CM Punk's Betrayal, John Cena, the Giant and the Re-Birth of a Revolution

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"When are you writing your article on (Punk's heel turn)? Punk's rebellion is, after all, just starting its course"

                              ~ Avishek

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Side Note: I was about to pull a Dave Chappelle and just disappear from the game for a while, but even the smallest comment can ripple through one's mind and change it. Whether you read all of it, some of it or a couple of sentences, I always appreciate the read. This one is for the fans...

Within every man lies a darkness that sits idle. A potent poison of the mind and spirit that brews beneath the heart of every man, woman and child. A caged electric cable, detached from its lines, that dances wildly, randomly and with such ferocious velocity that once the cage door is unlocked, this cable propels toward the nearest source of water and electrifies the soul. It is this poisoned electricity that takes over the body and creates an atmosphere of unknowns within the mind and actions of its inhabitant.

CM Punk, who has resided as the kingdom's champion for the last nine months, has felt his share of this poisoned current stream through his veins. His passion has always been to take this current, monotonous, maligned form of WWE and launch it back into the stratosphere of popular culture, where it once reigned supreme during an era that now seems lost and is only a nostalgic memory. It is this passion that has fueled him to where we find our rebel savior now.

Once a cult leader, once a leader of revolutionary men and now the face and commander of an underground revolt against the foundation of the WWE and its massive universe of followers, CM Punk once again feels that electric current racing through his heartbeat, his mind, his soul. 

Perhaps great men can not accomplish great things without exerting the power of betrayal, the power of evil, the power of selfishness in order to preserve everything they have earned and fought for. Perhaps Punk, and his ever-so weakening grasp on his beloved WWE championship, had only one option left available when he was faced with the proverbial fork in the road.

Perhaps the power, shine and elevated status that comes to those who wear the "richest prize in the game" is too much to handle after a prolonged exposure. Perhaps Punk, realizing his reign as champion was now being tested like never before, did the only thing this man has ever known...

Unleash the wild, dancing cable directly into his heart. And once the animosity, jealousy, malice and vengeance had filled his heart, he was easily able to muster the anger to drive a spike into the heart of his adoring universe.

To rid himself of his "bandwagon" fans, his placating, always-smiling, pandering ways that brought him the fame, glory, late-night talk show appearances and merchandise sales that come with it was the only way to find the only thing Punk ever wanted but never truly had from the kingdom he has sacrificed so much for.

Respect. 

Respect. A convoluted word that means so much yet so little depending on the context it's used in.

Should we, the WWE universe, respect the actions of CM Punk? Should the WWE, and its minions who troll around the king's room, have done more to show its faith and respect in its current champion? Should those that freely joined the revolution a year ago respect where their leader has now brought them? Do those that stand proudly by Punk's actions, and watch as millions of his "followers" leave the camp of revolution, respect those that abandon their just cause? 

And while the tunnels that lead to the kingdom's secret, secluded underground society can be seen and heard vibrating with rejoice, those that have decided to leave the underground are now greeted with the blinding light of a WWE landscape that has been drastically altered.

Those that turned away from their rebel leader (after he turned his back on the universe) now gaze upon the only signpost that points them in the direction of hope. A hope that they thought they had found in Punk that they now believe has been lost to the rise and feel of the electric current that now flows freely through the tunnels, its people and its leader, CM Punk.

This hope? A hope for a true and virtuous warrior to replace the boring, polarizing, monotone approach found in the current face of the WWE kingdom, John Cena. A hope that their rebellious conquest would rewrite the rules on what exactly makes someone a "good guy" in the WWE history books. A hope that there would once again be an overwhelming, consensus popular superstar that everyone in the kingdom could gaze upon.

And while CM Punk and his loyal followers begin chanting his name once again amidst the hissing of the kingdom that now despises this punk, those who relinquished their role in the rebellion stare at the one true signpost that will guide them to the only salvation of hope left in their hearts.

Cenation.

The Fire That Breeds Smoke Also Breeds Revolution  

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"Anyone who hasn't experienced the ecstasy of betrayal knows nothing about ecstasy at all."

                 ~ Jean Genet

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The kingdom's most anticipated celebration (its 1,000th consecutive Raw) reached its climax between CM Punk and John Cena. Two men who have become the epitome of change and status quo within the WWE. Two men who have become legends in their own respective ways. Two men who stand on opposite sides of beliefs, wills and roads to success. Both backed by legions of followers who stand ready for war at a moment's notice.

One of these men was about to become the WWE champion at any moment.

