High Road/Low Road 07.24.09: CM Punk's Heel Turn
Posted by Chad Nevett on 07.24.2009
In this week's edition of the High Road/Low Road, we discuss CM Punk's heel turn. Is the heel turn a good idea or a bad idea? Find out what we think in this week's edition of the High Road/Low Road.
Welcome back to the High Road/Low Road!
A brief explanation of the column: Sat takes the High Road (positive view) on angles, gimmicks, and other wrestling related "stuff" while Uncletrunx takes the Low Road (negative view).
Results for the Fifteen Superstar Trade:
High Road: 69%
Low Road: 06%
Both Roads: 25%
CM Punk's Heel Turn
High Road:
CM Punk has been a baby face since his introduction to the WWE. While it has only been three years since his introduction, he has done a lot as a baby face. I think it will be nice to see him in a different light for awhile.
Low Road:
I have to admit, a lot of the work going into CM Punk's heel turn has been excellent, especially the work from the man himself. While I'm enjoying the angle, there are a few little things which have taken the edge off it for me, and those are going to form the basis of this column.
High Road:
While most of us have heard that CM Punk is very good as a heel, most of us have not seen him as a heel. I will admit that I have not seen a whole lot of him a heel. I have basically seen bits and pieces and I am looking forward to seeing a whole lot of CM Punk as a heel.
Low Road:
To me, one major problem with CM Punk's heel turn is that he's talking a whole lot of sense and thus to me, isn't coming across as a heel. Added to that, his promos are a whole lot better than Hardys and he comes across as just that more believable. He reminds me of Bret Hart in mid 1997; a Heel who really believes what he's saying and is just too convincing.
High Road:
I think the WWE did a smart thing by having him turn heel on Jeff Hardy. Jeff Hardy's fans are pretty loyal and they are not going to boo Jeff Hardy. This basically guarantees that the fans are going to turn on CM Punk. CM Punk had been a pretty popular baby face, so the WWE had to wonder if the fans would be willing to turn on him. By having him turn heel on Jeff Hardy, they basically guaranteed that the fans will turn on him.
Low Road:
Jeff Hardy will always be one of those people who is insanely popular in spite of anything he does. I know I'm in a minority (which is why Jeff is the face and Punk is the heel) but I don't understand the popularity of Jeff Hardy. He jumps off ladders and paints his face like a primary school child and everyone thinks he's a creative genius? I just don't get it. That aside, I wonder, longer term, how this will go. Either Punk will manage to keep to his "moral outrage" stance and end up as a ‘tweener or he'll end up as a full on cheesy heel. I hope for the former but fear the latter.
High Road:
The one intriguing thing about CM Punk heel turn is that the WWE has left an opening for the fans that still want to believe in him. CM Punk did not do the wrong thing when he cashed in the title shot against Jeff Hardy. The whole eye thing is a lot harder to believe, but CM Punk's fan can argue that his eye injury caused the DQ against Jeff Hardy at the Bash.
Low Road:
As I said above, the situation reminds me of Bret Hart in his "anti USA" angle. Punk is convincing because in many ways he is speaking the truth. I can foresee a "smark backlash" which could be interesting, but I doubt is what WWE wants. My concern is that this will result in Punk having to turn into a full on heel, who cheats, begs off and tells the fans that they suck just to get the heel reaction.
High Road:
The WWE did not know ahead of time that Edge was going to get hurt and one of their top heels was going to be out for an extended period of time. With Edge out for an extended period time, it is important for CM Punk to become a top heel on SmackDown.
Low Road:
CM Punk is being presented as somewhat of a midcard champion. His match last week on Smackdown, for example, was the first match of the show, not the main event. On top of this, he was pinned, in a non title singles match. This is hardly building him up as a main event level wrestler, even if he is wearing the belt.
High Road:
CM Punk's heel turn gives him two opponents that I really want to see him feud with. I am of course talking about the Undertaker and Rey Mysterio. One of the things that came to mind when I was writing this High Road is that the main event picture on SmackDown is very weak. Still, I think that CM Punk's heel turn is a good thing because he will be able to feud with the Undertaker and Rey Mysterio.
Low Road:
I guess this works, as both are people who will be cheered regardless of their opponent, as Jeff Hardy will. However as I said above, I fear that Punk will have to take the character in a different direction, one which will not make anywhere near as much sense. Against Jeff, the line he's taking is logical. I don't see how the same thing would work against either ‘Taker or Rey.
High Road:
I really have never been a fan of the baby face promos because you always have to cater your promos for the fans. As a heel, you do not have to hold anything back and this creates for some interesting promos. CM Punk's promos had been hindered because of this. With his heel turn, I think that we will get to see CM Punk finally be able to cut some good promos. His promo on SmackDown this past week is a sign of what we will be seeing from him.
