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Rate The Rock vs. CM Punk Feud

  • Underwhelming :punk3

    Votes: 78 20.6%
  • Decent/Good :rock

    Votes: 171 45.1%
  • Great :punk:rock3

    Votes: 130 34.3%

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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#66 ·
Re: Rock is the TRUE #1 contender

fuck man I just know Punk will drop the title to Masterpolitician Cena and Cena will face The Rock.
 
#73 ·
Re: Rock is the TRUE #1 contender

I would really like for it to be Punk/Rock but I just have thus gut feeling that I'll have to suffer through yet another Rock/Cena feud. Punk is going to drop the title anytime now to Cena. Then it's gonna be Cena/Rock II but this time Cena gets the win. And God forbid it goes to Cena/Rock III at Mania 29.

I just really want it to be Punk/Rock. Could you imagine the back and forth on the mic between the two? For Punk/Rock to happen, Punk has to hold the title till Rumble and there's no way WWE's gonna give him a year and 2 month regin. Will they? Either that or he drops the title to Cena sometime soon and wins it back just in time.

God I just hope this shit doesn't turn to Rock/Cena II and CM Punk just being yet another heel.
 
#75 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

punk and cena are probablly going to trade titles,but i have a feeling its going to be punk/rock at rumble with rock winning and cena winning the rumble setting up a match at mania 29 with cena winning
 
#78 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

I honestly think WWE and other fans are over-exaggerating the selling potential of a Rock/Cena feud for the WWE Championship....

Cena/Rock wasn't as big as people try to make it. The Raw ratings leading to Mania were the worst for a Mania build up in years. Cena/Rock had one year of build up, and only brought in 1.144 million buys(Vince has to lie and say 1.3 million, but official numbers say 1.144) which isn't the biggest Mania of all time(buyrates-wise) at all. Granted, it did over 1 million buys, but the biggest Mania was WM 23, which had hardly any starpower on it. Most people are tired of the Rock/Cena feud, and dont wanna see it AGAIN. WWE doesn't get that. Most people on this forum, on Twitter, hell even on WWE.com polls, dont want to see Rock/Cena again. WWE has to get that if you use The Rock, don't use him for re-matches. At all.

I'd like to see Rock/Punk for the title at Royal Rumble. I can see Rock winning the title, but losing it at Elimination Chamber due to some interference from Brock Lesnar and the title goes to someone else like a Bryan or a Jericho(Bryan could win the Rumble, Jericho could win the belt, Jericho vs Bryan for the title, with Rock vs Lesnar as a grudge match to send Lesnar off).

Rock doesn't need to wrestle for the title at Mania, and neither does Punk, Lesnar, Cena, Taker, or Austin. Give the rub to Bryan who can positioned as the next top guy by him going over Jericho at Mania for the title, then you can start up Punk/Bryan with Punk chasing the title after Punk/Austin at Mania.

I digress..... Rock can win the title at Rumble. Just dont, and I mean don't fuck it up by doing Rock/Cena again. When we get Cena fans and casuals calling into our radio show saying they dont want to see it again, that's saying something. When WWE has a DVD coming out on this ONE match? It's time to let it go and put it behind.

Rock/Punk-Royal Rumble
Rock loses title- Elimination Chamber
Rock/Lesnar- Wrestlemania 29

Rock/Taker- Wrestlemania 30

Rock retires.
 
#79 · (Edited)
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

Pyro, it's strange that you are OK with Rock beating CM Punk at the Rumble for the title, but aren't OK with Austin beating him at Mania.
I thought I explained it pretty well in the Austin thread where you asked me the same thing...let me clarify one thing, though. I'm not ok with him BEATING Austin either. I don't support EITHER result because neither result helps Punk. The match shouldn't happen. If it comes down to, the match is happening, guaranteed, I have to choose win or lose, I'm taking win, obviously, but that doesn't mean the win matters. I don't want either. I've already outlined why this match is a mistake.

