CM Punk has changed too much, too quickly

[jadison]

The new music. The new colors. The running to both sides of the stage playing to the crowd. The insult laden, not as well thought out promos. It's become one of those face turns, and I feel like the fans are kinda crapping on it. He was getting louder, more impassioned reactions around Wrestlemania-time than he is now. I admit to not enjoying him as much as I was before this whole thing went down, its just feeling forced.

In no way am I writing him off or downgrading his talent. He's capable of doing something legendary anytime he gets his hands on a mic or steps in the ring. I just feel like some of the magic has left his character.

Thoughts?

[Cam]

I disagree, especially about the louder reactions. The only real loud reaction he received around Mania time was when Raw was in Chicago.

This turn is nothing but good for Punk. This year as a heel, he was a bit of a loose end. He was carrying the already dead Nexus around and feuding with Rey Mysterio (again). This face turn has completely re-invented him in WWE and gives him a real shot at being on the level of John Cena and Randy Orton.

[Madagascar Fred]

nah I don't think so

1st of all, what should he do? cut HISTORY-CHANGING PROMOS every damn week? wrestle a 30-minute main event match every week?

the problem is OVEREXPOSURE, too much screen time! that's why ppl get sick of Orton, Cena & Rey, cause they take up too much time on every show! more diversity (more main eventers, better-built midcard/tag division/women's division) would help

[The Tee Why]

though some of the stuff is getting a bit corny, I disagree

[jadison]

Sept 2, 2011 11:16:43 GMT -5 Cam said:

I disagree, especially about the louder reactions. The only real loud reaction he received around Mania time was when Raw was in Chicago.

This turn is nothing but good for Punk. This year as a heel, he was a bit of a loose end. He was carrying the already dead Nexus around and feuding with Rey Mysterio (again). This face turn has completely re-invented him in WWE and gives him a real shot at being on the level of John Cena and Randy Orton.

You didn't hear him out popping Randy Orton at Wrestlemania, and getting his name chanted deafeningly during their matches together? That blew my mind, I realized then that Punk has a HUGE following.

Another guy in that situation was Edge, and his face turn didn't work out either, at first.

I don't deny that this is great for Punk professionally. It probably is just overexposure, and having to hear Cult of Personality 5 times a night. It's a cool song when it comes on unexpectedly on the radio, but that riff is now haunting my nightmares.

[Cam]

I still love Cult of Personality.

[Yami Daimao]

And so the backlash begins.

It was inevitable.

[jadison]

Ugh. Please...and I know I have no authority on this but please...no more "IWC backlash" posts. I'm one man stating my opinion.

[Altabane]

Disagree, Punk's never been more over. He's playing a different character then back during WM, so why shouldn't he have a different look? CoP fits his character well too, much more that TFB would at the moment.

[Cronant]

It comes with the territory. And its good for him, IMO.

[Ryback on a Pole!]

As long as he doesn't do any more fake puking promos I'll be fine. That was just cringeworthy, it was the sort of crap I'd have expected from the new DX.

[Yami Daimao]

Sept 2, 2011 11:45:51 GMT -5 @jadison said:

Ugh. Please...and I know I have no authority on this but please...no more "IWC backlash" posts. I'm one man stating my opinion.

Oh I know, I'm just acknowledging the influx of negative CM Punk threads lately, coming from a Pro CM Punk forum. It was only a matter of time since his face turn.

I'm not saying no one should voice their opinions, I'm only stating what I see.

[jadison]

Sept 2, 2011 11:53:21 GMT -5 Cronant said:

It comes with the territory. And its good for him, IMO.

Good call. Someone else made this analogy: its like a band that crosses over into the mainstream, and all the old fans liked them better before. But that doesn't make the opinion of the old fans invalid at all, because in most cases said band really has changed, and that "thing" they had before might not be there.. You shed your old fanbase to gain a new one. It's not a situation where its "oooo they're popular, now I hate them", at least for me its not.

This is a strange case though, because I really feel that his crowd reactions were bigger before this Summer of Punk angle, Chicago notwithstanding. It's probably got to do with working with Triple H in this convoluted angle, and the fans just being confused on how they're supposed to take him.