Low Road:
CM Punk's promos have been stellar. This is in contrast to Jeff's, which have been average. It adds momentum to Punk's cause, and seems to make him appear more right. While this is great as an interesting character twist, I'm not sure it makes him more of a heel.
Simply write "High Road", "Low Road", or "Both Roads" in the comment section.
Comments:
Below are the comments for last week's columns and our responses. Every comment will not be included because it makes our lives a lot easier. The comments section was last looked at on Saturday Night Pacific Time.
Anonymous Smart Mark Writes:
I'm going with High Road on this one. In addition to SmackDown and RAW getting an influx of fresh faces, it also allows ECW to bring up some FCW talent for a shot at the big time.
Sat: I'll agree. ECW is developmental on TV and some wrestlers need to be moved off of that show because they have improved.
Uncletrunx: I understand that ECW is the step between the developmental territories and the main roster. What I don't see is the need to change things around so soon after the draft.
HBK's Smile Writes:
High Road. I think Swagger will blossom on RAW and Bourne will make some great matches. Logic notwithstanding, these two going to RAW make it worthwhile.
Sat: The only worry I have is that Bourne will be lost on RAW.
Uncletrunx: I fear both being lost on RAW; Swagger is likely to become a victim of HHH; see what has happened to Kozlov to see where that leads.
The Gold Standard Writes:
High Road.While I don't like the constant juggling of my man Benjamin him back to ECW puts him automatically in the ECW title contention also we cant forget an epic Christian and Benjamin feud.I think this draft will prove does he have a lot of promise to be a world champ like myself and some others see or is he just a spot monkey.
Sat: If Benjamin cannot get it done this time around, then I will be shocked. He has improved a ton in the past year or so.
Uncletrunx: I'm not quite sure what it is exactly, but there's something which stops Benjamin making that final step. I don't see how another spell in ECW will change things if the previous time there didn't push him up to the next level.
Dogpoung 7382 Writes:
both roads. its great to see the young guys get moved to the main shows, which opens up more opportunity for FCW guys to work in ECW. But the odds of Bourne, Swagger, etc to keep the momentum now that they are small fish in a big pond are against them. We should all know by now that ECW is nothing more than a training ground for new people, and I like it that way.
Sat: I think Swagger is going to be okay on RAW. Bourne could be lost.
Uncletrunx: As I said above, Swagger risks being a victim of the HHH heel killing meat grinder.
Lexie Writes:
I will say high road .
RAW Becomes a bit fresh , SD Gets a solid heel & a heel faction which may make up a bit for the Edge injury .
ECW Is Developmental on TV , they will be fine .
RAW Benefits the most from this trade , as evidenced by :
Evan Bourne likely going for the US title ,
Gail Kim refreshing her career by becoming Divas champ in the future ,
MVP - Jack Swagger feud , which will be good and benefit both of them .
If people have to become Main Eventers , they must do it on RAW , it is the A show , regardless of what we think .
Jack Swagger & Bourne were ready , hence they were asked to swim in the ocean instead of being a big fish in a small pond .
Whether or not not they succeed is up in the air , but the intention is good .
Sat: Gail Kim was somebody that was not mentioned in the column. I think she was being held back by McCool. I have said this multiple times and I'll say it again. McCool is ruining the women's division on SmackDown and the division is definitely the worst thing on SmackDown. And if the WWE wants the Harts to be a dominate faction, they should not have lost to Cryme Tyme.
Uncletrunx: I'm not sure that wrestlers have to become main eventers on RAW. I think it's possible on Smackdown. What I will agree with is that it's not going to happen on ECW.
KanyonKreist Writes:
To continue last week's debate with one general comment on TNA: why should anybody care about guys fighting each other if one of them is eventually going to pull a swerve and join the other? If you condition your fans to expect it, nobody will put any faith or belief into the conflicts you're presenting.
As for this week, I'm going Both Roads...
On one hand, these "new talent initiatives" have usually provided at least one new superstar of worth. New superstars can be very exciting.
On the other hand, they didn't leave ECW with JACK SQUAT besides Christian. A show which has been really enjoyable lately has just been turned inside out like a tiki hut in a hurricane. It's just disappointing overall.
Sat: Honestly, if I were the WWE I would have moved Christian as well. He is above everybody else and I don't see that being a good thing.
Uncletrunx: Christian being left behind is an odd one. There's so much history with about half the Smackdown roster, I can't see why he wouldn't be moved there to take advantage. I would've left Swagger and moved Christian.
