WWE: Are the Words Speaking Louder Than the Wrestling on RAW?

Now that the CM Punk saga has reached its fourth week and the continued drama is catapulting the wrestling superstar into mainstream America, will there be a resolution coming this weekend at Money in the Bank?

If last night’s edition of RAW is any indication, the words that are being spewed from Punk’s mouth are garnering more attention than any wrestling being done by any superstar on the RAW roster, including his nemesis, John Cena.

Punk started the program by saying he wanted to negotiate with Vince McMahon in an open forum in the ring. While he was reinstated last week at the request of Cena, it did little to squelch  Punk's displeasure over the recent contract negotiations.  Punk also feels he has been one of, if not the best wrestler on the WWE roster over the last five years, but he still does not get the recognition he deserves in terms of marketing and promotion.

This feeling is not only shared by Punk but by other wrestlers, most notably R-Truth. Truth has used the gimmick of a wrestler being held back in public opinion and marketing.

Punk’s tirades of late have boosted his popularity. The crowd last night in Boston was very pro-Punk in their voice during the program.

He has become the new anti-hero of the brand, much like Stone Cold Steve Austin before him.  Punk may even be better at this than Austin because he has better skills on the microphone and is more straight edged. Punk also can wrestle with anyone in the world. Austin is still one of the all-time most popular wrestlers, but he was limited due to injuries and his gimmick never stretched the boundaries other than to fight the establishment and Vince McMahon personally.

Punk’s demands for his contract were spelled out last night which has been a sticking point for the past few weeks. While Cena wanted Punk reinstated for his match this coming Sunday at Money in the Bank, the WWE Champion is not in favor of how Punk is using the ring as a sounding board and not a circle to wrestle in.

The one thing McMahon made clear to Cena last week on RAW was if Punk wins the title and walks out of the arena in Chicago with the title, as he has stated he will do and go to another organization, Cena will be fired on the spot from WWE.

This opens up more subplots as to what will happen with the WWE title and whether or not Cena will be on hiatus over the summer before coming back to the brand, possibly as a remade character.

The war of words has become the headline of the upcoming PPV. There are eight competitors from each of the two brands that will compete on Sunday in Chicago for a chance to cash in on a title opportunity. In the process, Alberto Del Rio has lost his No. 1 Contender spot because of Punk’s reinstatement.

How that will play out and who wins in both matches Sunday only adds to the unknowns of the evening’s events.

Punk and Cena went toe to toe in a battle of words at the beginning of the program and again at the end. Cena wanted to say that while he wanted Punk to wrestle because he had earned the right (and the fact he has wanted to work an angle with Punk for some time now), he was not in favor of insulting the very brand that has made both of them superstars.

Punk was harsh in his assessment of Cena, saying he has become the Yankees, of sorts, the one man who has been the constant on the brand and the promotion for many years while others have come and gone (much like Randy Orton on Smackdown).

Punk also said he was leaving no matter what the results were Sunday night and tore the new contract into shreds as the show ended, causing more speculation over whether more negotiations will continue leading up to the event.