With John Cena Gone, it's CM Punk...

[vanboxmeer]

It's time to put the proverbial rocketship onto the back of CM Punk.
John Cena was the top face of Raw for 3 years, and this injury should take a year to heal unless Cena wishes to rush back and risk even further nastier problems that could ultimately kill his career.
Rey Mysterio is damaged goods and is no longer the same high flyer he used to be when he was the best worker in the world in 1996. Evan Bourne and THE Brian Kendrick have both surpassed him in that category. Rey Mysterio is now just limited to his finishers of the 619 and the Westcoast Pop, but will not be doing as many other high spots that he does in his matches.
Batista is going on 40 and is incredibly stale as a top face, it is likely that he will be top face for a while, but he is going to have to be replaced or be turned heel.
Kofi is too green to carry the Raw brand as it's top face.
It's up to CM Punk and WWE's faith to make him the top face of the brand for the foreseeable future and who knows, when Cena comes back you'll have ready-built up dream match between Punk and Cena.

[twiggy101]

But when is Randy Orton coming back?

[Deleted]

So your suggesting that the world champion shouldnt be the curtain jerker on Raw? Thats blasphemy to WWE Creative

[Deleted]

I like Punk and want to see him do well, but I disagree.

I think they're pushing him about as much as they reasonably can at the moment. If they try to force the issue it'll just cause fans to turn on him. There's already been some booing for him lately (not on the old Cena levels, but it's there).

[Shockmaster's Son]

Let's not get ahead of ourselves here, mmkay? WWE may be fearing the worst and it surely doesn't sound too good, but we don't know that he will need neck fusion and be out for a year. Let's hope not.

[Hiroshi Hase]

Aug 26, 2008 13:40:03 GMT -5 @bootytime said:

I like Punk and want to see him do well, but I disagree.

I think they're pushing him about as much as they reasonably can at the moment. If they try to force the issue it'll just cause fans to turn on him. There's already been some booing for him lately (not on the old Cena levels, but it's there).

I didn't notice that, when was this? The crowd seems to be slowly warming up to him, especially last night.

[Deleted]

Aug 26, 2008 13:41:07 GMT -5 Hiroshi Hase said:

Aug 26, 2008 13:40:03 GMT -5 @bootytime said:

I like Punk and want to see him do well, but I disagree.

I think they're pushing him about as much as they reasonably can at the moment. If they try to force the issue it'll just cause fans to turn on him. There's already been some booing for him lately (not on the old Cena levels, but it's there).

I didn't notice that, when was this? The crowd seems to be slowly warming up to him, especially last night.

Didn't catch any on Raw yesterday (people aren't going to boo anyone against JBL really...)

The couple episodes prior though, there were some boos floating around. Mind you, it was of the 40% quiet, 55% cheer, 5% boo variety...but they were noticable.

[Fruity Delicious Skittles]

Batista is stale to no-one but a few guys on the internet.

[Professor Chaos]

Batista's still way more over than Punk so I'd say Raw is his show with Cena gone. What sucks is now they really can't turn Batista full fledged heel like I had hoped, at least until Cena comes back.

[Spankymac is sick of the swiss]

Aug 26, 2008 13:38:57 GMT -5 @slickrickstyles said:

So your suggesting that the world champion shouldnt be the curtain jerker on Raw? Thats blasphemy to WWE Creative

Well, I could understand it a couple of weeks ago, when they were in his Chicago, and having him be one of the first guys out would REALLY pump the hometown crowd up, but I forget, was that just for a promo, or an actual match? As for him jerking the curtain last night, yeah, it was kinda dumb, but again, I've come to expect that from WWE lately.

[Mayonnaise]

Aug 26, 2008 13:41:07 GMT -5 Hiroshi Hase said:

Aug 26, 2008 13:40:03 GMT -5 @bootytime said:

I like Punk and want to see him do well, but I disagree.

I think they're pushing him about as much as they reasonably can at the moment. If they try to force the issue it'll just cause fans to turn on him. There's already been some booing for him lately (not on the old Cena levels, but it's there).

I didn't notice that, when was this? The crowd seems to be slowly warming up to him, especially last night.

There were a few last night that were vocal but, they were the same cheering Cena's injury. There have been a few signs since he debuted though in each city it seems in dislike of Punk.

[Lucha Lee Tour 2009 [SOLD OUT]]

Punk needs a good program with someone like HHH to really elevate him. Maybe Orton could do it when he returns.

[Stab Sword]

I thought heading into the scramble, Cena was going to win the belt back but now that he's gone, they have to go with Punk.

Unless they want a heel to run with the belt then they should give it to JBL

[Metalheadbanger Man]

Aug 26, 2008 13:58:06 GMT -5 Lucha Lee Tour 2009 [SOLD OUT] said:

Punk needs a good program with someone like HHH to really elevate him. Maybe Orton could do it when he returns.

A Punk/Orton feud would be awesome IMO.

[Ass Dan]

CM Punk will be Number 1 on RAW when Michael Cole respects him.

[krazysane]

When cena was out late last year, Orton took the spot and did extremely well. He learned so much from being in that top spot and it showed. Now Orton is out (we think) Cm Punk has too. Batista is old news. With Punk still the fresh new World Champion. They have something here.

[r.]

They need to take there time with Punk a slow believable push is what he needs, something that(and this may seem wacky) makes him look both human and beatable.

IMO cena will return before WM so he can headline with dave( and we all know he loves coming back way earlier then he is supposed to).

[TRUTH TELLER]

Aug 26, 2008 15:16:20 GMT -5 krazysane said:

When cena was out late last year, Orton took the spot and did extremely well. He learned so much from being in that top spot and it showed. Now Orton is out (we think) Cm Punk has too. Batista is old news. With Punk still the fresh new World Champion. They have something here.

I agree. Except I think that Vince in his usual hamster wheel booking style, will just go with Orton regaining the title from Punk and Batista chasing Orton to Wrestlemania. It seems like something they'd do, you know, Evolution vs. Evolution; blah, blah, blah. It'll be fine. But not new.

[Cypress]

his pops are growing with every week with the title

[Rocky Van Heineken]

I can't stand Punk. Put the title on Batista, already.