Thoroughly enjoyed this; it's nice to read a measured and researched peice from an actual writer as opposed to the weaponized engagement blast-of-the-day emanating from the Twitter void. Something used to happen in pop culture or sports and I'd read a fun article about it the next day on Grantland or somewhere and feel better for it. Then Twitter became the place that seemingly enhanced my pop culture and later pro-wrestling-watching experience, but now is a toxic cespool that I can't seem to stop scrolling. I find myself thinking more about how things like "AEW airing the Punk video" will be eviscerated by the trolls/blue checkmarks and shape public perception of the company for the worse rather than what my own opinions are. Do I still have them? Can I just watch Dynamite or order the PPV and enjoy it or not enjoy it without turning to my phone to see if the "masses" thought something was "good" or not? "What have I become?" to quote the coldest of the cold AEW stars... Thank you for writing this, calling Punk out on his b.s. and getting me to put some of my own nonsense into perspective, I am a fan.
I don't think Punk really believes in anything, he gloms onto phrases and buzzwords and has a magpie's eye for things he can take and pass off as his own. Currently he seems to be going through an 'old school' phase, for whatever that's worth. He's giving Cornette attention and in turn getting lovebombed by that particular segment, in the run-up to his AEW return he did the Steven Keirn foreword and regurgitated one of Keirn's anecdotes about Lawler settling a backstage feud as being a sign he was ready to do 'business' and 'make money'. That's the phrase he used when he came back to WWE looking like a haunted methadone clinic, I'm here to 'make money'.
Because old school guys were all about making money, not chasing acclaim right? Punk needs to reframe himself as an old school soldier because the acclaim for him wasn't there anymore. He was still a fine promo, but younger guys like MJF more than held their own. His matches were often quite enjoyable, but he couldn't hold together physically (or keep up) and it got to him psychologically.
Funnily enough I think going back to the WWE, and hanging around the performance center in particular, is going to end up costing him money in the long run. People aren't blind, they know what Punk is like, but I don't think anyone has considered what midlife crisis Punk is going to be like. He's resident in California, right? That could wind up being very expensive!
If Punk goes to Saudi Arabia after what he said about it generally, and to Miz specifically....man, just burn your rep to the ground and piss on it.
Cornette, even more so than Punk, is vocally leftist and anti-Trump but seemingly has a very MAGA fan base, certainly in devotion/intensity, if not in actual politics for a large %.
It's difficult to watch this dude just be like this. He's easy to relate to, in some ways. We've all felt like he does. The thing is, he's a grown ass man and this is just embarrassing.
The fact people think he looks *good* in this is wild. He looks unhinged. You really gotta be drinking his Kool aid to feel that some kid saying "cry me a river" is worth an assault over.
There's this toxic brand of nostalgia driven wrestling fans out there who yearn for the territory days they weren't alive for, but hear stories about McDonald's drive thru incidents and "real bad asses" doing tough guy stuff and it's like... I'm sorry, but that era of people being assholes unable to exist in the real worldisn't something to yearn over. It's actually resulted in nothing but tragedy.
I really liked the part in the punk/helwani interview when tough guy punk goes "like c'mon, I'll kill you" as if he's some giant and mauled people in the UFC
I shared this on FB and the first comment was “wow the video was exactly like Punk said”. blows my mind that people only use this video to reinforce their opinion and not look at the situation objectively.
I’d like to see Phil lunge at Triple H at gorilla after putting over LA Knight or Grayson Waller..even with the same cardiac implant that I have and his beloved HGH years in the past..Trips would stretch Phil like Phil stretches the truth..
Excellent analysis as always, Brandon! FWIW, I think Punk is clearly a jerk, but I can also think of a lot of fights in wrestling locker rooms that didn’t lead to termination. My take was that AEW looks very low rent for airing this at all. I also think Punk is happy to be back at WWE and is clearly on his last chance for big money. But I am profoundly sad that AEW seems so directionless.