A ~ Austin is NOT relevant. The Rock is. If he faces Rock, stepping into the ring with Rock makes him look more important, win or lose. Stepping into the ring with Austin doesn't do that unless you have a time machine and can go back to 1998. Hell, The Rock's title match is going to be put over the Royal Rumble, he'll get the main event. At least logic would dictate that Rock winning the title is more important than some SmackDown midcarder winning a #1 contender's shot for Mania that he'll cash in and lose. CM Punk vs Austin at Mania will be THIRD on the card. That's fucking useless.

B ~ I don't support Rock beating Punk, I want Punk to kick his ass, but since it's never going to happen, I have a choice, accept him facing Rock, or be disappointed that he's not facing some fucking midcard loser who's beneath him in every way. I don't want to see him beat Bryan again. I'll choose the biggest star in wrestling in that scenario, thank you. His title reign has to end sometime, so it might as well be to Rock instead of to a joke. And as long as they don't do the moronic thing and give it to Cena (they probably will) somewhere along the line and force him to win it back by the Rumble, as long as he holds it continuously, by that point, I'll have gotten my wish for Punk's title reign, that it lasts at least a full year.

C ~ In addition to Rock still being a draw, unlike Austin, he's only 40 and in amazing shape. Austin is nearly 50, 48 by WrestleMania 29. And he has bad knees and a bad neck. The idea of Punk jobbing to a 48 year old with bad knees and a bad neck is absolutely ridiculous. It's a burial. And of course I don't want Punk to lose ANOTHER high profile match. The one at the Rumble is happening, whether I like it or not, so he NEEDS to go over at Mania. I'm not supporting his 2 highest profile losses of the year. Absolutely not.
 
#81 · (Edited)
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

Austin/Punk is never happening and was never the plan. But, in a dream world, if this were to happen? Austin is going over 100%, this is not even 99%, not if, not maybe. Austin is winning clean which is the reason he talked about facing a heel when Rock beat Cena at WM28. Austin coming back to win and close the show. Which he can do with Lesnar but with his knee problems, his age and the latest surgery, I accepted the fact that his last match was an all-time memorable classic against Hollywood Rock at WM19. Nothing better than that and it should stay that way as much as I would love to see Austin/Lesnar, Austin/Goldberg or Austin/Cena.

If I was booking Rock until WM29. Rock comes back for RAW 20 years, destroying Punk with a brutal beatdown(Which at this point is already a half comedy/chickenshit heel after Cena beat him 100 times clean). In the Rumble Lesnar is winning the match. Rock beating Mysterio to win the belt, WM29 Rock/Brock, Rock going over. Next night Taker comes out after beating Cena, saying that his only true challenge is The Rock, Rock drops the belt, saying that the streak is even bigger. Rock/Taker WM30, official from the night after WM29. At Summerslam 2013, if Rock wants/can work that PPV, he can wrestle Orton in a "battle of the 3rd generation superstars".
 
#94 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

Austin/Punk is never happening and was never the plan. But, in a dream world, if this were to happen? Austin is going over 100%, this is not even 99%, not if, not maybe. Austin is winning clean which is the reason he talked about facing a heel when Rock beat Cena at WM28. Austin coming back to win and close the show. Which he can do with Lesnar but with his knee problems, his age and the latest surgery, I accepted the fact that his last match was an all-time memorable classic against Hollywood Rock at WM19. Nothing better than that and it should stay that way as much as I would love to see Austin/Lesnar, Austin/Goldberg or Austin/Cena.

If I was booking Rock until WM29. Rock comes back for RAW 20 years, destroying Punk with a brutal beatdown(Which at this point is already a half comedy/chickenshit heel after Cena beat him 100 times clean). In the Rumble Lesnar is winning the match. Rock beating Mysterio to win the belt, WM29 Rock/Brock, Rock going over. Next night Taker comes out after beating Cena, saying that his only true challenge is The Rock, Rock drops the belt, saying that the streak is even bigger. Rock/Taker WM30, official from the night after WM29. At Summerslam 2013, if Rock wants/can work that PPV, he can wrestle Orton in a "battle of the 3rd generation superstars".
That doesn't benefit anyone but Rock..
 
