How CM Punk could save or kill the WWE

Are you currently on the “#CmPunkHype” if you want to talk modern day TweetSpeak? Well, if you are a wrestling fan and more importantly, a fan of the current WWE product, then you are either with CM Punk and his present day, attitude style youth movement, or you are against him and instead are supporting the veterans in “The Cerebral Assassin” Triple H and his Kliq cohort and comrade, “Big Sexy” Kevin Nash. The fact of the matter is, whether you like him or hate him; you have to respect CM Punk, because he is no gimmicks needed, he is pure attitude. One question that remains however: Is CM Punk the future of the WWE, or could he lead to its demise?

CM Punk could quite easily point to the future of the WWE as we know it, simply because his present day character that he is portraying right now in late 2011 is actually a throwback to the past. CM Punk does what he likes, whenever he likes and to whoever he likes. He is the living, breathing definition or a degenerate that screams attitude. This character in its entirety is a throwback to “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, a man who lived on the edge within the WWE back in “the day”, just as Punk is now. In many ways, he also resembles “D-Generation X” another faction of the Attitude Era that had no respect for the rules.

CM Punk, whose character is a throwback and direct reference, could easily be controlling the future of the WWE, simply by being a reference to the past. It is tried and tested to work. You need only look to the iconic Vince McMahon versus Steve Austin feud of the Attitude Era to see that it works, and it is working again now. CM Punk, the wrestler with no respect for authority is the Steve Austin and Triple H, the authority figure in power that is determined to see Punk fail, is the McMahon. This is nothing new, it is just re-hashed material that has been given a modern day touch.

That modern day touch however is something that could either make the WWE even bigger, or destroy it. WWE is currently jumping on the Ring of Honour hype bandwagon by featuring younger wrestlers, more solid matches and a more “realistic” style. This is something WWE has never been known for. WWE has always been known for its use of characters and gimmicks. Therefore, CM Punk pushing this change could easily be a make or break for the WWE. They will likely gain a cult following, but they could also quite easily lose their mainstream following as a result. Needless to say; the current CM Punk storyline and character could be looked at as a double-edged sword.

WWE is currently lost in a world where veteran talents are few and far between. The current circuit is dominated by youth. This again is a double edged sword. The youth are having their chance to shine and the WWE is in turn creating the superstars of the future. However, the roster currently lacks star power, and it is evident that the WWE knows this, hence why they bought back Triple H, an established veteran, to feud with CM Punk, an established youth, and Kevin Nash, one of the most infamous wrestlers of all time, for that same reason.

Kevin Nash and CM Punk are actually not that different from one another. In the 1990’s when the New World Order faction dominated wrestling, Kevin Nash was the outspoken wrestler that had no respect for any authority other than his own. What Punk is doing now is also what Nash did in the 1990’s and both men are known for their controversial way of speaking and their unadulterated, uncensored promos. If the WWE intends to go all the way with this, wrestling fans could indeed be in for a treat as microphone legend Kevin Nash clashes promo skills with microphone future, CM Punk.

So, this new character that WWE has conjured up for CM Punk is actually not that new at all; it is simply re-hashed material all over again, but Punk pulls it off to perfection. There is no questioning this mans talent in the ring or on the microphone, but there is questioning the future of the WWE for using it. They are clearly trying to pave the way for Punk-esque wrestlers; those with raw talent rather than gimmick and size, but as a result, are they destroying their own product in the process? The WWE has always been known for its over the top gimmicks and wrestlers with size and charisma rather than pure in-ring talent, but with the Punk youth movement, it seems the tides will soon be changing. Is this a good move for the WWE or a bad move? You decide.