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Rate The Rock vs. CM Punk Feud

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Official The Rock vs. CM Punk Discussion Thread

823K views 9K replies 1K participants last post by  Nimbus 
#1 · (Edited)
wwe.com said:
Perhaps the parade was premature. Perhaps the celebrating, the humble tweets to The People and the legions of Team Bring It, and the proclamation that FINALLY, The Rock was WWE Champion once again jumped the gun by just a bit. Maybe, just maybe, The Rock put the horse before the cart when he celebrated his latest triumph on Raw Roulette, because CM Punk is not done with The Great One by a long shot.


How could he be, either? When a Superstar holds the WWE Title — Punk’s “life’s work,” in his own words — for 434 days spread across three calendar years, he does not just simply throw up his hands and call it a good run when the prize is taken from his clutches. So it was of no surprise when, during The Rock’s celebratory address to the WWE Universe as its new champion, The Straight Edge Superstar himself declared would be evoking his rematch clause – “granting” Rock a rematch was how he earned it – at Elimination Chamber. It was also of no surprise that The Rock gladly accepted.

But once again, maybe Rock is counting his proverbial chickens too early, because for all CM Punk’s feverish boasting in his final days as champion, he was right about one thing after the Royal Rumble: Hedidpin The Rock. It was one-two-three in the middle of the ring, although it took a sneak attack by who we can only assume was The Shield to weaken The Brahma Bull enough for Punk to make the pin. And it was only after Mr. McMahon restarted the bout that The Great One found enough of a second wind to silence CM Punk and put The Straight Edge Superstar to sleep, claiming his eighth WWE Championship in the process.

So at Elimination Chamber, the most brutal pit stop on The Road to WrestleMania, The Rock will face his own personal demon yet again. And The People’s Champion will have to be very, very careful, because CM Punk does not make the same mistake twice, and he is very, very angry. The very real opinion exists — depending whom you ask — that Punk should still be WWE Champion. And with it, the very real possibility exists — should The Rock think one victory equals winning the war — that The Brahma Bull’s parade could end as soon as it began and that CM Punk will be champion again, with history in his hands for the third time.


Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson said:
Over 100 years of Heavyweight Champions.

3 generations in my blood.

New WWE Champion.

My honor. TEAM BRING IT.


wwe.com said:
Attitude Era original Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will compete in his first World Title match in more than a decade when he challenges WWE Champion CM Punk, the longest-reigning WWE Title holder of the past quarter-century, at Royal Rumble on Jan. 27.

The WWE Universe has anxiously awaited The Great One’s return to the WWE Title picture since he announced his championship opportunity on Raw 1,000 last July. Though there was no guarantee at the time whom The Rock’s opponent would be, the always-confident Punk fired an opening salvo that night, cutting down The Rock with a clothesline before knocking him out with a picture-perfect Go to Sleep. The following week, The Voice of the Voiceless defended his actions by suggesting The Great One, having been “gifted” a WWE Title match, viewed victory at the Royal Rumble as a foregone conclusion.

Whether a real or perceived slight, the implication that The Rock places himself on a higher plane than the current WWE Champion was seemingly all the motivation Punk needed to make sure he would still have the title on Jan. 27.

In the half-year since Raw 1,000, The Second City Saint stunned WWE fans by aligning with Paul Heyman and ratcheting up the vitriol of his speech. More important than either of those details, he has — by hook or by crook — maintained possession of the championship gold. Having turned back challenges by John Cena and Ryback in recent months, The Best in the World now looks ahead to testing himself against the seven-time former WWE Champion who vowed in 2012 to regain the title.

For The Rock, an A-list Hollywood action star and third-generation Superstar who has sports-entertainment coursing through his veins, the Royal Rumble title match represents the start of a potential career renaissance inside the ring. Since March 2004, The Most Electrifying Man in All of Entertainment has competed in only two sanctioned WWE matches, teaming with John Cena to shred The Awesome Truth (The Miz & R-Truth) at Survivor Series 2011 and overcoming the Cenation leader at WrestleMania XXVIII.

But by vying for the most treasured prize in sports-entertainment, The Rock is committing to more than another appearance as a “special attraction.” Rather, he is setting his eyes on again becoming WWE’s gold standard.

