When the CM Punk "Best in the World" DVD came out, I wrote, "While the documentary paints Punk as a happy locker room leader who has found his place, the reality is that his fight isn’t over and probably never will be. He hasn’t been positioned at the top of Wrestlemania. He holds titles but Cena holds the glory. That battle to force himself to the next level hasn’t ended yet. It may never end, but the fact Punk keeps fighting and performing, is damn inspirational."
With the window closed, what was Punk fighting for? Inspirational or not, as 2014 began, there was no fight left in CM Punk, because there truth is, as much as it sucks for Punk and Punk fans, there was nothing to fight for.
WWE had locked in their plans and he was, at best, in the number three match on what could be his final Wrestlemania. So, Punk did the unthinkable. He walked. WWE could have claimed he breached his deal, but he still walked. WWE could have buried him and cut bait, but he still walked. WWE could have felt he was being a baby, but he walked...and in doing so, he made himself a far more valuable asset to himself and to WWE.
Punk cut off communications with just about everybody when he walked. Oh, I am sure the Colt Cabanas and Cliff Comptons of the world are still talking to him, but anyone else, cut off. Twitter? He stopped using it altogether and potentially blocked WWE from following him. A quick search of his Tweets actually shows that with the exception of the weekend he left, Punk hadn't been directly referencing WWE in months, a sign of his underlying anger towards the company that made him his fortune.
Instead, Punk let the rumor mill and the fans do the talking for him. Those within WWE believed he had a concussion and that's what led to him walking. If so, they'd never be able to confirm it. He wasn't talking. A TMZ report squarely placed the blame for Punk's walk-out on Batista, which truth be told, wasn't fair to Batista. Fair or not, that story was picked up as gospel by the masses and hasn't prevented a sizeable amount of fans from rejecting the man designed to be the number one babyface going into Wrestlemania. Add in the Daniel Bryan fans being pissed he isn't in Batista's spot and well, you have a recipe for disaster and the heel turn that began last week. Punk walking out started that ripple effect, whether he designed it that way or not.
Meanwhile, the fans - some weeks louder than others, have been clamoring and chanting for Punk. Some weeks it's a nuisance to WWE and others it's a huge massive cry that can't be ignored and can only make fans watching at home wonder where CM Punk went. Now, tonight, they march into Chicago - the most boisterous, loud, do or die audience in all of the markets WWE runs...and they aren't going to have the hometown hero? One can imagine those chants ringing loudly and constantly all through the broadcasts on the USA Network and the WWE Network. Chicago may have been that rabid for Punk, but the other markets? Not as likely. By walking, Punk revved up the fans that wanted to support him. He didn't need to plead his case. They did it for him.
So, what happens tonight now that WWE is in Chicago?
I envision one of two things.
1 - We could see the triumphant return of a Second City Saint before his most ardent fans in a sold-out Allstate Arena, having crowbarred his way politically into getting his final goal (once again, just like 2011, forcing WWE's hand) and taking fans back on yet another ride while butting heads with how he's presented, how he's utilized and how he's perceveid.
2 - We could see nothing. No Punk. No return. No incredible visual of his walk towards the ring before an orgasmic reaction in his hometown. No, that visual could instead be replaced by a rowdy Chi-Town audience chanting for Punk, possibly uprooting an entire wrestling broadcast in a way not seen since WCW fired Ric Flair in 1991 creating a situation where Baltimore, Maryland spent most of the 1991 Great American Bash PPV chanting for him. Don't believe me? Go watch it on the WWE Network.
It could be Punk "comes to his senses" and returns, even if only to fulfill his contract. It could be he's legitimately done and content to hang around Chicago and visiting UFC events and actually healing his body for the first time in his adult life. It could be the CM Punk we've followed for years just disappears from the scene and becomes the modern day Randy Savage/Ultimate Warrior where rumors of his exit and disappearance grow more grand by the year.
Time will tell, but what we do know is this: By the time Monday Night Raw goes off the air, Punk's presence or lack thereof on Raw will be one of the top stories of the night - and will have a direct effect on the live crowd in a city where WWE production probably won't be able to mask it.
Hell, there are multiple Twitter accounts calling for fans to hijack the show as it is. Punk's work ethic and goodwill has earned him loyal fans, especially in Chicago. Punk or not, the audience may be a major part of tonight's Raw, whether they are scripted to be or not.
Whether Punk is there or not on Raw tonight, he's attracted a much brighter, bigger spotlight than he would probably have gotten otherwise, Triple H storyline or not, just by sticking around and wrestling.
By walking away, Punk made himself a bigger name and possibly earned himself a bigger paycheck. If not, it provided him the chance to walk out at his whim, his way, without being de-emphasized on the way out.
Either way, that's genius if you ask me. Like I said, Punk is many things, but stupid isn't one of them.
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