Fall of the Indy Star: What Happened to Samoa Joe and CM Punk?

If you haven't already noticed, two of the best in the world are going downhill....

fast.

2010 has been absolutely disappointing for CM Punk and Samoa Joe. The former ROH Alumni best years seem behind them, as they have become the subject of jobbing.

TNA and WWE have been utterly foolish in their handling of these superstars. Don't get me wrong, both have been world champions in the past. But can you see a world title reign in the future?

I can't.

Since losing their respected World Championships, Punk and Joe have had MULTIPLE title opportunities. In the end, management decided against them. For what reason, I have no idea.

Let's take a look at last year for Joe and Punk. CM Punk finally lost the "boring" side of him when he turned heel. He was WAY better on the microphone and included a distinct ruthlessness in the ring.

Some even say his feud with Jeff Hardy put him on the map. Punk enjoyed two world title reigns and had feuds with Morrison, Undertaker, Teddy Long and Hardy himself.

Before starting the seemingly dominant Straight Edge Society. Great year.

Samoa Joe was also the subject of a heel turn last year. He introduced the Nation of Violence. Basically, a more psychotic gimmick than his original Samoan Submission Machine.

Joe was angry and more violent than ever. Instead of winning matches, he was beating his opponents down until he got disqualified. He stated that he was getting advice from a "secret advisor".

After betraying AJ Styles and siding with the Main Event Mafia, Joe's heel status was cemented. Tazz was introduced as Joe's advisor and he won the X Division title.

When a feud with Bobby Lashley cost him the title in a match with Amazing Red, the MEM began to fall apart. Angle turned face and that was all she wrote. Joe then set his sights on TNA World Champion AJ Styles.

At the same time he was feuding with Daniels. Both unsuccessfully challenged Styles in a three-way match.

Now on to 2010.

CM Punk? What happened? After forming the SES, Punk was involved in a minor feud with R Truth before he set his sights on Rey Mysterio. In one of the most heated feuds ever, Punk challenged Rey's will multiple times.

He even interrupted a celebration for Rey's daughter. After weeks of attacking each other, the two faced off at Wrestlemania 26. Rey got the win, but the feud continued.

Punk defeated Rey in a match at Extreme Rules where his hair was on the line. Still the feud continued on. This is when things truly went downhill for Punk. In another match where Punk's hair was on the line, he lost.

Mysterio beat and shaved him after the match. From there Punk was basically a jobber. Though he took part in a Fatal Four Way for the world title, Kane's pursuit of him cost him the title.

Punk was injured soon after and the SES fell apart. Punk and his followers were dominated by the Big Show on numerous occasions before Serena was released. Gallows and Punk became enemies. Mercury was injured.

After SES was officially over, Punk attempted revenge on Big Show. Only to be knocked out on every occasion. Also being dominated by Undertaker in the process.

He was reduced to beating jobbers like JTG.

Now he's injured and commentating on RAW. Disappointing.

On to Samoa Joe.

Joe was inactive in TNA for weeks at the start of 2010. When he returned, he announced that he would cash in his Feast or Fired World Title briefcase against AJ Styles.

He turned face in the process, as Styles had sided with Ric Flair. Joe lost the match to Styles and dropped out the world title picture. Joe then began losing matches to the likes of Desmond Wolfe and Orlando Jordan.

Soon after, Joe was abducted by masked men.

Upon his return, the reason nor the perpetrators of the kidnapping were revealed. When he returned we all thought he would jump back in the title picture. This was not the case.

Though looking dominant in his return match, Joe soon lost matches to Jeff Hardy and Rob Van Dam.

Later stuck in a feud against Sting, Pope and Nash, with Jeff Jarrett. When Jarrett turned on Joe, he was stuck with the plague of being pinned by the others.

Joe attempted revenge against Jarrett, but was once again defeated. With his own finisher after assistance by Jarrett's security.

In my opinion, that's a far cry from the guy that was on a 16 month undefeated streak.

These two are the most disappointing superstars of 2010.  I definitely am pushing for a turn around for both. I know Punk's a very entertaining commentator.

But is that honestly what a Punk fan wants? Their favorite commenting instead of wrestling? I just hope he returns to the ring once he is healed. Now Joe on the other hand.

Once Hardy is dethroned as world champion, Joe should immediately be inserted in the world title picture.  Let's just hope their future is bright and correctly planned.