Whoa whoa whoa!! Don't put ECW in there. ECW was all about working together and trying to make the other person better. ECW was the home for the homeless, who needed to find themselves. When they did, they went one to different places and were appreciated.
Plus for a company gone for decades, the name is still chanted and the vibe is still copied by every promotion out there.
Great article, I would consider myself a big fan of CM Punk in the ring - and that there would seem to be plenty of blame to go around in this mess - but couldn't argue any of your points here.
The positivity of his return was genuinely incredible to see but CM Punk/Phil Brooks seems to be predisposed to permanently feel he is always, and unquestionably, unfairly wronged somehow, simultaneously professing that he's doesn't care about it but never letting it go, and it is poisonous.
It's hard to accept that the company that saved wrestling, the company that my family & I have supported at great expense & fervor since its inception, is now being poisoned from top-to-bottom by this fucking cancerous cunt.
Great article. Your summary of why people originally gravitated to AEW hit me hard and as much as Punk tried to fit in with the ice cream and Sting cosplay his true colours have well and truly revealed themselves now.
Even if I wanted to nitpick on anything that was said in this, I couldn't find anything. I remember 1 year ago, when he returned, I felt genuinely excited because I thought over time, he had been away for so long that he would try to get along and help the younger generation in that locker room. Little did I know, his natural disdain for human life in general would rear his ugly head again. The comparison to 1996 to 1998 Shawn Michaels couldn't be more à propos. The only difference is that Punk's straight-edge mentality differs from HBK abusing pills & drugs to fuel his bitterness and discontent. I feel sad honestly that Tony Khan has seemingly chosen the man who screwed everything in the locker room over the people he started AEW on day 1.
If we're comparing Punk to Shawn Michaels at his worst, that also means in just a few years time there's still always the possibility he has a wake up call and turns his attitude around to the point where we're praising him again.
But the weird part is, even tho Michaels was just as toxic, possibly more so, we as fans still unbelievably look back at that time and almost cherish it fondly. We laugh at all the crazy things Michaels said & did back then. Will we eventually do the same with Punk?
Good read, thank you for this piece its well written and is engaging to read. Your descriptions of the events and people are great. I loved you giving John Cena the respect he actually deserves. It was weird watching about a month ago Cena rewatching his first match and knowing just how hard he pushes himself and how utterly critical he is of his own shortcomings and believes he can always do better.
Welcome to the Miserable World of CM Punk
100% on point. You just got yourself a new subscriber.
Whoa whoa whoa!! Don't put ECW in there. ECW was all about working together and trying to make the other person better. ECW was the home for the homeless, who needed to find themselves. When they did, they went one to different places and were appreciated.
Plus for a company gone for decades, the name is still chanted and the vibe is still copied by every promotion out there.
Great article, I would consider myself a big fan of CM Punk in the ring - and that there would seem to be plenty of blame to go around in this mess - but couldn't argue any of your points here.
The positivity of his return was genuinely incredible to see but CM Punk/Phil Brooks seems to be predisposed to permanently feel he is always, and unquestionably, unfairly wronged somehow, simultaneously professing that he's doesn't care about it but never letting it go, and it is poisonous.
Great job, I’m from Chicago and this man is a cancer
A fantastic piece of writing - you absolutely nailed it. Straight-Edge Shawn Michaels, indeed.
Great article.
It's hard to accept that the company that saved wrestling, the company that my family & I have supported at great expense & fervor since its inception, is now being poisoned from top-to-bottom by this fucking cancerous cunt.
Thank you for saying what most of us are feeling.
Fucking FANTASTIC article that hit every note on the head.
Bravo!
Someone finally calling out the bullshit artist that is Punk, after all these years with his fans still drinking his kool aid.
Amazing work.
Great article. Your summary of why people originally gravitated to AEW hit me hard and as much as Punk tried to fit in with the ice cream and Sting cosplay his true colours have well and truly revealed themselves now.
Even if I wanted to nitpick on anything that was said in this, I couldn't find anything. I remember 1 year ago, when he returned, I felt genuinely excited because I thought over time, he had been away for so long that he would try to get along and help the younger generation in that locker room. Little did I know, his natural disdain for human life in general would rear his ugly head again. The comparison to 1996 to 1998 Shawn Michaels couldn't be more à propos. The only difference is that Punk's straight-edge mentality differs from HBK abusing pills & drugs to fuel his bitterness and discontent. I feel sad honestly that Tony Khan has seemingly chosen the man who screwed everything in the locker room over the people he started AEW on day 1.
This is flawless. Got me to subscribe.
When talk emerged that Punk was coming to AEW, I feared he’d be problematic. Never imagined he’d be this level of toxic. I hope he’s gone for good.
If we're comparing Punk to Shawn Michaels at his worst, that also means in just a few years time there's still always the possibility he has a wake up call and turns his attitude around to the point where we're praising him again.
But the weird part is, even tho Michaels was just as toxic, possibly more so, we as fans still unbelievably look back at that time and almost cherish it fondly. We laugh at all the crazy things Michaels said & did back then. Will we eventually do the same with Punk?
this just may be the best wrestling article of the year.
Truth spoken Sir. New subscriber you have earned.
In the immortal words of "Mean" Gene Okerlund - Longfellow couldn't have said it better.
Good read, thank you for this piece its well written and is engaging to read. Your descriptions of the events and people are great. I loved you giving John Cena the respect he actually deserves. It was weird watching about a month ago Cena rewatching his first match and knowing just how hard he pushes himself and how utterly critical he is of his own shortcomings and believes he can always do better.
Just signed up, loved your Shamrock book