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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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#3,013 ·
How would you like to see CM Punk/The Rock and John Cena saga unfold?

I personally would like to see The Rock beat CM Punk at Royal Rumble. The Rock to then hold the title for the next couple of months in order to create a buzz about the WWE and boost PPV sales, especially if he is walking around with the WWE title for 3 months on TV appearances promoting new films. This is a win win for all and kind of work with his part time schedule. It adds even more prestige to the title, which CM Punk has done an amazing job of doing already, and The Rock holding the title as well as Punks +year long run elevates the title back to where it needs to be and that main eventing Wrestlemania.

I dont usually like triple threat matches but in this instance I think it could really work and be a really interesting dynamic with Rock/Punk/Cena all going head to head for the WWE title and that only mean more $$$$ and more prestige for the title . I think the promos would be amazing between the three.

Then at the Wrestlemania I would like to see Punk win the title back and finally get his big wrestlemania moment main eventing Wrestlemania and winning the title the biggest thing you could possibly do in the WWE. Rock and Cena don't need the win as they have already achieved all of these things and The Rock will most probably be leaving after Wrestlemania.

Possibly Cena then retaining the title again at Summerslam.


This is what I would like to happen.

But it truth I think it could be The Rock Vs John Cena II for the WWE title (at this would get past their once in a lifetime stipulation as this time its with the title) Cena wins and regain the title after more than a year without it , possibly Punk winning it back at Summerslam. Before then dropping the title to someone new who has been working hard and deserves the title like Ziggler or knowing Vince Ryback.


If this is so then Punk would need a big match for Wrestlemania to ensure he doesn't get buried by the whole Rock Vs Cena match, and if thats the case the only big enough match you can give him is Punk Vs The Undertaker.
 
#3,014 ·
Re: How would you like to see CM Punk/The Rock and John Cena saga unfold?

Punk to beat Rock due to Brock interference. Sets up Rock vs Brock for Wrestlemania, and in WWE world allows Rock to get his win back on Brock from 2002. Cena to be put in a Warrior vs Hogan style match with Ryback, and Punk to defend his (what will by then be) 500ish-day long title reign vs Undertaker's Streak.
 
#3,017 ·
Re: How would you like to see CM Punk/The Rock and John Cena saga unfold?

Punk retains at Rumble, Lesnar/Rock and Punk/Taker at Wrestlemania.
Punk/taker will be a joke program. Punk is no threat, plus the loss would only hurt him. He is way past that stage of needing a star rub at mania. Now he needs a credible win to sustain any momentum at all.
 
#3,018 ·
Re: How would you like to see CM Punk/The Rock and John Cena saga unfold?

> The Rock beats Punk at the Rumble with the Sharpshooter.
> The Rock is challenged by Randy Orton at Elimination Chamber for the title.
> Rock retains at EC while Cena wins the EC match to win the #1 contender spot for WM29.
> Cena turns heel and beats The Rock for the title.
> Punk is gone on a permanent vacation.
> Life goes on...
 
#3,022 · (Edited)
Re: How would you like to see CM Punk/The Rock and John Cena saga unfold?

Punk beats Rock at Royal Rumble, Punk retains at EC, Punk beats Rock at WrestleMania, Punk reaches 500 days as WWE Champion and Cena has nothing to do with it whatsoever.

What will actually happen is Rock will beat Punk at Royal Rumble, not work EC, Cena will win the EC for a #1 contenders spot, Cena will beat Rock at WrestleMania for the title and WWE will spit in Punk's face after all he's done for them by affording him a meaningless match with Taker where he has to needlessly job in the middle of the card instead of the main event where he belongs. As you can see, this is a SIGNIFICANTLY less interesting angle.
 
#3,027 ·
Re: How would you like to see CM Punk/The Rock and John Cena saga unfold?

Punk beats Rock at Royal Rumble, Punk retains at EC, Punk beats Rock at WrestleMania, Punk reaches 500 days as WWE Champion and Cena has nothing to do with it whatsoever.

What will actually happen is Rock will beat Punk at Royal Rumble, not work EC, Cena will win the EC for a #1 contenders spot, Cena will beat Rock at WrestleMania for the title and WWE will spit in Punk's face after all he's done for them by affording him a meaningless match with Taker where he has to needlessly job in the middle of the card instead of the main event where he belongs. As you can see, this is a SIGNIFICANTLY less interesting angle.
who exactly do you have as the one ending Punk's reign if he has it after Mania? At that point nobody will be believable (Cena and Ryback will be screwed over & over again) and might as well keep it on him until he retires.
 
#3,023 ·
Re: How would you like to see CM Punk/The Rock and John Cena saga unfold?

