Road to WrestleMania – CM Punk
As we get near to WrestleMania 29, the anticipation builds, and you can feel the buzz in the air. It is that time of the year again when all the fans unite, and get excited once again about the product of the WWE. The so called WWE Universe anxiously await to see if their favorite superstars do well at the grand daddy of Entertainment, and get behind the stars to pull off great matches. But perhaps, there is one superstar who’d be fuming at the WrestleMania time every year, because as it stands, it is the one moment in the whole year when he doesn’t get to main event the show, no matter how great he performs or what he says. He is known as the ‘Voice of the voiceless’, but during the WrestleMania season, even he doesn’t get the opportunity to vent his frustrations.
By now, you must have understood that I’m talking about the Second City Saint, CM Punk. Punk had a great 2012, as he was the WWE Champion for the entirety of the year. CM Punk had held the WWE title for 434 consecutive days, the longest reign in 25 years! CM Punk faced Chris Jericho last year at WrestleMania 28, putting on a wrestling classic, and retaining the title. At the end of the night, Punk walked out of WrestleMania 28 as still the WWE Champion. And after the event, Punk defended the title successfully against all comers, and walked out as the WWE Champion.
During the 1000th episode of Monday Night RAW, the Rock came back and laid down a challenge to whoever the WWE champion might be at Royal Rumble. At the end of the night, CM Punk had the last laugh, as he laid out The Rock to close the show. Punk had taken up the challenge, and before he could face The Rock, he had to take up the challenges of John Cena and the likes of Ryback, who posed a big threat to Punk’s incredible run. Punk had defeated all comers, including Cena and Ryback in a triple threat match, and went into Royal Rumble as the WWE champion, facing The Rock. But during the match, The Shield interfered, thus forcing Vince to restart the match, after which The Rock defeated Punk to become the new WWE Champion!
Punk blamed the WWE fans and the authorities to have screwed him out of the title. Thus, he had his rematch against The Rock at Elimination Chamber, but was unsuccessful in regaining the WWE title. Then Punk set his sights on something else, something that means much more than titles at WrestleMania. Punk won the Fatal 4 way match during Old School RAW to earn the right to face The Undertaker at WrestleMania 29, to get a shot at immortality, by defeating The Undertaker and ending his streak! And that was a chance Punk couldn’t let go.
In the following weeks, Punk mocked Undertaker’s former manager, mentor and friend, William Moody, better known to the fans as Paul Bearer. On the 5th of March, Moody sadly passed away due to health complications, and Punk managed to get his hands on The Undertaker’s earn. What followed was Punk and Heyman playing mind games on The Undertaker, to get an upper hand in their feud. Within 4 weeks, Punk managed to do what all the previous Undertaker’s opponents at WrestleMania failed to do, and that is to get under the skin of the Dead man. The Undertaker vowed to take Punk’s soul at WrestleMania, and show no mercy!
CM Punk is going into WrestleMania with a clear advantage over The Undertaker. Their match can be the show stealer, and knowing both of them, that’s a huge possibility. Punk has been able to get on Undertaker’s nerve, and even the possible scenario of The Undertaker getting disqualified, thus getting the win looks likely! This is something no one has ever thought of doing, but Punk, being the devious heel that he is, has managed to do the unthinkable by stretching The Undertaker to his limits. It will be interesting to see how WWE goes ahead with this match, considering this can be the one match people will leave buzzing about throughout the year.
On a side note, CM Punk had some ‘kind’ words for the smart internet fans during the WWE press conference over the weekend. It has been reported that Vince McMahon wasn’t exactly happy with the words CM Punk had used on video. Punk had once before gotten into trouble with his strong content, as he had to face the wrath of the activists of Gay rights. Will this affect the previous outcome the WWE had planned for his WrestleMania match against The Undertaker? No one knows. But let us hope it won’t take away the surprise element from the match, and I will be surprised if Taker manages to have a clean win over Punk at WrestleMania. I for one cannot wait to see the outcome of their match!