Hell-bent though The Rock may be on introducing a new generation of WWE fans to The People’s Champion, there is no discounting Punk’s deftness once the bell rings. Controversial endings to several high-profile title defenses may have tarnished The Second City Saint’s reputation in the eyes of some critics, but they have done nothing to change the fact the WWE Championship still sits around his waist. Before his seedier side came into focus in late summer, Punk spent much of 2012 disposing of WWE’s best and brightest, ranging from Chris Jericho and Daniel Bryan to Dolph Ziggler and Kane. How will the WWE Champion match up against one of the pillars of The Attitude Era?

As the WWE Universe excitedly counts down the days until Jan. 27, the back-and-forth between two of WWE’s most compelling talkers is bound to pick up steam. It will not be until the Royal Rumble, however, that the trash talk gives way to the gravity of a game-changing WWE Championship bout, the likes of which hasn’t seen in years. Will Royal Rumble mark the rebirth of a championship Brahma Bull, or will it only underscore what Punk has claimed all along, that he is untouchable and in a class by himself?
The Rock explains why he wants WWE Title

WWE part-time star The Rock revealed why re-capturing the WWE Title is important to him in a new interview with WWE Magazine. It's a statement that has been missing from WWE television leading up to the Royal Rumble PPV.

"It starts with recognizing what the WWE Championship represents to me," Rock said in the February 2013 issue. "Every time I hold that title over my head in victory, it not only signifies the fact that I have delivered the absolute best entertainment that I could to the WWE Universe, but that I'm taking a moment to live an experience that all the generations of wrestlers in my family strived to achieve.

Rock continued, "There is no other award that I could receive that's as deeply ingrained in my blood and history as the WWE Championship - and that's why it means so much to me."

At the same time, Rock said that after his first WWE Title reign - which came in 1998 - he decided that he would never allow his possession of or lack of the WWE Title define his career.

"After my first WWE Championship run came to an end, I made a conscious decision that night that I would work harder than any other Superstar in the locker room to become the type of WWE entertainer who, if I never had another championship run again, it would not define my career. I never wanted to rely on a title run for success."

Rock's next statement reflects his recent approach to mixing "entertainment" with "seriousness." Rock concluded, "My goal was to get to a place where I relied only on what I could bring to the table in terms of being entertaining and having a one-of-a-kind - and electrifying - connection with all of the WWE Universe."

[ FYI: Rock's interview is part of a cover-feature on Rock in the latest WWE Magazine. ]

Link - http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_68014.shtml














 
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#34 ·
Re: WM 29 Main Event Rock vs Cena II

Wasn't everyone saying the Rock was going to win the Royal Rumble before last night? I think the question of who the Rock will be facing at Rumble is a lot more interesting than the Rock entering the Rumble at number 27 and predictably winning. Is he gonna face Punk? Cena? Big Show? Will Rock win the WWE title at the Rumble meaning hell be on RAW through WM? A lot of different scenarios with the Rock having a title match rather than just winning the Rumble outright.
 
#36 ·
Re: WM 29 Main Event Rock vs Cena II

Hope not.

If it was at Summerslam or JUST at RR, then fine.

WWE can go fuck themselves if they want to do "once in a lifetime" match... Twice.
 
#38 ·
Re: WM 29 Main Event Rock vs Cena II

this is happening

i called this the day after wm 28 except that i said the rock would beat lesnar for the belt at royal rumble not cm punk

but yes, cena will beat the rock at wrestlemania 29 for the belt, this is an absolute given

the only thing that can stop this from being that predictable is how cena wins at wrestlemania, i.e. vince comes down and helps cena and he turns heel (but i seriously doubt it)
 
#40 ·
Re: WM 29 Main Event Rock vs Cena II

Exactly how i predicted it. It looks like, from the outside, that this is the plan

I will be truly pissed if they do once in a life time again. How can you give something such a build up, such a focus to then do it again the next year? I think petitions are the most ridiculous thing ever but if there was ever one to try and stop this, i would sign it. People just wont care about it anywhere near as much as this year
 
#41 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Match Discussion

I wonder if Brock is somehow going to be inserted into this WWE Championship scenario. Right now I cannot picture Cena being excluded so the rumors about Rock/Cena II and Taker/Lesnar may be true unless they find some way to put Taker and Cena together so Rock and Lesnar clash at Mania; Brock would win one of the Chamber Contender's matches. I can't see Lesnar winning the Rumble again but with Cena I do (Chamber match too) if WWE wanted to set up Rock/Cena in January.

