CM Punk Heel = Ratings

On June 29, 2008 at Night Of Champions, Edge defeated Batista to retain the WWE Heavyweight Championship, while Triple H went over John Cena to keep his WWE World Championship. Both Champions were members of the Smackdown! Brand therefore leaving RAW, the supposed flag-ship show without a champion following the previous weeks Draft.

The following night, Edge came to RAW to say he'll never defend against a RAW superstar when Batista came to the ring and did a number on the Rated R Superstar, following this CM Punk rushed to the ring and pinned him following the GTS after cashing in his Money In The Bank briefcase.

WWE right then and there, made a rookie champion out of a face who hadn't really had a main event push. Punk had only competed in 2 Pay Per View events since winning the Money In The Bank ladder match at WrestleMania XXIV, both losing efforts, one alongside Kane against the team of Miz & Morrison, in a match rushed just to get them on the card and losing a 5 way match for the #1 Contendership for the ECW Championship, a title that has about as much prestege as the US Championship.

So when Punk was drafter from ECW to RAW on the June 23 edition of RAW, many thought this would be the start of CM Punk's push, to make him a believable challenger for when he decided to cash in his briefcase before next years 'Mania. None believed it would be just 7 days later in his first appearance as a RAW superstar.

If you notice something, most rookie champions have to be heel to win their first strap, there are few exceptions - Stone Cold, Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit. Is CM Punk, really able to put himself alongside those? They are and were or on the way to being legends when they won the titles. Now don't get me wrong, I will sing CM Punk's praises until the cows come home and have every confidence that he has the ability to be like those above, however he isn't there, and hasn't yet begun the journey.

Look at those who were heels when they won their first Championships - The Rock, Triple H, Undertaker, John Bradshaw Layfield, Edge, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle.

Can you imagine them pulling it off the way they did if they were face? CM Punk, is the size, has the look and is just the perfect receipe for a Main Event heel. The way WWE portrays its stars and books big guys, then it makes sense to see CM Punk as a heel, cheating his way to victory, it makes sense.

That was the original plan, but with JBL & Chris Jericho as heels on RAW I can see why they didn't, but it would work. CM Punk isn't liked by alot backstage and alot of the older fans don't like him either, because they think he doesn't deserve the gold. If he was heel they'd be cheering him. They just don't like any babyface with a belt.

But can you imagine, CM Punk as champion, super-heel defending against baby-baby-babyface John Cena? That would get ratings. That would put ass's in seats, and that would put a few more numbers on the PPV Buy-rate.

CM Punk could go heel tomorrow, all he has to do is turn on the fans "for not believing in him", they already have acknowledged the fact that people think he's a fluke, have Punk take it out on the fans and all he has to do is grab some tights or hold the ropes in a match against any jobber and he's there. Then, he's a worthy champion.

Punk has been heel before, he knows how to do it. But with his amazing merchandise sales for someone in his position, creative might have second thoughts.

John Cena as a major heel would be good, but due to the kids & women he brings in as face prevents that, and maybe always will. Lets hope it doesn't happen for Punk. Because if he wants this reign to be more than a flop, he needs to turn. All he has to do is look to Randy Orton's forgotten reign as WWE Heavyweight Champion back in September 2004.

So simply as the title says, CM Punk = Ratings. Its as easy as that.