CM Punk: Predicting the Next Feud for WWE's Newest Heel

I’ve had over 16 hours to digest what happened on last night’s 1,000th episode of Raw, and I still haven’t been able to pick my jaw up off the floor.

CM Punk has turned heel?!?!

It was by far the biggest twist of the night (the opposite of the AJ-Daniel Bryan wedding), and it was at the very end of the show. One of the subtle features that makes Raw great is that they always end the show rather abruptly, leaving fans begging for just a few more minutes of action.

Punk had been DQ’ed by John Cena in a less than memorable match, only to have The Rock burst out from behind the scenes to hand out a couple of People’s Elbows.

It seemed like “The Most Electrifying Man in Entertainment” was going to rob the ending to Raw’s 1,000th episode, letting the hype for Royal Rumble begin.

An epic Punk clothesline later, and the crowd was outraged. They love Rock, and anybody that messes with him is the enemy.

Punk is now the enemy.

Fans were booing like crazy, and the screen faded to black with a disgusted-looking Punk walking to the backstage. It was a brilliant scene for the company, and left every fan wondering what’s next for the WWE Champion.

With Big Show’s obsession with John Cena still in full swing, they seem to be out of the picture. Punk’s feud with Daniel Bryan has been drawn out long enough, and there really isn’t anything else the creative team can do with it at this point. Chris Jericho already had his chance, as has Alberto Del Rio, The Miz, Dolph Ziggler, Mark Henry and Kane.

Who's left?

I’m well aware of how the WWE likes to draw out feuds for as long as humanly possible, but Royal Rumble isn’t until January. That’s a full six months away, with five PPV events until then.

So who can step in and make things interesting for SummerSlam and beyond?

Tensai and Brodus Clay aren’t big enough names yet. Jack Swagger has fallen off a cliff.

My pick is Sheamus.

Yes, I know he currently holds the World Heavyweight Championship Belt, but Sheamus is ready for the next level. His wrestling skills match up with Punk's, and “The Great White” has been on a steady rise with the company for the entire 2012 calendar year.

He has a ton of momentum right now and it’s time to use it against CM Punk, who is now the bad guy.

Raw’s 1,000th episode did an outstanding job of mixing in legends of the past while advancing current storylines, and there is no doubt the interest level in Punk’s next opponent is sky-high.

It’s time to give him a fresh feud that can hold him over until his eventual showdown six months from now against The Rock.

Sheamus would be the perfect face opponent. 

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