WWE: Why CM Punk Is Now Officially a Heel

So, CM Punk waits until Jerry Lawler’s back is turned, kicks him in the head, and some fans are still in denial that the WWE Champion has gone heel.

I know, right?

I made the same sound as well, when I realized it.  I have to say, there are moments when I am really surprised at just how delusional some fans can be.

Okay, maybe delusional is the wrong word.  Perhaps mistaken is the right word?  Maybe?

I have to admit, right from the start, that back when Punk’s new “attitude” began on the 1000th episode of Monday Night Raw, that I was not fully convinced that he had indeed went heel.

After all, this is CM Punk we’re talking about here, not exactly your run of the mill, conventional WWE Superstar.  When John Cena cut a promo on him last year, complimenting him for marching to the beat of his own drum, that wasn’t just a throw away line.  It’s the truth.

So, it made sense to me, as the weeks went by, that WWE would be doing it a little differently with Punk.  This was a new kind of turn, I thought.  CM Punk morphing from a babyface to a “tweener,” a guy who rides the fence, and has heat with both sides, whenever the mood strikes him.

Punk was breaking the mold, challenging everything the fans had come to expect from the business, redefining the classic heel/face dynamic.  Punk was something different, something fresh, a man who was a half step away from being Stone Cold Steve Austin.  

This was CM Punk being allowed to once again call his own shot, and every week was just another new chapter in his infamous saga.

But, not anymore.  The shades of gray have split into black and white.  Left is once again left, and right is once again right.  The guessing game is over.

CM Punk is heel.  Deal with it.

There are undoubtedly many of you out there shaking your heads right now, dismayed at my apparent inability to understand the points that have been made about Punk’s new spin on an old idea.

However, you would be wrong, as I kind of just addressed all of them earlier in this column. Shame on you for reading the headline and skipping to the comments section.

Again, I get the idea.  I understand all of the arguments made defending Punk’s actions up to this point, how he has not said anything that wasn’t true, and that he has not maliciously attacked any other Superstars since The Rock.  Yes, it all makes sense.

But, the second he touched Jerry Lawler, it was game over.  That’s it.  Mark your calendars folks, because as of Aug. 20, 2012, CM Punk officially turned heel.

The fact is, you cannot touch a guy who is as well respected as Lawler, without being thought of as a heel in the eyes of the fans.  And, you especially cannot touch him when he‘s not looking.

Only heels attack when a man’s back is turned.  That has been understood for years.  If you want fans to hate you, if you’re looking for that heel pop, then you clip a guy when he’s not looking. Period.

But, what about Stone Cold?  Before he was 100 percent babyface, he was middle of the road. He attacked anyone who got in his way.  If you crossed his path, or if you were just within 10 feet of him, you were fair game.  Why can the same not be said of Punk?

Because when Austin went ape on other Superstars, he did it with a Stunner.  A quick boot to the gut to setup the move, then boo-ya! Stunner!

The Superstar taking the move was face to face with Austin.  He or she had an opportunity to defend themselves against the Texas Rattlesnake.  And, though Austin may have attacked indiscriminately, the closer he got to becoming face, the more he began narrowing his victims down to heels.

Of course, this was not the case every time.  Depending on the situation, or how Stone Cold was being used on a certain night, the truth is, he could just lay out an entire ring full of Superstars, both heel and baby, with no provocation.  It happened all the time.

But, for Punk to physically attack one of the most loved and respected personalities in the history of WWE, when his back is turned, is the ultimate cheap shot.  And, the spot, despite what side you’re on in the heel/face discussion, was designed to get Punk over in his new role.

And, the role is that of heel.

Now, here’s the part where we see how many of you actually stuck around to the very end, without roasting me in an expletive-laced comment.

Because, the fact is, no matter how much I believe I’m right on this, I could very well be wrong. For all I know, CM Punk could move on from this spot, and in a few weeks, fans could forget all about it.  

He may continue his usual babyface entrance on the ramp, smiling, and encouraging the crowd to pop as he gets in the ring.

He may then actually save John Cena at some point, coming to an uneasy truce, as he moves on to face Rocky at the Royal Rumble in a match that will see the champ work as a straight-up babyface.

You buying any of this?  Me neither.

But, it is just one guy’s opinion.  As a WWE Featured Columnist, it’s my job to give it.  Now, it’s your turn to respond.

Heel or not heel?