Guest#2863 Writes;
High Road.
I don't think that going from the ECW Championship to mid-card RAW is a demotion at all. Even the IWC openly admits that the ECW Title is not on par with the World Titles. ECW is the place to learn and to have the WWE see if you are ready for the bigger shows. If they graduate, they should be ready for mid-card runs, unlike a guy taken right out of FCW. Bringing in guys out of the blue right into Smackdown or RAW doesn't need to happen any more, which I think is great.
Sat: I agree. I wish the WWE would not mention the ECW Title when they are talking about which titles the Royal Rumble winner can challenge for.
Uncletrunx: In an ideal world, there would be one world title, one brand specific title per show, one women's belt and one set of tag titles. Less is more if a championship is to mean anything. 3 "world" titles is a dilution which is, in my view, counterproductive.
Guest#3815 Writes:
High Road. The argument that trades devalue the draft is completely ridiculous. You take any pro sport, I'll use the NBA as an example, they have a draft and trades as well. Do those trades devalue the draft? Granted the draft is for new players, but the idea is the same. Said player/wrestler gets drafted. Said player/wrestler, or others may be traded at a later date. The logic can even be the same as one team/brand feels that person no longer fits the direction they wish to go in and look to trade him for someone who is a better fit. Trades exemplify the constantly changing environment and each brands effort to freshen things up and put on the best show they can.
Sat: I kind of see where Uncletrunx is coming with this because they could have announced this trade during the draft when it would have meant more. It basically says the WWE did not think ahead. Still, I have no problems with the draft.
Uncletrunx: I have two problems with this, both logical to me. One is that it is too soon after the main draft to have such a major shift of wrestlers between brands. In other sports, you may have a main draft day and other trades done individually. You don't have a draft day and then another one two months later. The second problem I have is that the brand split is never used with any consistency and only made to seem important when WWE wants to run a draft of some sort. This hampers the effectiveness of the draft(s) when it (they?) happen.
J.J.T Writes:
High Road: Raw gets a few guys who can potentially be worked with under guidance of mega stars and hopefully become elevated to credible contenders. Smackdown gets a new tag team which will freshen things up and give Cryme Tyme, and Edge and Jericho some possible fueds. As well as a solid womans wrestler in Natalya, plus they got Finlay (which is always good)ECW lost alot of talent but I see it as having them move up from the minor leagues, and now they got a bunch of new guys from FCW to begin to work with and help them in the same way they helped this current batch of talent that was traded
Sat: Natalya isn't a great women's wrestler according to the greatest women's champion of all time, Michelle McCool. Wasn't she complaining that Natalya did not know how to apply a headlock? Michelle McCool needs to get her head out of her ass and realize she ain't that great.
Uncletrunx: ECW losing Finlay is a shame if they want ECW to be a developmental territory. That man is, I have heard, a legendary trainer and someone that any young wrestler would be able to learn a great deal from. Moving him away from the developmental talent is a step in the wrong direction.
The Great Captain Smooth Writes;
No road yet. It's still too early to tell. I have liked much of what they have done so far. Raw should do well. Evan vs. Kofi could rock if given the time. Swagger has "star" written all over him. Henry gets to go out on a high note. ECW gets two veterans to help out with the new talent with Regal and Goldust. SD gets to pad their roster with a face(Finlay)who can also be a heel, a heel(Matt Hardy)who can also be a face, and a nice faction in the Hart Dynasty. It all sounds good now, but you never know what will happen.
Sat: That's reasonable. The WWE could easily screw up every thing and make this a low road.
Uncletrunx: They could indeed. I hope they don't, but I tend to fear the worst.
JLAJRC Writes:
I go with High Road. I think they took the wrestlers that needed to be moved the most and put them where they needed to be. Regal, Shelton, and Goldust are perfect for ECW (not sure about the Bella Twins.) Swagger, Mark Henry, and Bourne can now become big time players on RAW. Everyone that moved to Smackdown was also perfect.
Sat: The Bella Twins to ECW was weird. You think if you want to move them, you move them to SmackDown. Maybe Michelle McCool as something against them.
Uncletrunx: I could be wrong here, but I get the feeling that Sat is not a huge fan of Michelle McCool. Perhaps we should do a column on her where I take the high road. Then again…
Your reasons for taking the High Road, Low Road, or Both Roads and suggestions for future High Road/Low Road are welcome at satuncletrunx@gmail.com or in the comment section. Your reply will be included in next week's column.
Uncle: Finlay serving in the role as veteran/trainer to the incoming young talent was a great idea, but now that he's back on Smackdown, that's why William Regal was moved to ECW - to take over for him in that same role. And as Regal's match this week with Yoshi Tatsu proved, he's already doing a stellar job.
