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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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#471 · (Edited)
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

Not yet which is why its been kinda disappointing. They showed the background of Rock and Cena's careers, showed them backstage right before the match started, the entrances and they've been showing the match for the past 30 minutes. Its great for me and whoever else that never saw it on TV though.

EDIT: The Rock wins.

 
#477 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

Dwayne Johnson ‏@TheRock
Appreciate all your concerns - my hamstring is 100% healed. My @WWE family has worked thru much worse.. #WrestlingIsFilledWithWarriors
so the rock was injured at Wm28????????
first time i know this why they didn't announce it atleast to give cena something to brag about after the defeat?
 
#479 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

Both times he has done the kip-up on live TV he needed help from the guy he was facing and then obviously that one he did against Miz failed, you can give whatever excuses but he botched it. It's not a big deal anyway, I doubt there are many 260lb 40 year old men who could still do it after 7/8 years out the game
 
#481 · (Edited)
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

The reason there's no continuity is the same reason I talked about the caliber of opponents. The story of the HBK/Taker/HHH feud is not the story of the streak in any way. When they wrestled Taker year after year, there was a need for continuity because it was the same person fighting, with the same amount of impact, the same concept, the same moves, the same strong points, the same personalities, so you needed to take it to another level. With another guy it's a different story. What people don't get is the fact that the moment the program is over, the process during it is over. Your argument is basically that in 2002 for example, after Brock killed Taker in a brutal HIAC, Kurt Angle is not believable to wrestle Brock in a match, Lesnar needs to wrestle his entire career in NODQ matches with his opponents trying to kill him with chairs because that's the only way to beat him if Taker wasn't able to do it in a bloody cage match. You see how flawed this mindset is? I have no doubt that the crowd was completely into the WM28 match, I never said they weren't, hell, I was into it all the way. What you're saying about the fans seeing an "evolution" in the streak match therefore will not believe a nearfall is not the case. They're not going to believe a nearfall that they already saw 10 times in 4 years, like Taker taking a SCM or a Pedigree, which is why in THEIR evolution of matches, they needed to take the match to another level with weapons, special ref, cages etc. Will the audience buy a first time ever Rock Bottom/People's Elbow combination on Taker after a grueling match, something that pinned Hulk Hogan clean? Absolutely, and I'm willing to bet that it will be the biggest eruption in the history of the streak, maybe only with HHH's tombstone and Shawn's SCM after the table spot at WM26. Even then I doubt it. As for an indicator of believability and the fact that the fanbase wouldn't pay to see a predictable outcome, I can definitely see Rock vs Undertaker drawing much bigger than Brock and Cena against Taker. You put the slogan of Rock saying that Team Bring It has only one goal left to do and that's ending the streak, and that Taker never faced an opponent in the caliber of Rock and who HE beat at WM to stand there as the GOAT. That alone will create an astronomical buzz, interest and bigger attraction than anything they can do with Lesnar or Cena. Cena is not turning heel BTW, I don't know why people still making plans and booking him like that when it's obvious that it's not happening for many reasons from Vince and Cena himself. Even as a heel, Cena was never a industry changer at his peak as a babyface, as a heel he will do the same thing, just with different attitude and will lose his only bigger than usual drawing power which is merchandise to his kids fanbase.

Both times he has done the kip-up on live TV he needed help from the guy he was facing and then obviously that one he did against Miz failed, you can give whatever excuses but he botched it. It's not a big deal anyway, I doubt there are many 260lb 40 year old men who could still do it after 7/8 years out the game
It wasn't really a matter of help, he did it a lot in the past:
4:25


Rock said in one interview that he watched a lot of his matches before WM28, this exchange along with the crossbody is one of the moves he took from that Rocky Maivia era.

Obviously he can't do it easily like he's 28 again but he did it a lot of times in the past year so he can do it, you can't use a rare slip as an indicator, shit like that happens, especially in the first time in almost a decade, take RVD here in 2006 when he was full time:


It's a cool spot but it's not make or break. You're going to see another next year in one of his matches, 100%, especially in the current shape which was closer to 2002 with the way he bumping on RAW 1000.
 
#484 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

Your argument is basically that in 2002 for example, after Brock killed Taker in a brutal HIAC, Kurt Angle is not believable to wrestle Brock in a match, Lesnar needs to wrestle his entire career in NODQ matches with his opponents trying to kill him with chairs because that's the only way to beat him if Taker wasn't able to do it in a bloody cage match.
That is not my argument though. That's not what I'm saying. At all. There are matches, then there are streak matches. That is the underpinning thing you're forgetting about. Different finishes happen between different guys in different feuds and different matches all the time. If things were to happen the way you just said above then yeah, it would be flawed and stupid. But again, this is The Undertaker at Wrestlemania and it has now become an ever evolving story. To say that there is no continuity and to base that claim on your example above is quite ridiculous tbh and makes no sense because it isn't relevant. Streak matches are different, especially after the last 4, because they are now tied together. There's no way they will be able to have the next streak match without mentioning what has happened before. Why? Because it's part of the story of the streak, it's the evolution of that story that we see play out every year and it's the continuation of the tried and true 'What does is take to beat The Undertaker at Wrestlemania?' question. Every year we've seen him become more and more mortal but yet he still finds a way to keep his streak alive. That is the story they've been telling and that is the story they will continue to tell because it is now tied to Taker's legacy and his streak. What you're suggesting is madness. To throw all of that away would be a crime tbh.