Rock beats Punk at Rumble
Cena wins Elimination Chamber
Rock vs Cena II for the WWE Title at Mania

Brock w/Heyman vs The Undertaker w/Paul Bearer at Mania
Punk w/Heyman vs HHH w/Mayweather (Special Guest Ref: Austin) at Mania

I have no desire to see another triple threat involving Cena/Punk (even though the third is The Rock) and I believe both deserve a big singles match
 
#3,025 · (Edited)
Re: How would you like to see CM Punk/The Rock and John Cena saga unfold?

Some of you guys never want Punk to lose that title. He's a heel.

Do you know why heels are in wrestling? To get beat. They are there for the babyface to beat.

The end.
He can lose the title once he hits 500 days. Not until. If they've gone this far with it they can damn well keep going.

Just because he's "the bad guy" doesn't mean anything in 2012. Today's wrestling is all about talent, people want the characters who are more entertaining to succeed, not the babyface. Hence John Cena's reactions for the last 7 years, hence Daniel Bryan's reactions (despite the fact I'm not a fan, I can recognize what the people want) every single show. This notion that wrestling has to be eternally stuck in 1984 while the rest of the world lives in the present is RIDICULOUS.

If it's SUCH a big issue then just turn him face again so he can get the milestone for the current era of wrestling. God knows we need something to remember from the pitiful state WWE's in.
 
#3,026 ·
Re: How would you like to see CM Punk/The Rock and John Cena saga unfold?

.CM Punk loses to The Rock at the Rumble
.CM Punk wins the Royal Rumble
.John Cena wins at Elimination Chamber
.Triple Threat between Punk/Rock/Cena booked at WM
.CM Punk wins at WM and is your new WWE champion
 
#3,029 ·
Re: How would you like to see CM Punk/The Rock and John Cena saga unfold?

Punk beats The Rock thanks to an Brock Lesnar interference.
Punk vs Cena main events Wrestlemania. Old Part timers should never main event WM again.
 
#3,033 ·
Re: How would you like to see CM Punk/The Rock and John Cena saga unfold?

Punk beats The Rock thanks to an Brock Lesnar interference.
Punk vs Cena main events Wrestlemania. Old Part timers should never main event WM again.
This actually sounds extremely good,Only if Punk wins though since Cena has had too many title wins at Wrestlemaina.
 
#3,030 ·
Re: How would you like to see CM Punk/The Rock and John Cena saga unfold?

I seen someone mention the prestige of the title and that The Rock would add to it. Bullshit. It would be the closest thing the WWE would have to a David Arquette title reign. The only time I'd be fine with Rock winning is Mania, and then losing it the next night on Raw. Failing that, they have the MITB match at Mania and someone cashes in on him then. You can't give the title to a guy who won't be working house shows.
 
#3,034 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

Rock is bigger than WWE, what part of that dont people understand? This whole notion that its not fair is ludicrous bc WWE sole purpose is to generate revenue not be fair. Is it fair that Punk has become an afterthought even with the title and only headlines PPV when its with Cena? WWE hasnt positioned him as equal to Cena like Austin/Rock in the AE so beating Rock will only hurt him much like Y2J beating the 2 biggest stars in 01 hurt him.

Rock headlines PPV/WM bc even when hes watered down to one forth of what he use to be hes still a far bigger star/draw than everyone else on the roster. WWE botched Punks momentum last summer to insure nobody overshadowed there posterboy so how is that Rocks fault? People try to argue hes stealing the spotlight yet hes hardly ever even there. Rock has headlined 2 shows since he returned in 2 years so what about the other 22 PPV??????? People just cant accept that its not Rocks fault that there fav star isnt nearly as big as you wish he was, sorry kids.
 
#3,036 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

The ageist attitudes wrestling fans have I just don't get. A guy in his 40s is old now? I understand most wrestlers hit their prime in their 30s but saying they can't headline at 40 is a bit ridiculous. Also, the wrestling business especially WWE and more specifically their biggest show WrestleMania is about special attractions. Most fans want to see big moments involving big stars in big matches. That is the primary focus of WWE on the RTWM and finally paying off at WrestleMania. I don't see anything word with that. Plus, many of the current stars get more exposure than ever before (I mean look who walked out with the top two titles at last year's event or even Miz at WM27) because of the special attraction part-time stars such as Rock and Brock Lesnar (who have already helped sell over 50,000 tickets for WM29) getting the main focus on the big show.
 
#3,042 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

I notice some people are saying something about Punk winning the Rumble.

Why the hell would Rock/Punk take place before the Rumble? This isn't 1998. At this point, Rock should always be in the main event. Makes no sense to not have Rock's return to the Royal Rumble to happen anywhere on the card but last because regardless of the outcome, it's going to be huge. Having Rock/Punk before the Rumble will basically make the Rumble seem less important, as most people only care about Rock. If he's not in the Rumble, it shouldn't be last.
 
#3,045 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

I notice some people are saying something about Punk winning the Rumble.