Posted By: Nick M. (Registered) on July 24, 2009 at 01:00 PM
High Road
Posted By: BPN (Guest) on July 24, 2009 at 01:06 PM
High Road - CM Punk had pretty much peaked as a face. And as a face - he was never going to be a top face in the company. Having him turn heel gives him a chance to prove if he can be a top heel in the company. If people want him to succeed, he has to be a top 3 face or heel.
Top faces right now are Cena, Hardy and HHH - it will be tough for him to crack that top 3. Top heels right now are Orton, Jericho and Edge (who is out). Big Show might vie for that #3 spot in place of Edge - but Punk is being given that chance.
Posted By: BobbyC (Guest) on July 24, 2009 at 01:51 PM
High road all the way.
The heel turn is similar to Jerichos with HBK where hes just telling the truth but the fans turn on him just because its against a popular guy.
Also his title reign has already been much better then before as hes actually getting plenty of mic time now which he didnt before & his carracter seems so fresh.
Plus he has potentially awesome fueds with Morrison, Rey & Taker in the pipeline.
This heel turn will do nothing but wonders for his career.
Posted By: jbardo (Guest) on July 24, 2009 at 01:55 PM
Both Roads more so pushing to High.I'm cool with Punk turning heel my only problem is he going to become the new Edge and Edge going to become the new Punk.In any event I think a heel punk opens the door for new challengers whether their face main eventers or upper midcarders.I look for Punk to feud with Morrison next.
Posted By: The Gold Standard (Guest) on July 24, 2009 at 01:56 PM
High road
Posted By: Guest (Guest) on July 24, 2009 at 02:06 PM
High Road, hands down.
Smackdown is blurring the line that divides heels from faces, which is why this heel turn is working as well as it is.
Posted By: AngryTas (Guest) on July 24, 2009 at 02:31 PM
"CM Punk has been a baby face since his introduction to the WWE."
How can you forget his legendary heel turn in 07 when he joined the New Breed?
It last at least 1 or 2 weeks!
Posted By: Heyyo (Guest) on July 24, 2009 at 03:27 PM
High Road all the way. I just hope they keep the belt on him for a few more months and not have him lose it to Rey Mysterio. I would like to see an extended fued with John Morrison and then the Undertaker.
Posted By: mogamer (Guest) on July 24, 2009 at 03:38 PM
HIgh Road
Posted By: Isaiah (Guest) on July 24, 2009 at 04:18 PM
High road - for reasons already given by jbardo.
Posted By: HBK's Smile (Guest) on July 24, 2009 at 04:27 PM
High Road. I like it so far. While it's true that he has been right on much of what he's been saying, it's the way he says it. Also, it's him attacking Morrison after losing to him and refusing to shake his hand after another loss. That doesn't even include the way he left Hardy to the wolves on SD, so Hardy would be weak for the PPV. The old Punk would have helped out another face, so he could win with honor. Another great thing about it is that he is not too far into heel mode, so he can still come back to being a face. That way, you could say that he was just going through a rough patch.
Posted By: The Great Capt. Smooth (Guest) on July 24, 2009 at 05:22 PM
Punk's turn to the dark side is so subtle and slowly building it is easily the best thing from any of the major shows. Punk is taking a show which is taped and has the results 'spoiled' before it airs, and is still making his promos 'must see'.
I can only hope they find a way to have him go full-blown mega heel and tear Morisson apart, then set his eyes on HBK toward Wrestlemania.
Posted By: Guest#9549 (Guest) on July 24, 2009 at 10:55 PM
High Road, a hundred percent. With the way this is going, this heel turn will be spoken of in the same breath as Cactus Jack's, and Bret Hart.
Posted By: Mr. Webs (Guest) on July 24, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Both Roads- because while I love the slow methodical heel turn of Cm Punk rather then just full out turning him heel in the progress he has been jobbing out in lot of matches and looking more and more of a coward heel and I do not want him to end up like a Randy Orton cheating his way to victory and getting dqued on purpose and just looking like a total bitch.
Posted By: ajpwandnwa4life (Guest) on July 25, 2009 at 12:07 AM
Both Roads, leaning towards Low Road, and here's why. Yes CM Punk as a heel against fan favorite Jeff Hardy makes sense considering the contrast in lifestyles. However, how is that going to work against someone like the Undertaker?
Also, he is still being booked like he is unable to be a dominant champion, which the World Champ of any brand should appear to be. Getting pinned by Morrison (who's a great wrestler) cleanly and having to be protected in his match against Mysterio doesn't go far in getting people to think he's anything more than a midcarder.
