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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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#8,308 ·
LOL at all the knee-jerk reactions. Say what you will of Cena, he's still the spearhead of the company whether you like it or not. Business wasn't too shabby either when they rolled into Miami last year, so for the folks getting worked up in a lather - remember what drives this or any other industry.

And for people chirping the finish, Rock pinned Hogan with the elbow. Figure it out.
 
#8,312 ·
Thing that sold that PPV was that Cena/Rock was a dream match a year in making never done before Cena might win Rock has a punchers chance etc that is what sold that match. You would be foolish to think another 1.1 or 1.2 million people are going to buy Wrestlemania just to see Cena beat The Rock and put Cena over as if he is as big as The Rock is his prime Hulk Hogan or Stone Cold Steve Austin.
 
#8,444 ·
Re: Did Vince make the right decision regarding CM Punk vs Rock?

WTF.

Vince/Rock just BURIED CM Punk and John Cena in a span of 1 year.
Fuck sake, sometimes I truly hate the IWC.

Punk is a heel so he was always going to win via screwjob. He looked strong during the match, and clever when The Shield interfered with the lights turned off. Vince told him on RAW he'd strip him of the title if the Shield interfered but Punk/Heyman thought they could get away with it as usual. They didn't and the big babyface won the belt. It made sense. Punk's title reign was always going to end one way or another, would you rather have had him drop it to Cena? :argh:
 
#8,326 ·
Even a Heath Slater WWE championship reign would've put more prestige to the belt at this time after how much Punk devalued the title to the point of being a complete prop that every main-eventers, part-timers and even midcarders are passing up on.
 
#8,323 ·
Re: Did Vince make the right decision regarding CM Punk vs Rock?

I not fussed that The Rock won the title, i think he deserves 1 last run.. Punk had the title for 434 days thats more then enough.

I just dont wanna see Rock Vs Cena again.
 
#8,327 ·
Re: Did Vince make the right decision regarding CM Punk vs Rock?

I not fussed that The Rock won the title, i think he deserves 1 last run.. Punk had the title for 434 days thats more then enough.

I just dont wanna see Rock Vs Cena again.
Why should Rock deserve one last run in 2013 after having done nothing since 2003?

Rocky marks would say mainstream attention etc.But WWE is going the direction similar to WCW.Pushing retired guys instead of emerging talent
 
#8,329 ·
Re: Did Vince make the right decision regarding CM Punk vs Rock?

Personally, could have done without Rock winning the title.


If he's a true draw, him being there alone will improve ratings, regardless if he has the title. He's so beyond it now and at this point, serves no purpose with it other than to keep it warm for Cena in April.
 
#8,334 ·
Before I comment, Punk and Rock are my two favourites of all time, so I have a fairly impartial view on the match...

That said, the reaction of the Punk fans is hilarious. To see people sulking that his 430+ day regin ended at the hands of an all-time-great just makes me question how they saw his regin when he picked up the belt at SS11. If you'd have told a Punk fan, or Punk himself, that his reign would last all of 2012, see him go over the likes of Cena, Jericho, Kane, Show, Bryan, Ryback, Dolph, Del Rio etc, and his reign would culminate in a singles match with The Rock neither he nor the fans would have believed you.

People are acting like Punk just lost a retirement match in 15 seconds to Doink. Just because his historical reign is over, doesn't mean the story is over. Punks program with Rock will continue into Elmination Chamber before he more than likely goes on to challenge the streak.

Perspective people.
 
#8,350 · (Edited)
The Shield spot was put in place for Punk in the coming weeks. It's perfect heel material to nag the audience about how he's the true champion and how he actually won etc. Plus it continues the mystery of if he's connected to them for his next angle.

The time has come for them to move on from the ambushing thing though. It's losing steam at this point.

Although the "just throw them in there" theory is very fitting of WWE as well.
 
#8,357 ·
Re: To the people who disagree with Rock beating Punk....

the problem is the way the ended which pretty much wash away everything from Punk and now come back to the real deal Rock vs Cena...Punk is transition champion...nobody can go above Cena.

Shield interfere in the match? that's fucking bullshit the way WWE did it and Rock become super rock which make Punk look so weak.
 
#8,390 ·
Re: To the people who disagree with Rock beating Punk....

the problem is the way the ended which pretty much wash away everything from Punk and now come back to the real deal Rock vs Cena...Punk is transition champion...nobody can go above Cena.

Shield interfere in the match? that's fucking bullshit the way WWE did it and Rock become super rock which make Punk look so weak.
In other words, no matter who won or what happened, you would've said that they "washed away" everything Punk did since he would've lost the title regardless. Why even comment?

Also, you've got to be kidding if you think they made Punk "look weak". Punk was on offense for 85-90% of the match and the announcers were putting him over hard as fuck the whole time. Imo, they made Punk look WAY too strong. The match would've been a lot more enjoyable if it was booked evenly. However, it wasn't. It was booked heavily in Punk's favor until the final minute or two.

As a Punk fan, you can't use the term "super" to describe another wrestler without looking like a gigantic hypocrite. Undefeated in PPVs for an entire year despite most of his matches being stipulation matches supposedly not in his favor. If that isn't a "super" wrestler, nothing is.
 
#8,358 ·
Re: To the people who disagree with Rock beating Punk....

In all honesty, instead of Rock winning it to be a meaningless, transitional champ for two months - and the fact that he should be nowhere near the title to begin with, I'd rather have seen Punk make it to 'Mania and then drop it to Cena in THE MAIN-EVENT. Cena's getting the title at WM regardless, so it makes no difference if he'd beaten Punk there.
 
#8,365 ·
Re: To the people who disagree with Rock beating Punk....

In all honesty, instead of Rock winning it to be a meaningless, transitional champ for two months - and the fact that he should be nowhere near the title to begin with, I'd rather have seen Punk make it to 'Mania and then drop it to Cena in THE MAIN-EVENT. Cena's getting the title at WM regardless, so it makes no difference if he'd beaten Punk there.
Meaningless? It's The Rock we're talking about. The 3rd greatest of all time just behind Hogan and Austin. You win a title belt from him, you get instant prestige. Nobody would want to see Cena/Punk for 30th time especially in the grandest stage of them all where more star power is preferred.
 
#8,392 ·
Damn, chills! It looks like they were broadcasting a live destruction of a potential end of the world asteroid in the first half of the video.
 
#8,362 · (Edited)
The Darkness Attack -nvm-

Is it just me or is this going to be the big storyline for tomorrow? I don't believe Rollins, Reigns and Ambrose are behind it. Tomorrow night I have a strong feeling that this will be brought up and proven adding further controversy, since the initial pinfall should have counted. Where are they going with this? Thoughts/opinions?

--live photo's and video have shown it was the shield... so yeah, dissapointed
 
#8,370 ·
Re: To the people who disagree with Rock beating Punk....

Eh, I already lived through this kind of nonsense back in the late 90s early 00s with WCW.

Rock has had two major singles matches in the past year and won.

He should have won neither.

WM last year was a perfect time for Cena to win dirty and turn heel. They didn't do it.

Who should've beaten Punk over Rock? Easy, Cena should have beaten Punk at WM in the main event. Better yet, have Punk go into WM as champion having beaten Rock through shenanigans at RR and have a triple threat main event at WM with Rock eating the pin from Cena.

The WWE had options, and in true WWE fashion chose the one that might make the most money short term over something that would help them long term.

I already lived through this kind of nonsense back in the late 90s early 00s with WCW.
 
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