So, how long before we get a CM Punk backlash?

["The Bantam" Rob Boss]

I'm kinda half-serious / half-joking / half-pig but there's already a few tiny seeds of dissent springing forth following CM Punk's arrival on the top tier as one of the company's top three faces. Now we can give all manner and reason as to why people might suddenly turn on Punk (assuming it's even happening or going to happen) yet I wonder just how long his "pipebomb" approach will last with all of us as fans. Does it run the risk of losing its shock value, does he run the risk of perhaps being overexposed (a classic reason as to why people turn on once-loved stars) , will making him a wise-cracking face hurt his character?

For me personally, I'm not fussed as long as he keeps having good-to-great matches. I've always put in-ring performance before anything else when it comes to wrestling and as such, he'll remain a favourite with me as long as that aspect continues to flourish.

I just wonder what it'd take for fans to turn on him...

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

I don't really think so. The same fans that give Cena those "mixed reactions" are the same ones cheering Punk. As far as it getting to that point, Punk is way more talented than Cena back in 05, so nobody is turning on him because of wrestling ability. And he is facing Nash and HHH, who have had quite the love-hate relationship with these fans because of their ability to "bury people" and what not. Punk is easily an underdog the fans can get behind, because of that chance that he may be buried. Contrast this with Rey Mysterio, the faux-underdog because nobody expects him to lose.

Basically, in order for the smarkier crowd to turn on Punk, he would have to drop the ball monumentally. Now while I feel the Family Guy esque choking was a miss-fire, he was bound to have one with all the hits he has been knocking out since Capitol Punishement.

[JDviant]

He could do more hacking, throwing up promos.

[Cronant]

Its going to be surreal when it happens.

[Bo Rida]

Overexposure is a real risk with the amount of segments he's been in recently; less is more and all that.
However most of those segments are great and he has a lot of goodwill to use up so I don’t think people will suddenly turn on him, it may happen gradually but that will take ages and I expect things will be freshened up before that happens.

[Deleted]

Honestly, and this is nowhere near as snarky as it sounds, you haven't really made it yet until you've started to tick off members of your fan base. All the great performers, by necessity, should have people that were once fans of theirs, that liked them better before they sold out or jumped the shark or got too self conscious, or what have you. You become a bigger figure by polarizing audiences then you do if everyone likes you for the same reasons in the same ways.

[CM Dazz]

There's only one thing Punk himself could do stop me from being a fan. He would have to start the Great Chicago Fire II. Even then I'd probably still cheer him as he throws molotovs at US Cellular Field.

[Cronant]

There are always going to be a section of fans, who start to dislike a guy as soon as its obvious WWE wants to push him hard. Maybe not dislike, so much as backing off and supporting someone else.

It'll be interesting to see how it plays out when Punk starts going up against the heels more often. Its one thing when its Cena, or HHH because Punk is always the 'underdog' push wise, and people still kinda expect him to lose to not be booked as strong as them. But when its the Miz and guys like Ziggler who he's above, well we'll see.

[AdamAFL was sooooo wrong]

On a lot of places I go where wrestling is discussed it is already happening. In fact I know places where Punk is getting more of a backlash than Cena as it stands. It's just something that will always happen when someone is given a mega push. It's pretty pathetic but it happens.

[Deleted]

Aug 30, 2011 9:29:58 GMT -5 AdamAFL was sooooo wrong said:

On a lot of places I go where wrestling is discussed it is already happening. In fact I know places where Punk is getting more of a backlash than Cena as it stands. It's just something that will always happen when someone is given a mega push. It's pretty pathetic but it happens.

Oh man, imagine what it'll be like what Bryan really starts to get his push. It'll be scary.

[Piccolo]

I'm not sure it'll be a backlash... there were certainly people on this board, even when this was just starting, who said, "Well, he's not as good as the IWC says he is!" and "He won't be over with the casuals" and overrated, can't draw, blah blah whatever.

No group of people is going to have homogeneous opinions about anyone, I think. People liked Punk before and will continue to do so if he continues being awesome, and people disliked him before and will continue to do so. You'd really have to document who's who right now to tell if there's a legitimate backlash from former fans of the guy later, and that's a lot of work.

[Yami Daimao]

If you ask me, I think there's some signs of it already happening.

[clifford]

officialfan.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=WWE&action=display&thread=382742

[moneyman20]

Lame fake-choking promos that drag would make me turn on anyone. Although it was probably a one time thing....I hope.

[probable]

It always happens with today's net fans, on certain boards anyway. People who spend all their time posting hate to publicly like what some newbie poster loves. They need to seem different. Go to UKFF and check out certain people spanking shitty 80's stars the rest of the world has long forgotten about. Their lives have become internet forum posting characters, and they have my pity.

[Bub (BLM)]

It won't happen with me. I never turned on Austin, and I won't turn on Punk. I want the guy to get a super push.

[Bishblast]

Well, he was actually starting to get annoying last night, so not too far away, I don't think.

[Massive G]

I'm annoyed by the mere thought of it.

[Lila]

Aug 30, 2011 12:50:05 GMT -5 Yami Daimao said:

If you ask me, I think there's some signs of it already happening.

[Deleted]

Honestly, I think it'd make for a nice change of pace around here. I like Punk quite a bit - still don't at all think he should be a main-eventer, but whatever - but the endless love is very grating.