WWE: CM Punk Proves How Important He His to WWE and the RAW Brand

In 1991, a disgruntled Ric Flair left WCW with the World Heavy Weight Championship and walked onto a live WWE set to be presented to the crowd and the wrestling world as “THE WORLD CHAMPION” by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.  The buzz created by the unprecedented move spoke volumes towards how serious these wrestlers are about getting what they deserve.

While other wrestlers have shown their displeasure for their employers and story lines in the past (e.g. Shane Douglas vacating the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, or Chris Benoit walking out of WCW after learning he would have to work with booker Kevin Sullivan), the most recent events involving CM Punk may have the most profound effect on the wrestling scene and business today.

Punk defeated Alberto Del Rio and Rey Mysterio (again) and then proclaimed that on the night of the Money in the Bank PPV, his contract expires and he will leave the company. He also proclaimed that he will take the world title with him.

Due to the current state of wrestling and the fact that IMPACT is starting to get their programming on track while there are questions surrounding ROH, Punk is a very important wild card. In fact, he may be the most important free agent ever in the wrestling business.

It will also be interesting how the suits of the company use Punk now that they know this. Provided that this is not part of an angle they are playing, the current situation could yield the biggest payday for a free agent in wrestling, ever.

Punk was part of a Monday Night Raw that was better than last week's. While I am not a fan of the format used last night, I am a fan of how much better the program was (minus Vickie Guerrero) than the Stone Cold Steve Austin’s drinking program that ensued the time before. The matches were crisper and the story lines were better.

And, while the lines between brands were blurred, it was eventful nonetheless. In the coming weeks, it will be interesting to see if the feuds between Alex Riley and The Miz and John Cena and R-Truth continue, as well as whether Mark Henry finally becomes a major player in the company. He has climbed the mountain many times, but has not gotten the push he needs to become champion.

Finally, and hopefully, this also means an end to Kofi Kingston and Dolph Ziggler and their feud that has seemed to go on for years.