However, as the battle between these two men for the kingdom's championship reached its climax, the emergence of a giant brought the festivities to a screeching halt. The giant, known amongst the kingdom's inhabitants as the Big Show—who for so long has let his pent-up stress, emotions and hatred for those who clamor for John Cena fester inside him—wanted to send a message to Cena, the universe and those watching that fateful night that he would not be easily discarded and forgotten.

And as the giant proceeded to mangle John Cena with a barrage of devastating attacks, he not only caused the match to be forfeited in favor of CM Punk, but he awakened one of the kingdom's legends, one of its heroes, one of its saints: The Rock.

The Rock. A wildly beloved figure and icon from the era and generation of those nostalgic memories that dance around in the heads of those who remember. A transcendent superstar who has permanently etched his name in WWE, pop culture and international lore. A man who shares the same electricity of the dancing, wild cable beneath his heart, but who has since found a way to counteract the poisonous element and instead uses its current to electrify the masses into a euphoric hysteria of chants that trend, raised goosebumps and boots to asses. 

Once this legendary folk hero ascended from the heavens and slayed the giant, he was stopped and quickly buried by the least likeliest person...

As CM Punk, the leader of a revolution, now stands between his fallen, beloved victims, that potent poisonous electricity has poured out of his soul, out of his malice, out of his vengeance and swept across those who witnessed their hero betray them. This hero. This mythical underground leader of lost souls has once again ignited the passion, energy, euphoria and ecstasy that was slowly being drained from the kingdom's water supply.  

Can we blame Punk for the actions he chose to take? Can we look past the attack on one of our most beloved icons and focus on the context in which it was based upon? Can we understand and respect the logic behind CM Punk and his actions? The actions of a man on the brink of losing everything he's worked his life for because those around him squabble, bicker and fight, all while he and his reign as champion hang in the balance.

The actions of a man who has been champion for nine months but has seen his spotlight stolen too many times by the likes of John Cena, The Rock, The Big Show and those who sit in the throne room having little faith in Punk and his now defunct, "cute"  Money in the Bank rebellion.

That spotlight. The center stage at the heart of the kingdom and the universe. The light that elevates and announces to the world that whomever it shines upon is the biggest name for those that watch around the world.

Should that spotlight not shine on CM Punk and his "history making" reign as champion?

And as all of these thoughts and questions brew within the deep recesses of Punk's mind, he acknowledges the ripples that he has caused. Acknowledging them by acting upon those urges and feelings over and over again by giving into the electricity flowing through his body.

And with those actions once again rises a revolution. Once again, the landscape is altered. Once again, CM Punk takes his most loyal followers and descends into the tunnels and mountains of the kingdom, where they will prepare for battle. Where they will prepare to once again ignite a polarizing revolution against an industry and company that panders to politicians, wall street, children that know nothing of hardships and the ones that peddle the "agenda" of a company out of touch with its older, loyal fanbase. They now prepare to once again right all the wrongs committed against Punk by John Cena, the over-shadowing figure of the Rock and the WWE...

...They come to take their rightful place within the elevated majesty of the spotlight.

Prologue to the Beginning of the End 

Is this change in Punk's demeanor permanent? Has there even been a change? Who is CM Punk? Who does CM Punk want to be? 

As questions now linger in the air of an uncertain future, there are those in Punk's camp that whisper amongst themselves whether or not Punk chose the right road and actions in order to maintain his grasp on the WWE championship and for the success of the rebellion. Those who whisper have logic behind them and just cause for concern about their fearless, now reborn, ruthless leader.

If Punk had not given into the poison, he would only share the battleground at SummerSlam with one opponent, but the consequences of his actions have now allowed two opponents to share the same battlefield as Punk: John Cena and the Giant.

And without the championship around the waist of their mythical leader, will anyone, outside of Punk's camp, really care what CM Punk has to say?

While the revolution has just begun, can we really call it a revolution anymore? Is Punk only using this rebellion as a platform to stay champion, hence he's in the "spotlight" he now thirsts after? Is Punk's rebellion more selfish than he lets those that follow him blindly believe? Is this "rebellion" leader even seeking change for the masses within the WWE universe, or has he simply become consumed by jealousy, envy and malice for those who constantly overshadow him?

Perhaps those who left the tunnels and caves upon the first sight of Punk's vengeful acts had the foresight to see where this road, this new act of war, this re-birth of rebellion was heading. 

...to the demise of Punk's reign as champion and to the dismemberment of his precious rebellion and those who proudly chant his name and carry his banner.

The end is near. The end is unwritten. Whichever side you choose to align with is your own choice to make, but salvation can only come to one. 

War is coming. 

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"Every betrayal contains a perfect moment, a coin stamped heads or tails with salvation on the other side."

                            ~ Barbara Kingsolve

 

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