WWE News, "Punk Out" Bonus Entry (Day 53): Punk Talks to GQ, Austin Dream Match?

Big Nasty will be keeping a running diary of what appear to be CM Punk's final days in WWE (for now).  Reports of Punk's reticence to sign a contract extension seem to point to the fact that he is gearing up to leave the company.

CM Punk's home stretch run in the WWE has afforded him another comfortably active week in the headlines, But not all Punk-related news has been positive. 

Punk's much anticipated follow up with John Cena and Vince McMahon drew a disappointing 2.9 rating.  The alarmingly low rating can seemingly be explained away due to the fact that WWE was going head to head with the Home Run Derby, however it's worth mentioning that WWE did well above a 3.2 the previous three years in this same exact situation. 

Does this mean Punk can't draw?  Has the hottest angle in wrestling cooled off with the general public already?  Is the Money in the Bank buyrate going to disappoint as well?  Not really. 

WWE's slumping ratings are part of a bigger picture of general softness and erosion in the pro wrestling product. 

WWE has been no stranger to historically low ratings in recent years, and while a 2.9 for such a high profile angle is indeed cause for concern, the fact that this angle will culminate at WWE Money in the Bank should peak enough interest to deliver a strong buyrate at least for this day in age.

Perhaps it hurt to have RAW's vaunted Fourth of July show in between Punk's shoot promo and the subsequent follow up, as it may have hurt this angle's momentum.

The bad news only got worse when the Good Humor Ice Cream company interjected amongst the onslaught of requests they received to bring back the WWE Ice Cream Bars. 

The requests were inspired by the line of the night from this past week's live negotiation between Vince McMahon and CM Punk, where Punk requested that WWE bring back said ice cream bars as part of a deal to re-sign him. 

Good Humor would go on to play party pooper with the WWE Universe with the following excuse as to why they simply cannot bring the ice cream bars back:

"

“Thank you for writing us regarding Good Humor .

The product you have contacted us about has been discontinued. Our company’s goal is to provide consumers with a variety of products to meet their needs and preferences. As you may know, marketing is a complex function, and many business factors are taken into consideration before discontinuing a product.

Before a product becomes available at the retail level, much time and expense is involved in perfecting the recipe, consumer focus testing, and marketing support. It truly saddens us when we must discontinue a product.

However, consumer demand is a major factor. When the level of demand is insufficient to ensure that consumers receive high-quality products at an affordable price, the product may be discontinued.

We apologize that this product is no longer available and hope you will continue to enjoy the other products we offer. We will forward your comments to our brand staff.”

"

Many people will readily assume that, had Good Humor brought back the WWE ice cream bars, John Cena's ice cream bar would easily sell the most.  This simply isn't true, as it is common knowledge that John Cena does not sell for anybody. 

CM Punk's tour of the daily headlines landed him a must-read interview with GQ Magazine, where he spoke freely about his impending departure from WWE. 

Punk also seemed to be informally continuing his negotations with cunning requests of a dream match that would pit him against Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 28. 

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"I think the biggest match any wrestling company can do right now is C.M. Punk vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin. I've thought that since I was 15. I'm straight edge. I don't drink. I don't do drugs. I don't smoke. And that is the perfect protagonist or antagonist to Stone Cold Steve Austin, depending on how you want to spin it. It writes itself.

"

"You would have to try really, really hard to fuck that one up. The idea of being on television is to wear your T-shirt so people see it and maybe buy it. I had gone out previously in the night and wrestled. You throw your T-shirt on the ground, and I don't know what the hell happens to it after that."

" I came to the back, and I was looking for another T-shirt. I sent somebody to go and get one, and they came back with a XXL. I was like, "I'm going to be swimming in this thing." And it's always creepy when you're wearing wrestling trunks with a shirt because it doesn't look like you're wearing any pants."

" I had a Stone Cold Steve Austin shirt in my bag, and it fit me. I chuckled to myself and put it on. Am I planting seeds? I don't know. I can't guarantee to anybody that that match is going to happen. Do I want it to happen? Absolutely.""

As Punk requested a main event slot in WrestleMania 28 during his live contract negotiation with McMahon, this would be one of the few matches that could main event WrestleMania with Cena and Rock already on the playbill. 

Punk would go on to further the school of thought that he was legit leaving the company, at least for now.  After expressing the type of frustration that can only come from unadulterated passion, Punk gave a more poignant response as to why he has come to the decision to leave. 

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"I've been doing this for a long time with no break. Especially over the last year, I had an elbow surgery and narrowly avoided hip surgery, so all my downtime's been used up by rehabbing so I can get back in the ring. And I never missed a beat; I was doing commentary with my cracked-up hip. That wears on you after a while.

I'm looking forward to not setting an alarm, not flying anywhere, not having a schedule. I think everyone's dream is to do nothing. I want to have time off and not be injured. I want it to be summer vacation, where I don't have anything to do for three months. I can do anything."

"

With all the mainstream attention Punk has gotten for his recent actions in WWE, he still found time for the little people, namely childhood friend and ROH star Colt Cabana, as he made a cameo on Cabana's weekly Art of Wrestling Podcast. 

As part of the cameo, Punk delivered the following commission-based sales pitch for Money in the Bank when asked if people should tune in to the much talked about pay-per-view this Sunday:
  
          "Yeah, they should. I get paid more that way.”

Meanwhile, John Cena, CM Punk's opponent for this Sunday, was the beneficiary of some residual headline fodder as he spoke with the Chicago Tribune and pridefully requested that the anti-Cena contingent show up in full force to witness the fate of the WWE Championship. 

The anti-Cena crowds only seem to get more vocal the longer the polarizing champion remains on top, and this Sunday in Chicago will truly be something to behold.    

Follow Big Nasty on Twitter @ThisIsNasty.