|
Post by King Devitt: Scrum Guzzler on Feb 10, 2016 5:04:47 GMT -5
I've been a die hard DB fan since 2005, and was one of the people on this board getting yelled at for still calling him AmDrag while in WWE. That's how I knew him.
But even being a fan I can't decide. For every accolade one received, you can counter with something else.
It's like two scales and when one has weight put on it, the other can be balanced with weight as well.
Both had different highs and lows, and both were never properly pushed with the WWE Machine fully behind them. Both leave a "what if" legacy.
Bryan had the bigger moment, but one could argue MITB was also a huge moment for Punk. Sure it wasn't Main eventing WM, but it (at the time) changed the entire business. Punk had the longer reign, but played second fiddle to Cena, Rock, and Brock. Bryan was being misused for years, and had they capitalized on the fan swell he received earlier on we very well may have gotten the DB title reign we as fans, and he as a wrestler, deserved.
I can't pick. It's just too close.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2016 5:05:33 GMT -5
Unlike Punk, Bryan's career has always been entertaining. I can't tell you any point of Bryan's career that he wasn't doing something. Whether it was the NXT stuff, the Miz stuff, the US title stuff, MITB, WHC, heel Bryan, Team Hell No, weakest link, beating Cena, Bryan vs Authority, just everything the guy's done has been entertaining, eventful and just plain interesting. I can't say that for Punk. Punk had some feuds that were flat out horrible. Bryan's WWE career has been consistent across the board. Besides having better matches all around, I just like Bryan more than Punk so for me? Obviously Bryan.
I mean the guy left on top and everything.
And kayfabe-wise, Bryan's win at WMXXX eclipsed anything Punk's done in his career. Punk could arguably beat Cena. Bryan on the other hand did it clean and then at his highest the guy beat Triple H, Batista and Orton, 3 legends in one night. Cole himself said Bryan's performance during WMXXX was the best WM single WM performance he's seen in WWE history. They straight up put Bryan on a level beyond everybody else in WM history at that point...that's INSANE.
D-Bry. All the f***ing way.
|
|
ZERO
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,933
|
Post by ZERO on Feb 10, 2016 6:33:35 GMT -5
Punk simply because 434 days as champion compared to Bryan's reign that consisted of what 1 title defense vs Kane? Bryan obviously had the biggest WrestleMania moment between the two though. And of those 434 days, how many do people really remember. He won the title on an undercard vs Del Rio, and spent most of the next year playing 2nd fiddle to guys like Lesnar, Cena, and Rock. They didn't really main event him until they needed a heel to feed to the Rock. I mean the reign was long, but it was a shitty championship reign. As a Punk fan, I agree with what you just said. Both succeeded way beyond what anyone expected of them (I was just happy to see Bryan win the US title that first time), and essentially made WWE do things with them. Bryan forced their hand moreso, in that they had to pretty much derail their Wrestlemania plans. Bryan felt more like a man of the people than Punk ever did, and got the "Wrestlemania moment" that eluded Punk. Bryan also, while not entirely on his own terms, got to leave on a positive note. I'd say I'm a bigger Punk fan, but I'll give the edge to MAH BOI D-BRY here.
|
|
|
Post by lionelp on Feb 10, 2016 7:53:20 GMT -5
CM Punk never main evented Wrestlemania, but he didn't get squashed in 10 seconds either.
|
|
lionheart21
Patti Mayonnaise
Once did a thing...
Posts: 30,514
Member is Online
|
Post by lionheart21 on Feb 10, 2016 7:56:00 GMT -5
Bryan basically had an entire Wrestlemania focused around him, which culminated in him becoming the Undisputed champion. He easily takes this one.
|
|
The Ichi
Patti Mayonnaise
AGGRESSIVE Executive Janitor of the Third Floor Manager's Bathroom
Posts: 37,274
Member is Online
|
Post by The Ichi on Feb 10, 2016 8:37:21 GMT -5
Punk had a long run with the belt but no Mania main event. Bryan had the mania main event but no long run with the belt. I guess it's whatever you put on a higher pedestal.
I give the nod to Bryan though, especially since he's on much better terms with them.
|
|
|
Post by Brian Suntan on Feb 10, 2016 15:23:43 GMT -5
I voted Punk just because this should be a lot closer.
MITB was every bit as great a moment as WM30 was.
|
|
Pushed to the Moon
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Tony Schiavone in Disguise
Working myself into a shoot
Posts: 15,819
|
Post by Pushed to the Moon on Feb 10, 2016 15:37:00 GMT -5
I liked Punk more but I think if you offered him the chance either be champ for 434 days or beat HHH and then win the title in the main event of WM then he might take the Mania victory. (Then he'd probably call me a jerk and tell me f*** off)
|
|
|
Post by What? on Feb 10, 2016 16:17:14 GMT -5
I liked Punk more but I think if you offered him the chance either be champ for 434 days or beat HHH and then win the title in the main event of WM then he might take the Mania victory. (Then he'd probably call me a jerk and tell me f*** off) And then he'd insist he isn't being defensive...while being defensive
|
|
FinalGwen
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Particularly fond of muffins.