Why the hell would Rock/Punk take place before the Rumble? This isn't 1998. At this point, Rock should always be in the main event. Makes no sense to not have Rock's return to the Royal Rumble to happen anywhere on the card but last because regardless of the outcome, it's going to be huge. Having Rock/Punk before the Rumble will basically make the Rumble seem less important, as most people only care about Rock. If he's not in the Rumble, it shouldn't be last.
Seriously, has the rumble ever not been the ME? I am a huge ROCK mark and understand how valuable his spot is, but I still don't think anything should ME over the rumble, and then have Rock vs Punk rushed.
 
#3,043 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

If I was booking right now and had to pitch a realistic idea to them I'd say Punk loses at RR with a bit of Cena interference (Cena runs in with a replacement Ref after one has been taken out, Punk gets angry at Cena, Rock gets enough time to mount counter attack) and at E.C Rock has a singles match (maybe in the E.C Chamber against someone, maybe Bryan) and at WM, through Punk's insistence and rematch clause and Cena pulling Cena shenigans ("I reall want a shot Vince!") it's a triple threat.

They all fight, towards the end Cena tries to AA Rock only for Punk to low blow him. Rock and Punk square off, Punk clearly preparing for a Rock Bottom, however Cena is staggering up, they exchange a glance and double Rock Bottom Cena and end up getting a double pin-fall. GM comes out and says match will continue sans Cena, however as ref goes to restart Cena takes him out and hits an AA on unprepared Rock. Punk and Cena exchange glances, nod, Punk hits a GTS and the pair head up to top turnbuckles, then at the same time Cena does a "You can't see me gesture!" and Punk his "Best in the World" stance. Punk elbow drops and Cena fist drops and match is about to restart. Punk hits a Rock Bottom 1.. 2.. 2.5... Rock manages to get his arm up only for Punk to grab it, lock in the Anaconda Vice. Rock passes out and Punk gets to win the title.

It's not a full heel turn from Cena, Punk gets the moment he's earned, Rock doesn't look weak, enough boxes checked.
 
#3,044 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

If I was booking right now and had to pitch a realistic idea to them I'd say Punk loses at RR with a bit of Cena interference (Cena runs in with a replacement Ref after one has been taken out, Punk gets angry at Cena, Rock gets enough time to mount counter attack) and at E.C Rock has a singles match (maybe in the E.C Chamber against someone, maybe Bryan) and at WM, through Punk's insistence and rematch clause and Cena pulling Cena shenigans ("I reall want a shot Vince!") it's a triple threat.

They all fight, towards the end Cena tries to AA Rock only for Punk to low blow him. Rock and Punk square off, Punk clearly preparing for a Rock Bottom, however Cena is staggering up, they exchange a glance and double Rock Bottom Cena and end up getting a double pin-fall. GM comes out and says match will continue sans Cena, however as ref goes to restart Cena takes him out and hits an AA on unprepared Rock. Punk and Cena exchange glances, nod, Punk hits a GTS and the pair head up to top turnbuckles, then at the same time Cena does a "You can't see me gesture!" and Punk his "Best in the World" stance. Punk elbow drops and Cena fist drops and match is about to restart. Punk hits a Rock Bottom 1.. 2.. 2.5... Rock manages to get his arm up only for Punk to grab it, lock in the Anaconda Vice. Rock passes out and Punk gets to win the title.

It's not a full heel turn from Cena, Punk gets the moment he's earned, Rock doesn't look weak,
enough boxes checked.


Now back to the real world Punk is not closing mania not now and not ever specially with The GOAT and Lesnar in the same card

There are only two scenarios in RR either Punk gets the biggest moment of his career by getting pinned clean by the great one or he retains by Lesnar helping him.
 
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#3,049 · (Edited)
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

That didn't necessarily have anything to do with the world title match actually being the biggest match on the card.

In 96, Bret vs Taker was the main, that's plausible.
In 97, since that was held in HBKs hometown, HBK vs Sid as the main was reasonable.
In 98, they did HBK vs Taker in the main for one reason only, to close the show with kane setting the casket on fire
In 06, again only reason Angle vs Henry went on last was to portray Takers magical powers.

If next year we Punk vs Rock on last, there'll be a really good reason behind it.

On the other hand, I wouldn't say that the Rumble match will be a midcard Rumble. There is a lot of potential in a Rumble match if they give a fuck about it which I don't think will be the case.

But anyway, look at the possible entries next year: Lesnar, Taker, Triple H, Cena, Ryback, Orton, Bryan, Kane, Miz, Del Rio, Show, Sheamus, Mysterio
 
#3,051 ·
Re: Official The Rock WWE Championship Discussion

Kind of a misunderstanding here. I said there will be a good reason if it's the main event. And yes the reason being that it's the Rock, one of the top 3 biggest stars ever wrestling for the WWE title after 11 years.

But honestly I don't care which match will go on last. Fans at the event will decide which match is the main event like they did at Mania 18. That's all that matters.
 
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