WWE's reasoning seems to be that Punk is not the star of the show. I can't speak for drawing power alone, but Punk's segments do regularly lose viewers and that he even did an overrun this year that gained 50,000 or so. Ideologically, it would make sense for Punk to lead, but he is definitely not in Cena's league of star power. Benoit was booked similarly in 2004. One could argue Punk's lack of drawing power (at least ratings wise) is by design, but that's not a convincing argument since quarter hour breakdowns tell a different story. As far as tonight, Punk should have gone on last just because the AJ storyline was a bigger deal, unless Cena's debut MITB match was the bigger draw (a proposition I'm not convinced by given the lack of heat in its buildup).

Ziggler looked like he was actively trying to end his own career.

WWE's reasoning seems to be that Punk is not the star of the show. I can't speak for drawing power alone, but Punk's segments do regularly lose viewers and that he even did an overrun this year that gained 50,000 or so. Ideologically, it would make sense for Punk to lead, but he is definitely not in Cena's league of star power. Benoit was booked similarly in 2004. One could argue Punk's lack of drawing power (at least ratings wise) is by design, but that's not a convincing argument since quarter hour breakdowns tell a different story. As far as tonight, Punk should have gone on last just because the AJ storyline was a bigger deal, unless Cena's debut MITB match was the bigger draw (a proposition I'm not convinced by given the lack of heat in its buildup).

I see this logic. But then I think if all that is true, why has Cena not been champion this entire time? If Punk's segments regularly lose viewers and he's a mild draw at best, why do they have him wearing their top title? None of it makes sense.

When Punk was allowed to be Punk he was a ratings draw. Then HHH got involved in the storyline and shortly thereafter Punk became a poor man's Ricky Morton style babyface. It's not surprising that he's failed as a ratings draw since he's working a character that is the antithesis of everything that made him a star in the first place.

what they should have done was put Cena with a young guy and have them win the tag titles for a while.

 

When Punk was allowed to be Punk he was a ratings draw. Then HHH got involved in the storyline and shortly thereafter Punk became a poor man's Ricky Morton style babyface. It's not surprising that he's failed as a ratings draw since he's working a character that is the antithesis of everything that made him a star in the first place.

They used Kevin Nash to 1995 Diesel Punk!

AW isn't really a strong enough micworker to merit the gimmick. He'll have a funny comment now and again like the "you can't run to the border" line that cracked me up last night, but for a modern day Jimmy Hart, he is no Jimmy Hart. Admittedly, though, I'd probably like him more if I hadn't watched the Prime Time Players rise to prominence on NXT, and thus wasn't aware that Titus O'Neill is a much, much better promo than AW is. They're doing the "manager covers for guys who can't talk" thing when one of the guys can talk, can talk better than AW, and hasn't gotten his hands on a mic since AW showed up because of this. So I'm a little resentful of AW to begin with, I confess. But it's not like most of his live commentary is actually interesting. Where's Julius Smokes when you need him?

The biggest problem I see with AW is that he's supposed to be a heel & he can only get a reaction by being funny. If you do things that people like, you're not going to be a heel for long. Which honestly, I don't know if those guys being babyface would even be a problem. I laughed several times, especially when he tightened up Darren Young's afro.

I think the real turning point for Punk was the RAW after the walk out angle where he started joking around with Hunter after playing the anti-authority card with him the previous two months. Then the Del Rio program started and he just started acting like the typical aw shucks WWE Babyface.

 

I'll say this though. I think Punk is more media and image conscious than people think. I think he likes going on talk shows and the like. Not a knock just that he may not hate being the corpororate ambassador all that much

Punk had a twenty minute opening segment on RAW last week and then was the focus of the overrun segment. His segment was the focus of the overrun two weeks ago. He's doing all right. The crowd would have been dead for Bryan-Punk after having already seen Cena win MITB, that got by far the biggest response of anything on the show.

He's definitely doing all right. Better than most. He's not so much being buried as the championship is being buried.

I know when I saw Punk live, he was just as over as John Cena. Maybe a hair or two beneath him, but it is a Randy Savage/Hulk Hogan or Ultimate Warrior/Hogan scenario.

Despite working on top during this time Cena has been out of the title picture for close to a year now. That's about to change.

It's completely pointless strapping Cena again, and a waste of opportunities for elevating other talent who need a world title reign. John Cena doesn't need any more WWE Championship reigns, he's as over as he will ever be with or without the belt, therefore there isn't any point in him carrying the title.

 

I expect some of the old school purists don't agree, given the philosophy of having the "top guy" as constant champion, but this is a moot point given the way modern international promotions like WWE do business. I see the titles as being more about elevating talent and providing recognition to established talent than being a symbol of the top guy in the business. I suppose titles in WWE are a symbol that the company has faith in an individual as performer and wants to reward them by increasing their PPV, TV and public appearances (which equals more money and better benefits naturally) and in the case of the world titles, it's common knowledge that WWE pays for the champions to travel first class as a perk of being champion.

AW isn't really a strong enough micworker to merit the gimmick. He'll have a funny comment now and again like the "you can't run to the border" line that cracked me up last night, but for a modern day Jimmy Hart, he is no Jimmy Hart. Admittedly, though, I'd probably like him more if I hadn't watched the Prime Time Players rise to prominence on NXT, and thus wasn't aware that Titus O'Neill is a much, much better promo than AW is. They're doing the "manager covers for guys who can't talk" thing when one of the guys can talk, can talk better than AW, and hasn't gotten his hands on a mic since AW showed up because of this. So I'm a little resentful of AW to begin with, I confess. But it's not like most of his live commentary is actually interesting. Where's Julius Smokes when you need him?

On RAW tonight, while the PTP's were beating down Kofi AW said "Tonight, the Prime Time Players will be playing the part of the LAPD!" and after doing the afro pic deal with Young, he yells at Kofi "Can't pick no dreadlocks!"

 

AW rules.

I know when I saw Punk live, he was just as over as John Cena. Maybe a hair or two beneath him, but it is a Randy Savage/Hulk Hogan or Ultimate Warrior/Hogan scenario.

That is pretty accurate and something I was thinking myself. It's closer to Warrior/Hogan, as even after Warrior had won the belt, Hogan was still positioned as the bigger star and his angles were promoted as more important. I don't think Punk's had any Amanda Ultimate Warrior moments though. The problem with the entire scenario is that Cena is not anywhere close to Hogan.

It's completely pointless strapping Cena again, and a waste of opportunities for elevating other talent who need a world title reign. John Cena doesn't need any more WWE Championship reigns, he's as over as he will ever be with or without the belt, therefore there isn't any point in him carrying the title.

I don't think John Cena needs the title. I think the title needs him. The belts don't mean anything anymore.

The belts don't mean anything anymore.

I hear that a lot online. I mean, a lot. But is it true? Hmmm... this merits further discussion.