WWE Survivor Series 2011: Does a Winless CM Punk Have Any Momentum?

You'll probably be hard pressed to find a wrestling fan who isn't riding the CM Punk bandwagon, yours truly included.

Ever since his genius "shoot" promo on the June 27 episode of RAW, CM Punk's star has skyrocketed, injecting new life into WWE and achieving the seemingly impossible by ousting John Cena as the numero uno merchandise seller.

However, there is a glaring fact we have to face: our beloved Straight Edge Superstar is in the midst of a losing streak.

That's right. CM Punk hasn't won a pay-per-view match since SummerSlam. Additionally, he hasn't been victorious on RAW since the October 17 episode. That's almost an entire month without winning.

Granted, many of Punk's losses have been due to outside interference and were no fault of his own. Nevertheless, a loss is a loss, and with his current track record we have to wonder if CM Punk has the momentum he needs to overcome Alberto Del Rio at Survivor Series... or if this unfortunate dry spell will continue.

Yes: CM Punk Is Far and Away the Fan Favorite

It seems safe to say that the entire WWE Universe wants CM Punk to win.

King couldn't have said it any better than how he did last night on RAW: the reason Punk is so popular is because he tells it like it is. He's not afraid of the establishment, he's not afraid to ruffle anyone's feathers; actually, he probably prefers it. Each and every week he's dropping more and more pipe bombs that underline scathing truths about the industry and its workers, and the fans absolutely eat it up. He's our anti-hero, rescuing us from the blase politics of The Man.

If WWE wants to please the fans, it will award CM Punk the WWE Championship come Sunday. If he loses there probably won't be a riot, as there likely would have been had he lost at Money in the Bank; but there will be a collective sigh of utter disappointment released across the WWE Universe.

No: It's Doubtful WWE Cares What We Want

Let's clarify something. It's not that WWE just doesn't flat out care about what its fans want. Given Zack Ryder's recent boost, it's quite obvious it does care.

But, at the end of the day, WWE brass is still going to push who they want, when they want.

Alberto Del Rio has been pushed and pushed and pushed ever since his debut. But then CM Punk and his expiring contract came along, and that real-life storyline seemed to hijack the entire WWE; it was all anyone was talking about.

But now the dust has settled, and Alberto Del Rio is WWE Champion.

Sure, you can argue that he's been booked as an incredibly weak champion because, well, he has been. But, regardless of what some IWC elitists think of him, for the great majority of fans he is, in fact, doing his job as a heel.

He could be doing a better job, but he's doing it. The WWE powers-that-be obviously recognize that, and the longer Del Rio has the belt, the more he can improve; just like they want him to.

No: CM Punk Is in a Losing Streak

As already stated, CM Punk is in the midst of a losing streak. He's been winless at the last three pay-per-views, four if you count his loss against Alberto Del Rio after he cashed in his Money in the Bank contract at SummerSlam.

Wins are important, particularly when you talk as much crap about everyone as CM Punk does. You can't really call yourself the best in the world if you keep losing, especially at PPVs. To add insult to injury, it was Del Rio who pinned him last night on RAW. 

Will the same happen at Survivor Series?

Yes: CM Punk's Losing Streak Is Not His Fault

On the other hand, it could just as easily be argued that because CM Punk is in a losing streak he will win on Sunday. Let's give a brief rundown of his losses.

Pay-Per-Views

SummerSlam: Pinned by Alberto Del Rio after suffering a jackknife powerbomb from Kevin Nash.

Night of Champions: Pinned by Triple H after repeated interference from Nash and Awesome Truth.

Hell in a Cell: Pinned by Del Rio after interference from Awesome Truth.

Vengeance: Pinned by The Miz after interference from Nash.

RAW

October 24: No match.

October 31: Loss by DQ after Ricardo Rodriguez attacked Mark Henry with his shoe.

November 7: No match.

November 14: Pinned by Del Rio after an illegal World's Strongest Slam from Mark Henry.

Noticing a pattern? None of these losses have been clean. In the same vein, the majority of Del Rio's wins haven't been clean, either. As long as no one interferes, Punk looks locked to walk away with the WWE Championship.

But, honestly, what's the likelihood of no interference?

In the End, Survivor Series Really Could Go Either Way

Both CM Punk and Alberto Del Rio need to win at Survivor Series.

Punk needs to win because, as of late, he's done nothing but lose. Yes, the fans still practically worship the ground he walks on and absolutely love every burning thing that comes out of his mouth, but, as he pointed out to Del Rio, talk is cheap. If he can't get a "W," those pipe bombs of his are going to face losing some of their dynamite. Not much, but some.

Del Rio needs to win, preferably cleanly, lest he look like even more of a coward than he does already. It's obvious WWE wants him to have a successful career. In order for that to happen, they need to start booking him as more of a fighting champion, and less as a fluke who allows others to fight his battles for him.

We'll all just have to see what happens at MSG on Sunday.