Time will tell.

[Deleted]

I don't think the character's changed really. He's a little more pandering than he was but he's still ultimately the same guy.

My problem with him right now is he should be more proactive in his quest for "change". I still don't quite know what that change is, he came off as a bit whiny in the contract signing when Triple H made some pretty valid arguments, has been making changes(brand split slowly ceasing, bringing back JR), while CM Punk continually sits down with his feet on the table crying "CHAAAAAANGE!".

It's like, instead of really doing anything to bring change he's sitting demanding that everyone else do it. I love CM Punk but I hope he becomes more assertive in bringing change to the WWE, and a little more specific on what these changes are, and what exactly would make this fun again.

[jadison]

Sept 2, 2011 11:59:14 GMT -5 Yami Daimao said:

Sept 2, 2011 11:45:51 GMT -5 @jadison said:

Ugh. Please...and I know I have no authority on this but please...no more "IWC backlash" posts. I'm one man stating my opinion.

Oh I know, I'm just acknowledging the influx of negative CM Punk threads lately, coming from a Pro CM Punk forum. It was only a matter of time since his face turn.

I'm not saying no one should voice their opinions, I'm only stating what I see.

Alright, cool. Sorry for introducing the term "IWC" into the thread, lol. I just want people to understand that this isn't a "they want to me to like him now, this is lame" situation. I miss This Fire Burns, his lack of caring what the fans think, and his more serious, dark demeanor.

[Texas Tornado]

The fans are probably having a hard time truly accepting Punk as a face. I mean say what you will about Cena, but the guy's still the top face in the company and Punk had to turn over the course of feuding with him. That means that half the audience hasn't bought into yet already (even though Punk still gets very good reactions in my book).

Then coming from that he goes right into a conflict with Triple H, who universally gets cheered regardless, and Punk doesn't look like a guy you should even cheer for. I feel like there should have been some big heel in all of this to solidify Punk's position, but the problem there is that there's seemingly no big heel in Raw's main event scene right now.

[Fade]

He's evolving. Let him. It may not all be successful but he's gotta ride this wave per say.

I will say this though: I don't like him going to both sides of the stage and try and hype up the crowd. It's a little thing..but seems wrong to his character.

[Yami Daimao]

Sept 2, 2011 12:08:57 GMT -5 Fade said:

He's evolving. Let him. It may not all be successful but he's gotta ride this wave per say.

I will say this though: I don't like him going to both sides of the stage and try and hype up the crowd. It's a little thing..but seems wrong to his character.

Exactly this. It's just the next step to his "rebel WITH a cause" vision.

And I too don't like the stage thing he's been doing. He's pandering. That's not cool.

[543Y2J]

The only things I want from Punk is a different hair style (Commentary, ECW champ, Jesus look, Bald head/beard look, original ECW debut look would all be preferred for me), and more of the knealing on the stage feeling the ground pose (as i too dont like the pandering at either sides of the stage).

I would also like him to refrence the parts of his straight edge character more as they seem to have been forgotten now during his rebel phase. I think both characters could mix together well with good writing. Creating a company rebel/straight edge character combination.

Other than that I cant/dont complant, he is playing his part well and he still seems fresh and relevant compared to others on the roster.

[Fade]

Sept 2, 2011 12:17:04 GMT -5 Yami Daimao said:

Sept 2, 2011 12:08:57 GMT -5 Fade said:

He's evolving. Let him. It may not all be successful but he's gotta ride this wave per say.

I will say this though: I don't like him going to both sides of the stage and try and hype up the crowd. It's a little thing..but seems wrong to his character.

Exactly this. It's just the next step to his "rebel WITH a cause" vision.

And I too don't like the stage thing he's been doing. He's pandering. That's not cool.

I never got the pandering thing. I think it's outdated. What I loved about Austin is that aside from asking for a "Hell Yeah", he didn't pander much to the crowd. In fact, he'd do the opposite and it would make them want and cheer him more. As long as Punk stays in character and focuses on who he's feuding with, he doesn't really have to do much.