Breaking Down How Paul Heyman Has Elevated CM Punk's Career

Paul Heyman knows the wrestling business inside and out, and from day one, the former ECW mastermind knew the talent that CM Punk possessed.

That’s why the reveal that the duo would be working together in a yet-undefined fashion has catapulted Punk to another level.

While many fans were uncertain about Punk’s heel turn, the appearance of Heyman in the window of the same car the WWE champion hopped into just seconds before, sealed the fate of this storyline.

This angle will be solid-gold, because Heyman knows what people want.

What Paul Heyman Brings

There has never been a man in the wrestling business that made a bigger impression in such a short time than Paul Heyman and what he did with ECW. Heyman took the small, Philadelphia-based wrestling federation and turned it into the hottest commodity.

Not only did he revolutionize the sport with the infusion of hardcore wrestling and extreme storylines,  Heyman also deserves credit for helping inspire the Attitude Era in the WWE. Without the path ECW blazed, who knows what would have become of the WWE in the late 90s.

With all of the clout he carries in the business and all the stars he has made over his career, Heyman has the respect of all the wrestling fans that knew who he was when he returned to television.

Those in the WWE Universe that didn’t know or remember Heyman instantly hated him because of the Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar feud. As we saw in that feud, Heyman’s job was to hold the fort down and build hype for the match while Lesnar wasn’t there.

Consider that task a serious success.

What CM Punk Brings

There has never been a champion in the WWE that is quite like CM Punk. From his straight-edge lifestyle to his size and look, Punk is truly one of the most unique wrestlers to ever enter the business.

While it was clear that Punk could stay face and be a viable champion, the WWE realized the skill and talent Punk has on the mic. The company is in need of a major heel to counteract their top face, John Cena, so turning Punk was the natural choice.

Punk is a great heel.

The sentiment has been that it is easier to be a heel than it is to be a face, and that may be true, but there are exceptions to the rule. While anyone can be portrayed as a heel, only the best wrestlers in the world can play heel and still be considered one of the company’s top stars.

As we have seen from his 300-plus day title reign, the WWE is all-in on Punk.

How Paul Heyman Elevates CM Punk’s Greatness

Paul Heyman knows what the target audience of wrestling really wants. While WWE programming won’t change its PG rating, everything that Punk and Heyman do will push the boundaries of what is acceptable in the company today.

With many fans in the WWE Universe tired of the same-old programming, Heyman and Punk will offer an alternative that feels like a throwback to a different era. As much as the Attitude Era was a great period in wrestling, trying to bring it back is not the right answer.

Punk and Heyman are ushering in a new era.

Call it the Reality Era or whatever you’d like, but the partnership between Heyman and Punk is the damning of a new wrestling day. The duo will not be alone for long, as Brock Lesnar will eventually return to join forces with the WWE Champion.

The rise of a heel stable—similar to the one that caused havoc on WCW television for many years, the nWo—would give the wrestling fans that have grown bored with the product a chance to fall back in love.

Punk would be the face of the new 'invasion' angle.

Punk preached change in the promos he cut leading up to his epic match at Money in the Bank in 2011, but it became very obvious that he couldn’t do it by himself.

With the help of Heyman and the hype he brings with him—not to mention a few more additions to the eventual heel conglomerate—Punk will go down as one of the greatest champions of all time.

It’s not so bad to be a Heyman-guy

Check back for more on the World Wrestling Entertainment as it comes, and visit Bleacher Report’s wrestling page to get your fill of WWE/TNA. For more wrestling talk, listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics you just can’t miss (some language NSFW).

Follow @Donald_Wood

Listen to internet radio with RingRustRadio on Blog Talk Radio