Rock/Punk at Rumble of course.
 
#44 ·
Re: WM 29 Main Event Rock vs Cena II

Well for my money I'm kind of leaning toward wanting to see Taker vs. Undertaker for the title, though I wish they would have Foley be Undertaker's opponent. Sure Cena vs. Rock will still draw, but that's only if your not interested in receiving more buys than last year. From what I know Rock and Undertaker are considered pretty good friends in real life, but yet knowing WWE somehow I don't believe Undertaker is being allowed to choose his WM opponent. So with that said WWE will likely book Rock vs. Cena II and Undertaker vs. Lesnar. Plus anyone who would want to see Rock in what is likely to be his last match against Cena over the Undertaker must of thought Rock vs. Cena was match of the year worthy. I think the card should look something like this:
Austin vs. Punk
Rock vs. Undertaker (Title vs. Streak)
Cena vs. Lesnar
Jericho vs. Daniel Bryan
 
#46 ·
Re: WM 29 Main Event Rock vs Cena II

From what I saw last night I think there just trying to get people to cheer for cena, because he's about to take the belt from punk. I think the royal rumble could end up being a triple threat match cena, punk, rock. Rock wins and punk has already had his rematch, so it's cena vs rock 2 at mania. The rumble winner faces the world heavyweight champion. I thought last night was fucking awful. I hate when wwe trys to force feed the face of the company as super man. I hated it with hogan, and I hate it even more with cena.
 
#50 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

Is Rock gonna be at every RAW from Post Rumble to Mania? otherwise im confused how hes gonna be the WWE Champ?
 
#51 · (Edited)
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

I think they've really left us guessing (and in a good way) with so many possibilities.

If we go down the 'predictable' route does that mean were going to get The Rock as WWE Champion for 2 months from Royal Rumble to WrestleMania 29?!:mark:

I honestly wouldn't rule out Rock losing because surely he can't make that schedule of being Champ for two months, I actually think CM Punk might just (after he wins the title back at HIAC) carry the WWE title into WrestleMania and drop it to someone(Not Rock, Maybe not even Cena).

I can see Brock Lesnar costing Rock the match at the Rumble which then sets that match up for WrestleMania even in a non title match, or if they want it to be a Title match Brock wins the Rumble and Rock wins the title.

I can also see WWE doing Cena vs Punk at WrestleMania (again might not be for the title in a Who is really the best type deal.

lots and lots of possibilities and some I haven't even mentioned.
 
#53 ·
Not again....

"F4Wonline.com reports that The Rock is scheduled to win the WWE Title at the 2013 Royal Rumble pay-per-view and then defend it against John Cena at WrestleMania 29."

Well there match at Wrestlemania wasn't bad, but seriously? I don't think I'm the only one who doesn't want to see this match again...

Thoughts?
 
#151 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

"F4Wonline.com reports that The Rock is scheduled to win the WWE Title at the 2013 Royal Rumble pay-per-view and then defend it against John Cena at WrestleMania 29."
OMG!!!!!11 SO SHOCKED!!!!!!!!!!!!111

Maybe this is just wishful thinking on my part, but if Punk and Austin were to ever meet in a dream match, I'd like to think Punk would go over. If all the rumours are to be believed, didn't Austin basically refuse to job to Hogan as he felt it should have been Hogan passing the torch and endorsing the next generation?

I dunno. I'm just not sure Austin would come back in 2013+ and refuse to do what he thought Hogan should a decade earlier.
I think that if Austin/Punk had happened in the last two or three years, Austin would very possibly have gone over since Punk was frankly not in a good position from which to receive much reward for going over. That has changed, though, as he became one of their elite main-eventers (though obviously not being on the same exalted tier as Cena/Rock/Trips/Taker/Brock), and as Austin changed the finish to his match with Rock at Wrestlemania XIX to ensure that the man who was staying around would go over, I would think he'd probably almost downright insist that Punk go over. He's almost 50 years old with a body that is shot and hasn't had a match in nearly a decade. Punk losing to him, particularly after he hypothetically loses to The Rock at The Royal Rumble, would kind of wipe out his kayfabe "Best in the World" status, seeing as he's in his early-to-mid-30s.
 
