WWE News: Future Plans for CM Punk Revealed and Why They're Not Good Enough

According to PWInsider and Wrestling-Edge.com, the plans for CM Punk going forward are to feud with Alberto Del Rio until the end of the year, win the WWE Championship by the Royal Rumble at the latest and then defend it at WrestleMania 28.

This might seem, on the surface, very promising, but I contend it's not sufficient for the man who was on the cusp of transcendence just mere months ago.

A feud with Alberto Del Rio, winning the WWE Championship and even headlining WrestleMania are immaterial if CM Punk is not the sole focus of the company.

And why shouldn't he be? After all, this is the same man who dethroned John Cena's five-year reign atop the WWE's merchandise chart, so putting dollars and cents into perspective, the "Straight-Edge" Superstar is the company's most viable commodity.

Unfortunately, though, even with all of these plans mapped out for him, I get the feeling he won't be treated like the center of the WWE Universe like he should be.

Case in point, look no further than this past Monday night on Raw when Triple H was not only the last man standing, but he managed to curry unanimous favor from an audience that felt equally alienated by the supposed "good guys" on the roster for making an objective decision about his ability to lead (in the storyline).

Where was CM Punk during one of Raw's biggest moments? He was conspicuous by his absence and a victim of Triple H's ego-centric ambition—inside and out of the ring—to monopolize the spotlight unto himself at the exclusion of all others.

It would be wise to not delude oneself into thinking Punk will be the main focus feuding with the Mexican aristocrat, Alberto Del Rio, who still has trouble eliciting consistent pathos from the crowd, nor should one believe that even the WWE Championship itself will place Punk at the top of the card.

In actuality, the WWE's top prize has taken a back seat to an influx of soap opera-tinged storylines, usually featuring Triple H, John Cena, Randy Orton or the McMahons. The latest surrounds Triple H and an insidious conspiracy to rid him of his new-found jurisdiction.

What happened to CM Punk riding a wave of change over the bleak horizon overlooking WWE? Wasn't he supposed to overturn the status quo over its stubborn head?

In essence, unless CM Punk returns to the roots he planted just two months ago, a feud with Alberto Del Rio, or even wearing WWE's top crown, will be a step backwards from the WWE renaissance that was to be but ultimately not to be.

If Alberto Del Rio, Rey Mysterio, Sheamus, Chris Jericho, Rob Van Dam and even Randy Orton can be also-rans as WWE Champions, then CM Punk's fate will be no different.

And how could it be with Triple H's program hogging the majority of TV time for the long haul, not to mention the impending arrivals of The Rock, Undertaker, Mick Foley and Vince McMahon, who will be heavily featured as well?

But hey, CM Punk will be awarded a consolation prize or two for his troubles.