WWE's Finest: John Cena and CM Punk's Comic Book Connection

Two men, with morals, high ideals, and the desire to fight off anyone who threatens the way of life in the world around them.  One represents the status quo, waving the patriotic flag for God and country. The other lurks just inside the shadows, giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.

Each man is a hero, yet they are uneasy allies.  They are as different as night and day, yet they are very much flip sides of the same coin.

Enough of the suspense.  If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m talking about Superman and Batman.

What, you were expecting someone else?

Yes, I am a comic book fanboy, and like anyone who loves the medium, I often find myself making real world comparisons side by side to the characters I grew up with.

Of course, WWE is not often referred to as the real world, so that notion pretty much goes out the window.

But, it’s fun to do, at least for me, and when I look at John Cena and CM Punk, I can’t help but see the relationship between the Man of Steel, and the Dark Knight.

If there is one superhero that Cena has constantly been compared to, besides Captain America, it has to be Superman.

The incredible heroics at the end of his matches, in which Cena suddenly gets a second wind, and completely dominates the closing moments leading up to his win, if that is not alien-like ability, I don’t know what is.

His clear cut vision of right and wrong, the way he sees the world in black and white, sets him apart from everyone else.  This causes him to be the Superstar who is without blame, who is always on the straight and narrow.  No one questions his motivation, and no one doubts his heart for the business.

But, as with his comic book counterpart, Cena is often viewed as being a little too perfect.  His otherworldly abilities and unwavering strength of character set an unrealistic example that no fan could possibly relate to.

In other words, Superman is up there, and the rest of us are down here.

But, we’re not alone.  We have a voice.

CM Punk is the everyman, the regular guy who worked hard to hone his skills, and paid the price to be where he is.  His ring repertoire is very plausible, his approach to his work very believable, and he makes fans feel as though they could reach his level of success.

His morals, much like Cena, are admirable, but during this latest run, he has not held it over anyone else’s head.  While he does often do the right thing, he is not above bending the rules if necessary, and is fearless when it comes to speaking his mind.  

To put it another way, anyone one of us, with the right training, the right amount of dedication, and the willingness to stand up for ourselves, could be CM Punk.

But, perhaps the biggest similarity between WWE’s finest and DC Comics’ finest, is the fact that in both cases, there is always the possibility for confrontation.

In nearly every future storyline involving Superman and Batman, Big Blue finds himself in for the fight of his life against the Caped Crusader.  Two heroes who should be on the same page, inevitably end up facing off against each other in the fight to end all fights.

The same can be said of Cena and Punk, and fans know it.

They may each be distracted by other Superstars right now, in their own separate storylines, but there is always the possibility that they will once again hook it up in the ring.  Why?

Because they are so different, yet inhabit the same space.  Being polar opposites means they disagree on so many things, and that underlying tension due to the way they each see the world could cause their rivalry to reemerge once again.

You guessed it, just like DC’s two iconic heroes.

A lot has been said about Cena’s booking as the superhuman that cannot lose, and who inexplicably continues to always, despite any circumstance, do the right thing.  

He catches some serious heat for this, but the truth is, he is doing what he does best.  WWE needs a larger than life character, if only to keep things interesting for fans.

The same can be said for CM Punk, whose very existence as a top-tier WWE Superstar provides a reason for fans who have been screaming for something different from Vince McMahon’s company to tune in, and become involved.  

Punk may be criticized himself for not quite being up to the money making level that Cena is, but no one can deny he is growing in popularity, and his rebellious character is needed as well.

DC Comics would not be the same without the World’s Finest, Superman and Batman.  They are two of the most popular characters ever created, and they continue to stand the test of time.

WWE would not be the same right now without John Cena and CM Punk.  They are two of the most popular, albeit controversial, figures in the business, and they remain at the forefront of the industry.

And, fans wouldn’t have it any other way.

Cue the Punk signal.