a few cryptic Tweets. Makes you wonder if the pressure of a WWE career and maintaining a marriage to CM Punk was beginning to be too much? But we could just be reading into Twitter stuff way too much. However, this is the world we live in where Social Media actions and real life actions are blurring...

In my opinion, though, AJ Lee's options in pro wrestling are worse than CM Punk's. I'm willing to bet that both TNA and Ring of Honor would sign CM Punk today and pay his reasonably well if he joined them soon. AJ Lee... Not so much. TNA has had a respectable Knockouts Division but it's on the lesser publicized TNA promotion now on Destination America (the 3rd or 4th ranked Discovery Channel). Not happening in Ring of Honor. Maybe Japan or Mexico, but you'd have to live here or deal with lots of travel. I just don't see the demand... AJ Lee's options, if she were to remain a pro wrestler, are very limited. If there's drama in her exit from the WWE, that will make her future employment in pro wrestling more difficult. She would have to utilize her former WWE fame to latch onto another industry, but as far as I know, she doesn't have a college degree to fall back on...

Both CM Punk and AJ Lee are tremendous talents and it's sad to see them go. In my mind, there has to be away for Punk to repair issues with the WWE. After all, he's 1 UFC loss away from possibly being unemployed with UFC, particularly if he struggles in his first fight.

If I were advising CM Punk during 2014, I would recommend that he just follow through with his WWE contract that was set to reportedly expire during June/July 2014. Then, he could have been a red hot free agent to do whatever he wanted... He could have had leverage by threatening to then join UFC or even TNA. In my opinion, TNA could have used a big CM Punk signing to possibly remain on Spike TV. Punk's fans would have joined him for TNA Impact shows. If not, UFC would have still welcomed Punk with open arms. Dana White knows that CM Punk has a loyal fanbase who knows that he's been screwed repeatedly on booking with the WWE. Instead, if CM Punk loses his first UFC fight or even drops out of MMA training, he doesn't have a lucrative WWE contract to fall back on. And I wouldn't doubt that TNA/Ring of Honor have witnessed how CM Punk turned sour on the WWE and might actually consider him a walk-out threat... After all, when applying for a new job, employers do want to know your job history.

Don't believe me? Think about that buzz caused during 2011. CM Punk's contract was set to expire after the Money in the Bank 2011 Pay Per View. Fans went wild for speculation on where CM Punk could end up... Then, WWE embraced the contract situation and made amazing business for that Money in the Bank 2011 event. RAW ratings went up between that event and SummerSlam 2011. For 2014, fans knew that CM Punk got a raw deal during 2011. Then, they knew how poorly the WWE booked CM Punk as WWE Champion for his 1 year long reign. For 2013, they saw him lose repeatedly to Rock (twice), Undertaker, and then Brock Lesnar. As I recall, fans were really worried about CM Punk's Wrestlemania 30 match-up possibility with Triple H. Thus, when when CM Punk's contract expired during June/July 2014, Punk's fans would have embraced his new employer.

Instead, CM Punk walked out at Royal Rumble 2014. The guy who appeared to be the rebel against authority during 2011 was now taking his ball and going home. Fans should be pissed about that. I know, CM Punk was legitimately burned out but he could have easily discussed his matters with the McMahons. WWE is a publicly traded corporation and hates BAD publicity. They could have figured something out... They did give him some time off after Wrestlemania 29 to heal up... In Vince/HHH's defense, both have said that CM Punk didn't reach out to them regarding problems he was having. If Vince/HHH were providing poor working conditions, there are many places to call about that... The Federal Government remembers the Chris Benoit incident quite well and would eat the WWE alive if they knew of unsafe work environments. Especially that concussion issue...

I loved watching CM Punk and through 2011, he became my favorite wrestler... But I have to say, the WWE's professional responses to CM Punk/AJ Lee, decent booking of AJ Lee, and the WWE's rebounding success from 2014 on talent have them winning this debate so far. Unfortunately for Punk, WWE fans have moved on... Worse for him, as he's further and further away from a pro wrestling ring, his stardom in pro wrestling fades. If he fails in UFC, his options will be severely limited. Sadly for AJ Lee, if she wishes to remain a female pro wrestler, her options might be worse.

It's all about how you handle yourself professionally, folks... There are much better ways to "stick it" to your soon-to-be former employer than just outright quitting. Punk's options would have been amazing during June/July 2014 had he stuck it out with his contract. Fans would have rallied around Punk but instead have moved on. WWE actually has a pretty decent product going on right now, aside from the Roman Reigns overpushing.

I do wish CM Punk and AJ Lee the very best... Maybe someday, all of the adults can get in the same room for the future and resolve issues. WWE fans would welcome them back and that's what truly matters.

SO JUST CHILL... 'TIL THE NEXT EPISODE!

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