Posted By: Orlando (Guest) on July 25, 2009 at 11:07 AM
High Road.
Posted By: kEKe (Guest) on July 25, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Punk needs to be the top heel on SmackDown for three reasons: 1.it'll freshen his career: The guy's been a face for car too long, and his "first" heel run in mid-2003 didn't do squat for him, so this is a chance to make up for that. 2.Since the obvious plan is to pull the trigger on a face turn for Edge once he returns in 2010, he is the oubvious choice to be the top heel: Unless the bottom line was to waste a lot more time and money with the Hardy/Punk storyline, with Punk talking about Jeff's personal ongoing private (yeah,right) problems with drugs, he's the evil bastard to fill the void. 3.Fuck you, Jericho: NOBODY missed you when you left, NOBODY wants you around now, and NOBODY will miss you when you leave again! Besides, with all due respect to Shawn Michaels, I don't see HBK going to SmackDown to try and take the top heel spot anytime down the road. Correction: I don't see HBK returning anytime down the road.
Posted By: David (Guest) on July 25, 2009 at 03:49 PM
Both Roads- I'm liking the heel turn, mostly because Punk is doing it so well.
But I do kinda have some problems with it. One is what Uncletrunx mentioned. What happens after the feud with Jeff Hardy is done? Unless they move MVP to Smackdown so Punk can taunt him about his past (like what Swagger recently did), they're is no one else Punk can realistically feud with using this persona. Unless the WWE plans on revealing other wrestlers past problems or outright making them up (maybe they'll make a wrestler a former alcoholic or something).
Also, it seems awfully similar to Chris Jericho's current persona. The only thing missing is Punk isn't using words like hypocrite or syncophants. Although a possible Jericho/Punk tag team would be excellent and make sense now.
But the biggest problem is that Punk seems to be developing a cowardly or unsportsmanlike streak out of nowhere. Just look at his matches with John Morrison, or the way he seems to be DQ'ing himself all off a sudden. Not a big fan of that.
Posted By: JLAJRC (Guest) on July 25, 2009 at 07:01 PM
High road .
The turn speaks for itself , only blind haters will ignore it .
Speaking of blind hatred , WTF @ Sat ?
Mc cool is "ruining " the division ? . Next time you are tempted to do those drugs , Sat , JUST SAY NO .
At the end of the day they are pushing the girl who took advantage of her opportunity. Gail came in and was not ready, Candice lost her fire, Maria is filling Torrie's old role, Eve and Layla are still improving, Katie and the Bellas fell out of the circle because of the tandem they are in, Natalya didn't get the shot for not paying her dues yet .
As for the Divas title push, in case it is brought up, she won that because Torrie couldn't. Torrie admits that the title was made for her, but her back was injured by the girl who she was supposed to be challenged by - Krissy Vaine. Some may say Victoria was there, but at the end of the day why would you give it to her ? Victoria was not that over, she wasn't great on the mic, and she was getting older. That left Maria and Michelle as the only viable options, and Maria was not even a serious competitor at the time after her run with Santino.
And before you bring it up , Taker does not do politics , he never has in 20 odd years , why will he start now ? He respects the business too much . Maybe Michelle got a push because she can actually wrestle , think about it .
When a suitable character and diva in Maryse emerged, Michelle dropped the title and slowly began to become a different character .
If Gail is held back by Mc Cool , then who is holding back Christian ? Point is , they both left the WWE for TNA . It takes time , they have to pay their dues again and in due course of time , they will be pushed .
BTW , Gail beat Mc Cool clean on SD , wow , Mc Cool is really holding her back right ?
Now she is the Women's champ simple and plain because she has earned the right to carry the belt by performing consistently day in and day out while her other counterparts haven't. She earned that belt by staying injury free, and she earned that belt by being the leader of the SD Divas locker room as JR has pointed out in his old blogs after the draft that she is taking her free time and helping Eve, Maria, and Layla in the ring when that is something that she doesn't have to do.
That is my 2 cents on Michelle McCool and it may not be popular, but IMO it's hard but fair but the truth .
Not liking Michelle Mc cool is OK , but blind hatred like this , that too from a columnist , disgusts me . The girl is working hard , helping other young girls out , and actually tries to be a credible heel .
But no , she is ruining the division , maybe she should do 3 moves in each match like Maryse and babble in French , maybe then you'll like her .
Shame on you .
Posted By: Hannah Hardy (Guest) on July 25, 2009 at 07:45 PM
high road, he should get back his old theme music too.
Posted By: starko (Guest) on July 26, 2009 at 09:09 AM
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