You put the slogan of Rock saying that Team Bring It has only one goal left to do and that's ending the streak, and that Taker never faced an opponent in the caliber of Rock and who HE beat at WM to stand there as the GOAT. That alone will create an astronomical buzz, interest and bigger attraction than anything they can do with Lesnar or Cena.
Maybe. But I'm nowhere near as confident of that creating an astronomical buzz as you are. I also think that the second Rock and Taker would start cutting promos on each other, interest would very quickly disintegrate. Nobody wants to see Rock trend things on twitter with the Undertaker standing across the ring from him and nobody wants to see the Undertaker cut his distinctive and limited promos with Rock standing across from him either. It doesn't click and imo, it simply doesn't work. I don't want to see it and quite frankly, if it were to happen I honestly don't think I'd give a single fuck. I'm a Rock mark but I don't believe he has the ability to work the type of match that the streak needs in this day and age. I disagree completely with a simply grueling match being enough to get the job done and I don't think I'd be the only one who wouldn't buy into that. Lesnar and Cena are much better opponents for Taker while Rock is much better suited to the big style main event matches that he worked with Cena this year and probably will work with Punk at the Rumble. He doesn't need to be anywhere near the Undertaker or the streak and I really would hate to see that happen. I understand that you think Rock can just slot into every and anything perfectly lol but I'm not of that same belief. He has a limited amount of matches/programs left and it would be such a waste to put him against Taker when there are better options for both men on the table.
 
#486 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

We're going in circles here. I did read your post above btw but I feel like I'm repeating myself and I don't think you fully understand what I'm saying either which is why I'm stopping lol. End of the day, I think Rock/Taker would suck for all the reasons I've already said. I don't feel the need to say them again which is all I'd be doing if I wrote out another wall of text post for you to respond to. I'd much rather see Taker/Brock and Taker/Cena and I think that's what will happen at Mania 29 and then Mania 30. I'm not even sure Rock will work Mania 30 at this point tbh.
 
#487 · (Edited)
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

I can respect your opinion, even if I don't agree with it.

As for WM30, I think he will be there, at WM20, Vince tried to create a super card with all the stars available, they even did it a 5 hour PPV IIRC. They're probably going to do the same for 30. I'm sure Rock can push some things even if he's filming that month to be there. It's a special event, and he's now working with the company. I think that he personally wants to work and headline that show. If he is working WM27/28/29, no reason to stop just when THE show is the next step. In March 2013 when they announce the host city, we will probably get an official announcement.
 
#503 · (Edited)
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

Shawn enjoys the normal life with his family but you never know, with the way he was selling on RAW before Summerslam, you can see that his heart is still in it.

Was Shawn not just saying a few weeks ago that why can't he come back to wrestle once a year like others do?
Big Dave talked about it a few weeks ago, saying that Shawn wanted to work a yearly special attraction deal like Rock and Taker are doing now. Who knows...

Brock and Heyman going to kill a deer and hunting Shawn instead would have been the greatest skit in the history of TV :hhh

 
#493 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

He can't come back because of the hunting show? I don't know. I just believe him when he says that he is done. I don't think he wants to come back tbh. He genuinely seems happy with his life the way it is right now.
 
#506 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

god..When the fuck Vince mcmahon will find out another one The Rock?
We need some real entertaining guy on WWE..
There is only one The Rock.

But Vince had his shot at coming real close in terms of popularity with Cena and Y2J. Both were great on the mic and were just as good in the ring. But (in Y2Js case) poor booking and lazy writing, and (in Cenas case) family friendly direction ruined any chance for them to become as popular as the Rock.
 
#508 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

Haha. They'll never find another Rock.

Someone who transcends the business and becomes an Icon as fast as he did, and breaks walls down outside of the business as well. As Vince Russo says, you'll be waiting a long time for someone with his unique ability.

Ken Anderson would of never of become the 'next' Rock and become as big as he is. Never in a million years.

Cena hasn't even done it and he's a huge, huge star.
 
#509 · (Edited)
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

Haha. They'll never find another Rock.

Someone who transcends the business and becomes an Icon as fast as he did, and breaks walls down outside of the business as well. As Vince Russo says, you'll be waiting a long time for someone with his unique ability.

Ken Anderson would of never of become the 'next' Rock and become as big as he is. Never in a million years.

Cena hasn't even done it and he's a huge, huge star.
I know, I didn't mean he would have ever became as big as The Rock, but Anderson was one of the few wrestlers who caught my attention, particularaly in his TNA run. Guys like Anderson and Monty Brown (see below)remind me a little of The Rock, larger than life characters with natural charisma. They will never be as popular, funny or entertaining as The Rock but they are closest thing we have today in my opinion.

Very underrated this guy was, too bad he didn't make it.



 
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