Re: John Cena vs. CM Punk #1 Contender's Match Next Monday Night
I think people are missing the point here of the possible triple threat, and why it's an important option for WWE to entertain. The point isn't for Punk to go over. Not at all. Punk isn't going over in any Wrestlemania scenario that can be tabled, so people can just shut up about that. It's not what's important here. Everyone knows Cena is winning regardless of the match type, but what this whole thing comes down to is three things.
1. What Punk has earned and deserves
2. Adding a different dimension to Wrestlemania 29, to not make it "Twice in a Lifetime"
3. Punk not being knocked back down from where WWE has worked so hard to get him
Let's tackle the 3rd bullet first. If Taker ends up returning for a match with Punk, it will only end up damaging Punk and devaluing all of the work they put into getting him to the level he's currently at. Seeing as he's already lost to Rock twice, will have to lose to Cena on Raw next week, and then will have to ultimately lose to Taker at Mania, the only thing that comes from that sequence of matches where Punk "gave it his all", is that he still can't be viewed in the same light as those top dogs; whether golden boy or legend alike.
That's a big problem. WWE his hanging their hat on way too many returning stars year after year at Wrestlemania, and they have failed to create a new main event superstar - except Punk. He's on the cusp of that level, but needs that final push to keep him there. What a waste that 435 day title reign would be, if it were all to just push him back down once the "bigger" stars show up for the big show.
Look, like I said Punk's not winning in either match situation here, but being in the WWE Title match with Cena and Rock puts him at the top of the card, and does a hell of a lot more than a match, in the middle of the card, with Taker would ever do. Punk has earned his spot at the very top of the Wrestlemania card this year, and it would be a damn shame for him to have anything less. If he has to share it with Cena and Rock, so be it...not bad company to be in at the main event of what could be the biggest Wrestlemania ever.
The whole approach to Rock/Cena II and Punk/Taker just seems counter productive to me. At least in the triple threat scenario, Punk likely will get the win over Cena on Raw next week, he'll get the Wrestlemania main event rub, but also doesn't necessarily need to take the pinfall on the grand stage.
Cena is going over whether it's 1 on 1 with Rock, or a triple theat, and I don't think anyone should try and make a case otherwise. That much is locked in stone. But Punk's presence in the match adds a new element to the recycled match of Rock/Cena. And don't worry about Punk being the scape goat for Cena to get his win, and further protect Rock. Make no mistake about it, that pinfall is coming from Rock's shoulders - not any other. Rock has been built up and protected up until this point, yes to pop ratings, yes to up PPV buy rates, and yes to gain Hollywood exposure, but it's all been done to put over Cena in the biggest way possible. All that can still happen, but with Punk being protected all along the way, getting him the pay out and spotlight he has worked his ass off for and deserves.