CM Punk & the Art of Selling Out: CM Punk Is Officially Annoying Me

"CM Punk! CM Punk! CM Punk!"

If there was a real life, tangible, fan bandwagon for CM Punk, I would've been in line to take my turn driving it. I would have happily hopped aboard equipped with only a megaphone, and my voice, and would have embarked on a journey to educate the masses that..."this is what wrestling should be about."

Enough of the early 90's throwback to cartoon characters, unbeatable "super" heroes, faulty plot lines, and tired gimmicks. We wanted down and dirty wrestling. With wrestlers who oozed not only pure talent and in-ring skill, but possessed the ability to ignite the proverbial "pipe bomb" with sharp, cutting edge promos.

I would've traveled amongst the other Punk die-hards chanting his name as we invaded each and every Raw, Smackdown, and Pay-per-view our leader was scheduled to appear at. This man was going to issue in a new era of wrestling. He was never alone in his mission, but he acted as if he was. He didn't care about you, he didn't care about me, and he certainly didn't care about the WWE establishment and the cookie cutter "PG" faces they produced. He was the ultimate heel.

And then he seemingly turned face in the blink of an eye.

Now I find myself shopping on WWE.com for the newest color in the John Cena Rainbow collection.

What the hell happened here?

The game had seemingly changed for Punk when he was given the green light to perform a worked-shoot (aka a fake, but real promo. Head scratching, I know). He nailed it, and the WWE landscape was set on fire, allowing Punk to pave his own road throughout the company.

Before this, I felt just like Punk felt. I was a fan and adored his in-ring skill, his ability to entertain while delivering high quality bouts, and his propensity for finding ways to get under the skin of everyone with only his voice and a microphone. I also hated the fact that guys like John Cena and Randy Orton were allowed carte-blanche while guys like Punk were misused, looked over, and forgotten about. 

And with one simple promo he unleashed all of this, and I bought every word like it was on sale at a dollar store. He was cheered, but wasn't turning face. He was cheered because he was reciting almost word for word the cries you read on sites such as this one. He even made sure to mention to those watching, fans and non-fans alike, that they were also part of the problem... These are not the actions of a face.

So why now is Punk loving the support? Why now does he care about the people?

I liked it better when he didn't care about you, or me, or anybody but himself. What happened to the condescending, self-righteous, ultimate heel?

I know what happened, and it pains me to say it... He officially sold out.

Punk was always the guy holed up in a mansion, on the top of a hill with overgrown grass, and 20 foot high walls wrapped in barbed wire protecting his property; Isolating himself from the foolishness of the John Cenas within the WWE. Now the barbed wire is gone, the grass has been mowed, the walls have been removed, and the once bolted front door is wide open to the public.

I can't believe what I'm seeing. Should I enter along with everyone else? Something feels off.

CM Punk greets me at the door: "Hey, glad to see you finally showed up! Make yourself at home. We got Foosball downstairs, plenty of Pepsi in the fridge, and Living Colour is gonna be onstage in 20."

Me: (looking in stunned disbelief) "Uh, I think I'm good out here for now. This is a lot to digest at the moment."

CM Punk: (shrugs) "Suit yourself, but hey... you're always welcome to come back."

... I think I'm gonna throw up.  

The promos and story arc with Triple H and John Cena are the best things happening right now in the WWE. Punk still holds no punches, and I still laugh at his condescending remarks, but something feels off. He feels almost gimmicky now. Just another character to feud with John Cena.

I should have seen this coming, but I guess I was so caught up in Punk finally making it to the top tier level that I forgot something had to give. Was it the change in attitude towards "the people"? Was it the simple change in music? Or is it simply the fact that with superstardom you need to be more likeable in the eyes of the mainstream?   

There have to be others like me out there...right?

The ones who see this as I do. The ones left standing on the freshly mowed lawn outside the newly renovated mansion wondering if we showed up to the right house. I'm not standing alone am I?

I know the majority will scrutinize. Some will read half the article and leave a self-profound comment that makes no sense. While others will simply dismiss me as part of the "beloved" IWC (which we're all a part of by the way) for finding "something to complain about."

I don't care. This is my opinion and nothing more. CM Punk slightly annoys me now, but that's OK for now; We still have a long way to go with his current angle. He's not going anywhere anytime soon.

So for now I'll sit, legs crossed, gripping the "heels" of my feet outside the house of CM Punk. I'll wait until I'm ready and comfortable to enter the overcrowded mansion and "face" him.

Or maybe I'll strike a match and burn it to the ground.

Pipe Bomb!