WWE Raw 1000: Did CM Punk Turn Heel on Monday Night?

What’s the difference between John Cena and CM Punk?  The Rock couldn’t turn Cena heel after an entire year’s worth of heat.  CM Punk turned after one night.

OK, maybe the punch line was a bit wordy, but you get the idea.

By now, everyone knows what happened on the 1,000th episode of Monday Night Raw with regard to the WWE champion.  And chances are, you either get it, or you don’t get it.

Me?  I get it.

Punk has been riding high since he dropped his first pipe bomb last year and has enjoyed the most success that he has ever known in WWE.  The man who at one time was a top star on the independent circuit, known primarily for his work in Ring of Honor, is now known throughout the world as the voice of the voiceless.

He has proven his skill among the best in-ring performers in the business today and has also proven that with hard work and determination, a WWE Superstar really can come from the bottom and rise to the very top.

CM Punk is the epitome of success in the industry.  He is a working-class Superstar who stayed working class and has a legion of fans all over the world who support him for what he is and can appreciate what he’s accomplished.

And, it’s not gotten him anything.

Think about it.  How often has Punk, the WWE champion, actually been in the main event of a pay-per-view, or even Monday Night Raw, for that matter?  How often have we seen Cena in that spot on the card, attempting to follow Punk, who is a true workhorse in the company?

And, despite Punk’s ability to steal the show every time he’s in the ring, how many times have we seen Cena put in the big matches, against the top names, while Punk is passed over time and again?

Cena is, as he has been for quite some time, the top guy in WWE.  He is the proverbial face of the company.  Everything revolves around him, and everyone else is in second place.

This includes CM Punk, whose ascension in WWE has led him to great heights, but not quite that great.

In case you were wondering, the answer is no, none of this is likely lost on Punk, whose character will surely list all or part of these reasons as his motivation for turning heel on Monday night.

But, did he turn heel?

I’m sure that it was Vince McMahon’s intention for us to believe that a heel turn had indeed taken place at the end of Raw.  All signs point to that scenario, beginning with Punk cowering in the corner while Big Show brutally attacked Cena in the ring.

Then, after Punk unsuccessfully attempted the pin, and Show once again charged the ring, the WWE champion was back on his feet and had yet another chance to help Cena.

But he didn’t, and instead turned to leave.  Punk’s actions seem to be that of a coward, because, let’s face it, any baby face, no matter his gimmick or heat with anyone else on the roster, would always do the right thing in a similar situation, despite how physically intimidating Big Show can be.

However, the only face who attempted to help was Rocky, who received a GTS from Punk for his trouble.

Again, not exactly the actions of a true baby face.

But, no matter how many bizarre moments occurred during the end of the match, there are some fans who believe that perhaps what we saw was not a heel turn by Punk.  They believe that maybe, just maybe, Punk was acting totally in character.

CM Punk’s character should feel no allegiance to Cena and should thus have no desire to help the man when he’s down.  John’s a big boy who can fight his own battles, and Punk has never liked him anyway, so why get involved?

On top of that, Rocky walks right back into the company after not being seen since WrestleMania and receives a WWE title shot at the Royal Rumble.  

Just like that.  

He doesn’t have to wait in line.  He gets no matches beforehand to become the No. 1 contender for the championship.  He walks right past every other Superstar and heads straight to the top of the heap.

Why wouldn’t CM Punk, as the WWE champion, make a statement, assert his position of power on Raw and let Rocky know that he will not be a pushover?  After all, Punk should have nothing to fear from the People’s Champ because he is the Best in the World, remember?

All of this is suddenly beginning to sound an awful lot like a man who is on the verge of becoming desperate—and desperate men will do whatever it takes to win, no matter what the cost.

And, that, folks, is what we call a heel.

The 1,000th episode of Monday Night Raw ended in a shocker, with a twist that likely no one saw coming.  But, it’s episode 1,001 that has piqued my interest, as I, for one, cannot wait to see what happens next with CM Punk in his new role as a heel.

And he is a heel, right?