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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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#98 ·
Re: Does The Rock defend at Elimination Chamber??

The 'Predictable' route would be for Rock to win and a 'Smackdown' guy challenges the 'World' Champion (which will allow them to open WrestleMania yay) at Mania. Cena wins the chamber match.

Surely The Rock would have to be somewhat 'regular' though if he wins the belt at the Rumble? I don't think he's winning people it doesn't fit his schedule.

I think they might scrap the chamber this year though .
 
#100 ·
Would anyone actually want to see Rock Vs Cena II?

Hi, I am new here, I have been browsing the forums for a while so thought I would sign up!

Just a question for everyone, because it looks like this match will eventually happen at Wrestlemania 29... Would this even be a good match to see again?

People's thoughts?
 
#101 ·
Re: Would anyone actually want to see Rock Vs Cena II?

It is mostly likely going to happen, but you never know, i would rather have rock vs lesnar/punk/taker and cena/orton. The build up to once in a lifetime was poor, and the match wasn't anything special so i would rather they didn't, and welcome to the forum.
 
#103 ·
Re: Would anyone actually want to see Rock Vs Cena II?

Don't know if i would be excited about that. Partly because i've seen the match before on the biggest PPV of the year, and partly because the buildup probably won't be as good as the last time.
Rock vs Punk would indeed be way better.
 
#106 · (Edited)
Re: Would anyone actually want to see Rock Vs Cena II?

I dont want to see it, but wwe has a bit of a problem here, they have 5 guys they need to build Wrestlemania around, Thats Rock, Cena, Punk, Brock and Undertaker. and all of them need to be put in big matches without leaving someone out and thats going to be hard,

If you go Rock vs Punk and Brock vs Taker, then what does Cena do
or go, Rock vs Cena and Brock vs Taker then what does Punk do
or even Rock vs Brock and Cena vs Taker, once again what does punk do.

The only way i can see them doing this without leaving any one out of a big match would be, Rock vs Cena vs Punk in a triple threat and then Brock vs Taker.

This is just me but i think a triple threat would draw a little more anyway.
 
#163 · (Edited)
Re: Would anyone actually want to see Rock Vs Cena II?

I dont want to see it, but wwe has a bit of a problem here, they have 5 guys they need to build Wrestlemania around, Thats Rock, Cena, Punk, Brock and Undertaker. and all of them need to be put in big matches without leaving someone out and thats going to be hard,

If you go Rock vs Punk and Brock vs Taker, then what does Cena do
or go, Rock vs Cena and Brock vs Taker then what does Punk do
or even Rock vs Brock and Cena vs Taker, once again what does punk do.

The only way i can see them doing this without leaving any one out of a big match would be, Rock vs Cena vs Punk in a triple threat and then Brock vs Taker.

This is just me but i think a triple threat would draw a little more anyway.
Great point, but the WWE always has HHH available. I could see him working with Punk.
 
#107 ·
Re: Does The Rock defend at Elimination Chamber??

If they make Rock champ at RR and he doesn't defend at EC it'll make a joke of the title, he at least has to give a rematch to his RR opponent while the EC is a no 1 contender's match as people have said.

Would be great seeing him in a chamber match though.
 
#110 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

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.
 
#112 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

The belt is not drawing and has no value anymore on PPV, house shows or any other aspect. The complete opposite of The Rock and Undertaker. If you still see the title as the "most important thing in wrestling" slogan, then I can understand. HHH basically did the same thing in his first promo in the 2011 Taker feud when he put him and Taker above everybody else and the streak above any belt.

Not like it's happening or something, they're not that smart.
 
#114 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

The belt is not drawing and has no value anymore on PPV, house shows or any other aspect. The complete opposite of The Rock and Undertaker. If you still see the title as the "most important thing in wrestling" slogan, then I can understand. HHH basically did the same thing in his first promo in the 2011 Taker feud when he put him and Taker above everybody else and the streak above any belt.

Not like it's happening or something, they're not that smart.
For all the reasons you just said, Rock physically dropping the title and saying out loud that the streak is more important would be absolutely ridiculous. Rock winning the belt should be about restoring prestige back to it, not making it even more worthless than it already is. It's not drawing and has no value anymore because they don't treat it the way they used to and the way they should.

If they're smart they'll use Rock and his emotions over finally holding the title again to give it some meaning.
 
#113 ·
Re: Would anyone actually want to see Rock Vs Cena II?

I liked their first match and the build-up but there'd be too much of a risk of the Rock losing so I don't want another match. Only way to have Cena lose at Mania 29 would be putting him against Taker.
 
#116 ·
Re: Does The Rock defend at Elimination Chamber??