Thoroughly enjoyed this; it's nice to read a measured and researched peice from an actual writer as opposed to the weaponized engagement blast-of-the-day emanating from the Twitter void. Something used to happen in pop culture or sports and I'd read a fun article about it the next day on Grantland or somewhere and feel better for it. Then Twitter became the place that seemingly enhanced my pop culture and later pro-wrestling-watching experience, but now is a toxic cespool that I can't seem to stop scrolling. I find myself thinking more about how things like "AEW airing the Punk video" will be eviscerated by the trolls/blue checkmarks and shape public perception of the company for the worse rather than what my own opinions are. Do I still have them? Can I just watch Dynamite or order the PPV and enjoy it or not enjoy it without turning to my phone to see if the "masses" thought something was "good" or not? "What have I become?" to quote the coldest of the cold AEW stars... Thank you for writing this, calling Punk out on his b.s. and getting me to put some of my own nonsense into perspective, I am a fan.
I don't think Punk really believes in anything, he gloms onto phrases and buzzwords and has a magpie's eye for things he can take and pass off as his own. Currently he seems to be going through an 'old school' phase, for whatever that's worth. He's giving Cornette attention and in turn getting lovebombed by that particular segment, in the run-up to his AEW return he did the Steven Keirn foreword and regurgitated one of Keirn's anecdotes about Lawler settling a backstage feud as being a sign he was ready to do 'business' and 'make money'. That's the phrase he used when he came back to WWE looking like a haunted methadone clinic, I'm here to 'make money'.
Because old school guys were all about making money, not chasing acclaim right? Punk needs to reframe himself as an old school soldier because the acclaim for him wasn't there anymore. He was still a fine promo, but younger guys like MJF more than held their own. His matches were often quite enjoyable, but he couldn't hold together physically (or keep up) and it got to him psychologically.
Funnily enough I think going back to the WWE, and hanging around the performance center in particular, is going to end up costing him money in the long run. People aren't blind, they know what Punk is like, but I don't think anyone has considered what midlife crisis Punk is going to be like. He's resident in California, right? That could wind up being very expensive!
Great post.
Random musings:
If Punk goes to Saudi Arabia after what he said about it generally, and to Miz specifically....man, just burn your rep to the ground and piss on it.
Cornette, even more so than Punk, is vocally leftist and anti-Trump but seemingly has a very MAGA fan base, certainly in devotion/intensity, if not in actual politics for a large %.
It's difficult to watch this dude just be like this. He's easy to relate to, in some ways. We've all felt like he does. The thing is, he's a grown ass man and this is just embarrassing.
The fact people think he looks *good* in this is wild. He looks unhinged. You really gotta be drinking his Kool aid to feel that some kid saying "cry me a river" is worth an assault over.
There's this toxic brand of nostalgia driven wrestling fans out there who yearn for the territory days they weren't alive for, but hear stories about McDonald's drive thru incidents and "real bad asses" doing tough guy stuff and it's like... I'm sorry, but that era of people being assholes unable to exist in the real worldisn't something to yearn over. It's actually resulted in nothing but tragedy.
One thing I dont understand after watching that video is why is Jack Perry still suspended?
I really liked the part in the punk/helwani interview when tough guy punk goes "like c'mon, I'll kill you" as if he's some giant and mauled people in the UFC
I shared this on FB and the first comment was “wow the video was exactly like Punk said”. blows my mind that people only use this video to reinforce their opinion and not look at the situation objectively.
I’d like to see Phil lunge at Triple H at gorilla after putting over LA Knight or Grayson Waller..even with the same cardiac implant that I have and his beloved HGH years in the past..Trips would stretch Phil like Phil stretches the truth..
Excellent analysis as always, Brandon! FWIW, I think Punk is clearly a jerk, but I can also think of a lot of fights in wrestling locker rooms that didn’t lead to termination. My take was that AEW looks very low rent for airing this at all. I also think Punk is happy to be back at WWE and is clearly on his last chance for big money. But I am profoundly sad that AEW seems so directionless.