Posts: 16,417
|
Post by FinalGwen on Feb 10, 2016 16:33:34 GMT -5
Bryan's feud with HHH ended with him beating him at Wrestlemania then beating his two pet projects for the title in the same night. Punk's feud with HHH ended with him being a lickspittle asking to wear HHH's jacket for commentary, and the focus switching to HHH vs Kevin Nash. Both did plenty of amazing stuff, but there's definitely a difference in how they were percieved by the company there.
|
|
|
Post by Cry Me a Wiggle on Feb 10, 2016 16:44:56 GMT -5
Punk represented the bitterness felt by a lot of fans while Bryan represented hope. Ultimately, I'd have to say Punk feels like the most complete career, but ultimately it's too hard to say. They really should have been the Hogan/Savage or Austin/Rock of the modern era, and it's ultimately on WWE that they failed to really get behind either guy as the face of the company sooner.
|
|
|
Post by sagegraph on Feb 10, 2016 17:06:04 GMT -5
Bryan's feud with HHH ended with him beating him at Wrestlemania then beating his two pet projects for the title in the same night. Punk's feud with HHH ended with him being a lickspittle asking to wear HHH's jacket for commentary, and the focus switching to HHH vs Kevin Nash. Both did plenty of amazing stuff, but there's definitely a difference in how they were percieved by the company there. Wasn't he going to over against Triple H at Wrestlemania before he left?
|
|
Sparkybob
King Koopa
I have a status?
Posts: 10,990
|
Post by Sparkybob on Feb 10, 2016 17:28:44 GMT -5
Punk at his peak got everybody to hate the WWE, Bryan at his peak got everybody to love him.
|
|
Captain2
Don Corleone
Big Daddy Cool
Posts: 1,990
|
Post by Captain2 on Feb 10, 2016 17:31:47 GMT -5
Objectively I'd say Daniel Bryan because I value the emotions involved in his rise whereas my feelings towards punk were always "sure he's an assholes but he's entertaining". Bryan had more memorable moments in my view whereas punk had a lot of filler. Punk was the Bret Hart of this era and Bryan was more like the rock
|
|
|
Post by radiantsilvergun on Feb 10, 2016 17:35:03 GMT -5
I give it to the Punker. There's so much to say about both mens career, but Bryan never really had anything close to Money in the Bank 2011. That's the tipping point in this debate IMO
|
|
|
Post by radiantsilvergun on Feb 10, 2016 17:36:54 GMT -5
I voted Punk just because this should be a lot closer. MITB was every bit as great a moment as WM30 was. People really gloss over this fact.
|
|
|
Post by Fade is a CodyCryBaby on Feb 10, 2016 17:45:26 GMT -5
Austin, Michaels, Punk. My three favorite wrestlers ever.
But ya gotta give it to Bryan. Arguably, he might have had the best run ever.
But to both mens credit, they'll both go down as true revolutionaries. They both, literally changed the Industry.
|
|
|
Post by abjordans on Feb 10, 2016 19:50:01 GMT -5
Bryan's short main event face run pushes him over the top. I don't know if you know this, peeps, but Bryan is kind of famous. Some huge stars tweeted about his retirement. The Yes chant has crossed into the mainstream. He is involved in a Tide campaign that involves him, Mia Ham, Danica Patrick, Emmett freaking Smith, and some other really famous people. Bryan did it big.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2016 0:15:41 GMT -5
Even if Bryan's entire run only consisted of the first half of 2014, he still wins over Punk.
Hell, that run rivals anything anyone has ever done in pro wrestling.
|
|
|
Post by OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 on Feb 11, 2016 1:06:33 GMT -5
I picked Bryan using the following criteria.
Contributions to the business.
CM Punk's ROH career speaks for itself, but he only focused in ROH, never caring about helping other promotions. In his aow episode, Jay Lethal told Cabana that Punk was super professional in roh pretty much running the company, whereas when he got booked in FIP or other places, he was lazy, Colt confirmed it.
Bryan was not only the man and helped as much as he could in roh, but he also made a difference everywhere he went. He was a trainer at Roland Alexander's school. He became a mentor for younger guys like Davey Richards and Seth Rollins. He was the traveling champion. Like Harley Race, Bryan entered the territory and elevated the local star. He did it from Japan to Mexico to England to Germany. That's why I give Bryan the edge.
Careers before joining the wwe.
I pick Bryan. He worked everywhere. Winning championships in Europe, Japan, Mexico. You name it. If he wanted he could've been a mainstay in new japan. Punk doesn't have that, he barely traveled.
Quality of matches. It's unfair to Punk, nobody can match with Bryan. He wasn't satisfied with what he learned in wrestling school. He went to Memphis and Regal mentored him. He learned shoot wrestling at the new japan dojo in LA. He moved to England to learn that style. He worked in Germany to learn the round system. On his own dime he moved to Las Vegas just so he could improve in Catch wrestling. If the wwe didn't hire him, he was planning on moving to Thailand to practice Muay Thai. Bryan was always evolving. Punk complained about Otunga saying that he sucked and could kill somebody, Bryan would've look at Otunga and actually be excited of trying to pull a good match out of him.
Promo wise. Punk obviously, but it took him a long monologue to get over. Bryan just needed his facial expressions and the word yes.
Fame. Bryan. He became part of pop culture. He had a Super Bowl commercial. Mainstream media reported his retirement. Did they gave the same attention to Punk?
Legacy in the wwe. Punk couldn't change the main event in WM 28. Bryan was that over that he changed the plans. At their highest points, Bryan easily trumped Punk. Punk was sabotaged I give him that by having to job to triple h and others when he was hot, but Bryan also got buried by having him be a Wyatt and Vince telling him that he was working Sheamus for WM, but his popularity managed to change the plans.
|
|