I was amazed by CM Punk’s promo on last night’s episode of Monday Night Raw. He expertly blended real-life happenings with his current angle of “leaving” the WWE. Not only was it clearly the best promo of 2011, but it was also one of the best I’ve seen in years. Highlights include:
- Emphasizing the word “wrestling” — a word WWE doesn’t like to use anymore
- Mentioning not having a crappy show on the USA network
- Saying that he’s a Paul Heyman guy, like Brock Lesnar
- Talking about bringing the WWE Championship to Ring of Honor
- Saying hello to his close friend Colt Cabana, a renowned indie wrestler that was horribly misused when he wrestled in the WWE as Scotty Goldman
- Blasting WWE head of talent relations John Laurinaitis for being a nonsensical yes-man
- Saying that WWE has no future after Vince McMahon dies because the company will be taken over by Vince’s idiotic daughter (Stephanie) and his doofus son-in-law (Triple H)
Punk created a ton of Internet buzz and sold people on his upcoming PPV match against John Cena with a fantastic promo. I know that a few of you are down on Punk because of his size, but he’s a superior technical wrestler and, as he showed last night, magic on the mic. Brilliant, brilliant stuff.
The best promo of 2011? I say the best promo in years! I like Punk but I do feel he is too undersized to be WWE champion. These days people feel like you have to be world champ to be validated. Why does everyone HAVE to have a world title run now. None of these guys in the WWE now are as good as some of the legends like Ravishing Rick Rude, Jake "the Snake" Roberts, Mr. Perfect, and the Honkeytonk Man and neither one of them ever had a world title run and all still put up hall of fame careers. I just don't understand why everyone HAS to be a world champ now to be validated. The thing is you can give guys a world title run and they still won't be remember as one of the greats. I'm talking about guys like Jeff Hardy, The Miz, Jack Swagger, Khali, and yes, C.M. Punk.
@Raymond Padilla
How much of that do you think was a shoot?
Not much, if any.
I am all in on Punk! I hope the WWE starts moving back into the more edgy stuff.
Some people are calling this Punk's Austin 3:16 moment. I disagree. Punk has already had great success in the WWE. When Austin cut that promo on Jake Roberts he was still a mid-carder.
Punk is a mid carder when he cut his promo last night as well as when he was world champ.
He has already headlined PPVs. Completely different point in his career than Austin.
Wow… just wow. Was that for real or was that rehearsed?
-M
If it's like most WWE promos then Punk had bullet points to hit and did some improv.