#60 ·
Re: Not again....

I would rather have Rock take on Taker, Brock or Orton, but since the former two are going to feud with each other come Mania and the latter is tossed aside, I guess Cena is the best option. If Rock has to job to a full-timer that's not from the AE, then Cena is the best option aside from Orton. (I don't care about the "young guys", they aren't credible enough to even face The Rock)

I've been waiting a while to seeing the Undertaker teach Cena a lesson at Mania, cuz Cena just never loses cleanly I think the only time he lost cleanly was to The Rock at Mania
Not at all. It's not even his lone clean job at Mania. He was pinned clean by Randy Orton at WM24 in the triple threat also involving HHH.
 
#58 ·
Re: Not again....

Rock vs. Cena II, Taker vs. Lesnar, Punk vs. Triple H/Stone Cold? Decent I guess.
 
#59 ·
Re: Not again....

Why not have it at Survivor Series?
Or a "Saturday Night Main Event" in mid-March?

Eh. I really hope that this does not happen... If it does happen, well, we already know that John is going to win at WM.
Aaaaand the Royal Rumble.

---
I hope that this just fizzles out.
Remember what was advertised mid-Summer and earlier last year? "Survivor Series, Team Rock vs Team Cena"? Yeah, that never happened. Let's hope a WM rematch doesn't as well.
 
#62 ·
Re: Not again....

Why not have it at Survivor Series?
Or a "Saturday Night Main Event" in mid-March?

Eh. I really hope that this does not happen... If it does happen, well, we already know that John is going to win at WM.
Aaaaand the Royal Rumble.


---
I hope that this just fizzles out.
Remember what was advertised mid-Summer and earlier last year? "Survivor Series, Team Rock vs Team Cena"? Yeah, that never happened. Let's hope a WM rematch doesn't as well.
This would kill pretty much all my interest in the 'Road to Wrestlemania'. I'm not a fan of the January - April time period anyway to be honest, but the best part is the Rumble and the intrigue of who's going to win and get the next big push.

I didn't complain too much when Cena won MITB, but if he won the Rumble as well it would be such a fucking waste. WWE can put Cena in title matches without him winning these special title shots, no-one will complain kayfabe-wise.

And yeah, Cena/Rock would be predictable as shit as well. Cena won't be losing to Rock twice in a row. The whole match will happen because people have this insane idea that 'Cena needs his win back', which is bullshit anyway as wins and losses don't count for anything in wrestling. Cena can lose to Rock clean and be done with it, no-one's losing sleep over it and Cena's not getting any less over.
 
#61 ·
Re: Not again....

Rock vs Lesnar or Undertaker will draw way more then Rock vs Cena 2.

:vince2 is just senile again.
 
#63 ·
Re: Not again....

I think the so called 'report' knows as much as us and is throwing 2 and 2 together to get 5. While I do think the more the weeks go by that Rock/Cena II is more likely WWE do their very best to swerve us these days so I wouldn't be so sure just yet.

Personally I think CM Punk will be defending the WWE Championship at WrestleMania.
 
#65 · (Edited)
Rock is the TRUE #1 contender

ive been reading on BR that rock just cant insert himself in a WWE title match, reading the backlash rock is getting talking about what he has done to warrant a title shot, well let me tell you what he has done he beat the face of the company, the Man, john cena in a 1 o 1 match at WM and he beat him cleanly no ? about that, something no other wrestler can really say, and in my book thats all that he needs to be the #1 contender. when you beat the top dog of the company you are instantly in the wwe title mix, i doubt any one will disagree.

Thoughts?
 
#72 ·
Re: Rock is the TRUE #1 contender

ive been reading on BR that rock just cant insert himself in a WWE title match, reading the backlash rock is getting talking about what he has done to warrant a title shot, well let me tell you what he has done he beat the face of the company, the Man, john cena in a 1 o 1 match at WM and he beat him cleanly no ? about that, something no other wrestler can really say, and in my book thats all that he needs to be the #1 contender. when you beat the top dog of the company you are instantly in the wwe title mix, i doubt any one will disagree.

Thoughts?
I had a hard time reading the border line gibberish you wrote but if you want to lay claim to Rock being the TRUE no.1 contender consider this. Tensai beat both Cena and Punk clean. Doesn't that make him the TRUE no.1 contender?
 
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