If he wins at the RR then he'd have to defend it at EC because of the 30days defending the title clause. Unless I'm missing something. Then if they have a Cena V Rock II at Mania, you would be able to get your money back off the previous WM as they promoted "Once In A Life Time" which would then come under the false advertisement act. So they'd be stupid to do that. I honestly can't see The Rock winning at RR. Unless he is willing to take time off acting and be a full time wrestler....maybe just televised shows though.
 
#119 ·
Re: Does The Rock defend at Elimination Chamber??

If he wins at the RR then he'd have to defend it at EC because of the 30days defending the title clause. Unless I'm missing something. Then if they have a Cena V Rock II at Mania, you would be able to get your money back off the previous WM as they promoted "Once In A Life Time" which would then come under the false advertisement act. So they'd be stupid to do that. I honestly can't see The Rock winning at RR. Unless he is willing to take time off acting and be a full time wrestler....maybe just televised shows though.
Someone needs to tell Vince about that rule so he can make Santino defend his title, they don't really use the 30 day rule anymore unless it suits them.
 
#117 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

Nah, the title will be worthless anyway. It will feel important for a few months when Rock is holding it but then will go back to the regular status a month after that. It's always the person making the belt, not the other way around. The streak IS more important than the title today, I think even WWE said it on TV a few times, Cole, Lawler or HHH.

But anyway, I already saw Rock/Taker, what's more important to me in that booking is if I see Rock/Mysterio, and if Rock stays in his current shape and not building muscle mass again for a role, that match would be even more awesome.
 
#121 · (Edited)
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

Nah, the title will be worthless anyway. It will feel important for a few months when Rock is holding it but then will go back to the regular status a month after that. It's always the person making the belt, not the other way around. The streak IS more important than the title today, I think even WWE said it on TV a few times, Cole, Lawler or HHH.

But anyway, I already saw Rock/Taker, what's more important to me in that booking is if I see Rock/Mysterio, and if Rock stays in his current shape and not building muscle mass again for a role, that match would be even more awesome.
Dont you think it would be better for Rock to lose the belt not just drop it. it will give who ever beats him a huge rub just for beating Rock, like #Mark said, what you have said does nothing to help any of the roster apart from rock. i do agree that the streak is bigger then the title, but you cant just shit all over the belt.

its not like it would hurt Rock in anyway if he dropped the title then went after the streak.
 
#120 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

Is it even confirmed that The Rock is available for Mania? I think this Rumble match could've been agreed to make up for him not being available for Mania, and in fact he could be losing the match to put over CM Punk.
 
#123 ·
Re: Would anyone actually want to see Rock Vs Cena II?

Considering their last match had terrible build and was a shitty match, I have absolutely zero interest in seeing them wrestle each other again. I wanna see Brock go MMA on Rock and murder him like he did Cena, even if Brock suddenly loses at the end or not :p. Just watching Rock get mauled will make me happy :).
 
#150 ·
Re: Would anyone actually want to see Rock Vs Cena II?

Considering their last match had terrible build and was a shitty match, I have absolutely zero interest in seeing them wrestle each other again. I wanna see Brock go MMA on Rock and murder him like he did Cena, even if Brock suddenly loses at the end or not :p. Just watching Rock get mauled will make me happy :).
Nah.

Wouldn't happen, Rock's his boy.
 
#130 ·
Re: Does The Rock defend at Elimination Chamber??

REALLY? Really? You can't believe he give Rock a title match and money match at one of his big PPV's

Yeah. Its a slap in the face for the hard workers in the WWE.
 
#128 ·
Re: Does The Rock defend at Elimination Chamber??

If Rock wins the title at RR, he'll defend it at EC. Actually you may see Rock/Cena 2 at EC. Assuming he beats Punk at Rumble and faces Cena at EC, that frees him up to face Brock Lesnar at WM and it frees up John Cena to face The Undertaker at WM as well.

Rock did wrestle at S.Series and appeared on all the RAW shows leading to Mania. So its not outlandish to think he could be back from the Rumble through Mania, at least for RAW's and PPV's.
 
#129 ·
Re: Would anyone actually want to see Rock Vs Cena II?

As has been stated, Once in a Lifetime right? Let's keep it that way. Rock vs Cena was supposed to be for the title, if you all recall the promos cut shortly after WM27. It wasn't for the title, whoops fuck up. Or maybe not? Perhaps it was a plan for Rock Cena II all along, but if that's the case they shouldn't have billed it as "Once in a Lifetime" because it won't be.

Regardless of how it's billed I'm not interested in this. Book Rock against someone else please. Everything involving the Rock since his return has involved Cena. I'd appreciate some variety. Punk vs Rock doesn't much tickle my fancy, but I'll take it over Rock Cena II.
 
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