Where would Punk be now if Edge hadn't retired?

[rnrk supports BLM]

So it occurs to me... Punk has basically been elevated into Orton's old spot on the RAW roster: the #2 babyface, less whitebread and aimed more at attracting adult fans than Cena, gets to be the hero of the second-biggest angle on the show (from the looks of it, that'll be Punk vs. Nash/, while Cena vs. del Rio will be the A-plot of the next month), has been established as tough enough in kayfabe that he'll rarely lose cleanly ever again.

But that spot only opened up because Orton was moved to Smackdown... which was so that he could take Edge's spot as the lead babyface carrying the B-show.

Which leaves me wondering... if Orton was still hanging around RAW, would Punk have ever turned face? Would he have been doing the same worked shoots? Would he have gotten PPV title matches against Cena at all? Would Nexus still be around? Would he be feuding with Mysterio? With Morrison? Would he be moved to Smackdown as an opponent for Edge? Hmm!

Discuss.

[alliedbiscuit]

He'd probably be at home in the studio......................apartment, riding bikes with Colt and lol'ing at how bad Raw has gotten.

[joebob27]

In this alternate universe he would have ended his run on Sunday jobbing out to new "superface" Mason Ryan. But that seemed to be what was going to happen anyway before either/or 1) the lightbulb in someone's head turned on or 2) Mason Ryan got hurt.

[Free Hat]

Yeah, by the sounds of things, he simply wouldn't have resigned. I think he was serious when he said he was really looking to take a break before this angle started.