WWE Raw 1,000: 5 Reasons Why CM Punk Turned Heel

CM Punk made a statement on the 1000^th edition of WWE Raw. No one thought that statement would be a heel turn.

After the referee was taken out, the Big Show speared John Cena and hit the WMD. Punk couldn’t capitalize. Show saved the WWE Champion and broke up the STF, and then proceeded to beat up Cena. Punk didn’t help. He just stood by and watched Show do his thing.

Out of nowhere, the Rock ran down the ramp and rescued Cena. He was all set giving The People’s Elbow to Show after his spinebuster, but Punk clotheslined The Rock.

Punk then gave Rock the GTS and stood tall in the ring with his championship in tow. And once again, CM Punk became a heel.

Here are five reasons why CM Punk is the bad guy once more.

5. Being Held Back

As Punk made the transition into a face, it seemed he was holding back.

He said he wasn’t held back while talking to Daniel Bryan. In fact, he said he was the same guy who vented his frustrations with the company last year.

Every fan knows it didn’t seem that way.

Obviously, CM Punk was a pipe bomb waiting to explode.

He probably felt he wasn’t getting what he deserved. Yes, he was the WWE Champion and inserted in the beginning credits of Raw.

Those weren’t enough. CM Punk wanted to be the center of attention, and the WWE didn’t make him.

4. Pay-Per-View Main Events

The WWE Champion CM Punk has been put in marquee matches since his title win in November.

The Second City Saint only main evented one pay-per-view, TLC, where he defeated Alberto Del Rio and The Miz in a TLC match.

No question Punk would not have main evented at the Royal Rumble, Wrestlemania 28 and even Extreme Rules. Why is CM Punk not in the main event in other pay-per-views?

He opened the Elimination Chamber PPV while John Cena vs. Kane was the main event. Cena main evented the next five pay-per-views, while the WWE Champion was again the co-main event.

These slights surely would have been building up inside for Punk. Being the champion and not closing pay-per-views should be infuriating.

Punk’s heel turn will get him back into that main event role.

3. The Number 1 Guy

Every wrestler’s dream is to be the No. 1 guy in this business.

For any man who claims he is the best in the world, he should be the main attraction.

All CM Punk wanted was to be the man. Presently, it takes more than a championship to become the man.

For example, during his reign, John Cena was the main focus with his feuds with Big Show and John Laurinaitis. Punk managed to main event a few Raw shows, but the focus was about AJ and not him.

A diva had upstaged the WWE Champion for the past two months.

During last week’s main event between Punk and Show, Cena appeared and put the focus on himself. It became about Cena’s quest for the WWE Title, and not about Punk’s goal to keep it.

CM Punk was not the talk of the town, and he should have been.

2. Insurmountable Pressure

CM Punk has been the WWE Champion for eight months, 246 days to be exact.

It’s a long reign for any champion. Yet, one can imagine the amount of pressure CM Punk must feel.

Everyone knows the impressive registry of opponents Punk defeated to retain the title. The list ranges from possible Hall of Famers (Chris Jericho, Kane) to future main event players (Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler). He’s fought every type of wrestler in both regular matches and in a hardcore environment.

Every WWE Superstar wants to become the WWE Champion and, currently, every one of them is gunning for CM Punk.

Shouldn’t CM Punk feel the pressure of being hunted by the entire WWE roster?

Could that pressure have gotten to the WWE Champion? It just might have. 

1. The Rock's Challenge

The Rock had it coming.

He made his announcement April 2 that becoming WWE Champion again was a goal for The Great One. Last night, The Rock stormed into the ring announcing he’ll get a title shot at the Royal Rumble.

Was CM Punk supposed to take the news lying down?

When Punk ambushed The Rock, fans were in shock. Punk then used Rock’s signature taunt, getting set like a football player stalking his prey. The Rock assumes the same stance before his Rock Bottom move.

Fans were even more surprised when Punk hit the GTS and left The People’s Champion lying on the ring canvas.

Punk made a decision to attack The Rock and send a message that was clear for every WWE fan and Superstar.

The message--CM Punk really is the best in the world.

CM Punk is now on the offensive. CM Punk is your WWE Champion. He is the man now, and he won’t go down quietly.