#82 ·
Does The Rock defend at Elimination Chamber??

Suprised I haven't seen this mentioned yet. But if Rock wins at Rumble he will have to go on to defend at Elimination Chamber and I just think that would be sweet. Imagine who you could fill that chamber up with, Rock, Punk, Cena, Bryan Jericho, and Ziggler would be fucking awesome and might just be the best PPV buys of the year with all that talent in the ring at the same time.

Now this is only IF he wins at Rumble, but whose to say the won't put the belt on Lesnar before january? They said they wanted a Brock/Rock at Mania, but if they can get the oppertunity to do it earlier, then that let's both of them able to fight different opponents at wresltemania, like Lesnar/Taker and or Rock/Punk at mania to get his belt back from Rock. That would be cool with the build and RTWM. Worst case senerio its Cena/Rock again.

Your thoughts on Rock defending at EC if he wins? Who would you like to see him face?
 
#83 · (Edited)
Re: Does The Rock defend at Elimination Chamber??

With Rock and Brock both likely being gone after wrestlemania i cant see them having a mania match with each other, unfortunately it look likes its going to be Rock and Cena again.

I see Rock winning the title at the Rumble from Punk or maybe Brock if they do put the title on him, but i find that very unlikely with the few dates Brock has in contact. Which means Rock will defend in the chamber, Cena will win rumble, and that leaves leaves Rock vs Cena ll at mania with Cena winning the title from Rock.

I hope Rock does Defend at in the chamber if he wins the title, if everyone you named is in the chamber it could very well be the best chamber match ever.

Another way they could go is, Cena vs Rock vs Punk in a triple threat at mania, and Undertaker vs Brock. that way you have the top 5 guys on the roster in the two biggest matches on the card and no ones left on the short end of the stick.
 
#84 ·
Re: Does The Rock defend at Elimination Chamber??

Would probably just be that the person who wins the Rumble goes after the World Title, and then Cena wins the chamber which is a number 1 contenders match for the WWE Title.
 
#90 ·
Re: Does The Rock defend at Elimination Chamber??

Would probably just be that the person who wins the Rumble goes after the World Title, and then Cena wins the chamber which is a number 1 contenders match for the WWE Title.
This. Winning a chance to win the title against the rock at WM is just as good as defending the title at WM if not better due to the fact you're guaranteed the main event.
 
#125 ·
Re: Does The Rock defend at Elimination Chamber??

No. Rock wrestling at one PPV that is not WM is already too much.
If Rock wins the WWE title at RR he should absolutely defend it at EC. Aside from the oft-forgotten "rule" that the title has to be defended at least once every 30 days, it's just extremely bad etiquette to have a WWE Champion that doesn't wrestle for 2 and a half months.

11rob2k said:
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.
Ah, but Santino probably defends it a fair amount on the house show circuit I would imagine.
 
#87 ·
Re: Does The Rock defend at Elimination Chamber??

If the Rock wins at the Rumble, he MUST defend the title at Elimination Chamber. Unless, Vince breaks the predictability sphere by sending Ziggler out to cash-in his briefcase after Rocky won the title match against Punk.
 
#134 ·
Re: Does The Rock defend at Elimination Chamber??

Rock will most likely beat Punk at Royal Rumble for the title and stay out of Elimination Chamber. Instead, Raw will have a #1 Contender chamber match which Cena wins to set up Rock/Cena II. I really wanted Lesnar/Rock but it seems like Lesnar will be busy with Undertaker at WM29.

If the Rock wins at the Rumble, he MUST defend the title at Elimination Chamber. Unless, Vince breaks the predictability sphere by sending Ziggler out to cash-in his briefcase after Rocky won the title match against Punk.
Thankfully, Dolph can only cash in on the World Heavyweight Champion so such a thing will never happen.
 
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