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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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#2,848 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

There's a pretty good chance Rocky won't take the title from Punk. He knows his schedule is too hectic to show up on RAW every week, and he's always been one of the more selfless main eventers in the business. I mean, the guy's put over THE HURRICANE, of all people, so I doubt he'll have a problem putting over the current champ. I'm sure he's pushing for Punk to retain, although whether it goes through or not remains to be seen.
 
#2,870 ·
Re: Any word on Rock's return date?

The Rock is supposed to film 4 movies in 2013,you really think that he will on all RAW's from TLC to Rumble?and then from Rumble to WM?
Who said that? I don't recall anybody saying that. Stop stealing other people's comments and passing them off as your own as if you logically came to that conclusion.

Nobody thinks the Rock is going to be on all Raw shows, what I said was that after TLC it gives the WWE 6 Raw shows to promote the match.

If the Rock is facing Punk, and going to win the belt, you can guarantee the WWE will want to milk it for everything it is worth. They'll likely start building at, or immediately following TLC.
 
#2,854 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

I hope Punk marks aren't deluding themselves into thinking he's going over clean.

They're gunna protect the hell outta Rock by having Lesnar tear him apart at the Rumble.
 
#2,856 ·
Do you think CM Punk will have to break Kayfabe to keep up with The Rock?

It seems though CM Punk has to "shoot" in his promos against people for people to start giving a damn but here is the problem it was cool as hell in June/July 2011 but after that no one cared he had one/two awesome "shoot" promos then it all started to get boring and now Punk has to resort to cheap kayfabe breaking tactics to keep up with people.

Do you think Punk will be able to stay away from breaking kayfabe and deliver a character driven promo or will Phil have to be a dumbass and resort to taking cheap shots at The Rock?

Note: Rock didn't break Kayfabe once during the Cena fued (Unlike Cena)
 
#2,867 ·
Re: Do you think CM Punk will have to break Kayfabe to keep up with The Rock?

It seems though CM Punk has to "shoot" in his promos against people for people to start giving a damn but here is the problem it was cool as hell in June/July 2011 but after that no one cared he had one/two awesome "shoot" promos then it all started to get boring and now Punk has to resort to cheap kayfabe breaking tactics to keep up with people.

Do you think Punk will be able to stay away from breaking kayfabe and deliver a character driven promo or will Phil have to be a dumbass and resort to taking cheap shots at The Rock?

Note: Rock didn't break Kayfabe once during the Cena fued (Unlike Cena)
"You see John, The Rock was a babyface just like you"
 
#2,857 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

What if Vince died tomorrow and THE NOSE was left in charge?

:shocked:

DEM ROCKS MARKS BE SHITTING THEIR PANTS BCUZ DAT GAME SIZE EGO WUD BURY ROCKY TO HELL DURR

:lmao

It's posts like the ones in this thread that just remind me why Hunter is the GOAT heel. People legit hate the guy for such stupid shit lol.

For anybody who cares, I'm starting to warm to the idea of Rock/Brock. Only slightly but I'm not completely opposed to it like I was before. I'd much rather have Taker/Brock though and if that means Rock/Cena II then I don't care. I'll take it and be happy about it too.
 
#2,859 ·
Re: Do you think CM Punk will have to break Kayfabe to keep up with The Rock?

He will probably use the same insults he used last year ''im so cool i call other raslerz by der real names im real everything else iz fake lol dweyne starz in disny movies n makes moar money dan me'' and his fans will cream their pants thinking ITZ REAL OMG CM PANK SHOOT. I'm just saying how it is, my friends. Punk always has to resort to lame shit like that. The Rock doesn't.

No one will ever come close to The Rock. He's untouchable.
 
#2,860 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

This is a no fucking brainer if you gonna make money

Rock/Lesnar Main event

Cena/Taker Streak

Punk/Ryback WWE title

Orton/Show WHC
 
#2,863 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

This is a no fucking brainer if you gonna make money

Rock/Lesnar Main event

Cena/Taker Streak

Punk/Ryback WWE title

Orton/Show WHC
Don't Rock will ME again next year, and I would much rather prefer Orton vs Sheamus. If I know WWE, Ziggles to cash in @ TLC and then lose to Orton @ mania. The ME will probably be the WWE title match.
 
#2,868 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

The HHH v Punk thing can be tied in easily. Punk is working with Heyman, Brock is working with Heyman they are therefore tied in with each other automatically. Triple H wants to get one back on Brock, Punk denies him somehow, with reasons to do with respect, HHH v Punk ensues. Either way as long as someone with as much star power as the Game is able to wrestle he's going to be on the card, who's he really going to wrestle against this Mania apart from Punk? Take your time and name someone that make even a little sense.
 
#2,871 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

How is that character development when the top 4 matches in some way, shape or form are with HHH as a heel.

Punk doesn't need to be babyface, Rock & Cena aren't full time and from what you're saying, HHH, Punk, Cena & Orton, the latter being WWE's top 3 active performers, should all be heel. Makes no sense.

Not only that, it still builds everything around HHH, which should not be happening. And at this point, no way should he be heel so Punk can be face, especially when Punk is more effective as a heel.
 
#2,875 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

How is that character development when the top 4 matches in some way, shape or form are with HHH as a heel.

Punk doesn't need to be babyface, Rock & Cena aren't full time and from what you're saying, HHH, Punk, Cena & Orton, the latter being WWE's top 3 active performers, should all be heel. Makes no sense.

Not only that, it still builds everything around HHH, which should not be happening. And at this point, no way should he be heel so Punk can be face, especially when Punk is more effective as a heel.
Clearly you must be confused. First, you point out that I think Punk is a heel and then in your last sentence you state that I think Punk is a face. Which one is it? Secondly, Punk needs to have his character validated. Do you think the Vince/Austin feud would have been as popular if Austin kept saying "Vince is against me" without Vince ever appearing to be against him? He needs someone to be physically present to vent his frustration against so the audience can understand where he is coming from. Right now he looks to be a paranoid person talking about an imaginary person wanting to sabotage him (you know like those transient people who roam the streets talking to themselves). He is popular enough to be a face and him chasing the title would get people behind him again. Also, Punk is not more effective as a heel. Fans don't really boo him even though they have done everything they can to get him heat. Some people still want to cheer him. Third, there is nothing wrong with using HHH as the catalyst for starting the other feuds, he is the COO and will be in charge when Vince is done. He won't be physically involved in all of the feuds and HHH/Taker are the only part timers that are committed to being there for the long haul. Rock and Brock are part timers that come whenever they wish so you can't put them in storylines that are too demanding for their schedules.

Besides, you don't have to worry about Punk. I have HHH losing clean to him via submission at WM. So you don't have to be like "omg Punk got berries.":buried :hhh :hhh :hhh :buried
 
#2,878 · (Edited)
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

One of my fave Rock segments. Epic interview at WM 14. First time he ever used the "if ya smell what I'm cookin" IIRC although he didn't really intend to use it as a catchphrase but obviously, it eventually caught on. This is also a good example to show to anyone who says Rock can't continuously talk without relying on catchphrases.



Next night, Rock becomes the leader and Faarooq gets kicked out of the Nation. This, imo, was one of the best booked angles in the AE especially because of the gradual and consistent storyline progression that took place. Not too soon, not too late and the final straw was executed at the biggest show of the year with Faarooq refusing to help Rock in his match vs Shamrock. Love the promo in the beginning. "Ken Shamrock, I got a big hand and you know what that means, I'm gonna lay the SD on you in a major way." He also foreshadows at the end what was gonna happen later.....

 
#2,884 ·
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