Paul Bearer Reveals The Undertaker’s Endorsement Of CM Punk

During an interview with the late Paul Bearer (William Moody) in August 2012 PWTorch Livecast asked Bearer his thoughts on then WWE Champion CM Punk. Bearer revealed that The Undertaker gave CM Punk major endorsement in the WWE locker room during their introduction:

“C.M. Punk is a class act, and he’s got it,” Bearer exclusively told PWTorch editor Wade Keller. “I didn’t meet Punk until I went back for that six-month run (2010-2011). I had watched him on television, of course, but I had never met him in-person before.

“I’ll never forget myself, Undertaker, Big Show, and a couple of other guys standing over in the corner just shooting the breeze. C.M. Punk came walking by and Taker says, ‘Percy, have you ever met Punk?’ I said, ‘No, I haven’t.’ Taker called him over there and he’s very, very respectful to our business and to me for having never met me before.”

“Taker introduced me to him and Taker’s exact words to me were: ‘Punk – he’s one of us.’ That was how I was introduced to C.M. Punk by The Undertaker. For him to say that about a talent, that just means everything in the world. And to say, ‘He’s one of us,’ that just meant something to that little group that was there.”

Listen to the full interview with the late Paul Bearer here.

ProWrestlingTorch.com

C.M. Punk and John Cena: The Greatest Rivalry of All Time?

When you think of superior rivalries in professional wrestling, you automatically think of the classics – Nature Boy Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes,  Hulk Hogan and Andre The Giant, Bret “The Hitman” Hart and Shawn Michaels, The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Those names and those matches would be exemplified as some of the most timeless and unforgettable in-ring moments that we have seen in the history of professional wrestling. But it is an honor to say that there is now one more – the current rivalry between John Cena and CM Punk.

From the moment these two has their first big time match at Money In The Bank 2011 in Chicago, the two men have never had less than a five-star match. We have seen these two in a variety of main event matches for almost two years now, and the match quality has never grown old.

In fact, living in an era where we tend to see recycled material in repeated matches, their series of matches have never had repeated scenarios or situations.

What makes a rivalry so significant is the way how the wrestlers and the fans identify with each other. Cena represents the fan that truly believes in optimism, the positive way of going about everything in life, and showing that perseverance and will is the key to get to the top.

Punk, on the other hand, represents the fan that is a non-conformist, who believes that one lives by the rules that they set for themselves and most importantly, a fan that is anti-establishment.

Both of these sides is a bold example of what the wrestling fan personifies today, and this is why no matter how many times we see this  match, fans want more.

With Punk now not being a part of the WWE Championship title picture for Wrestlemania 29, it is a very big mystery as to whom his Wrestlemania opponent may be. Some say The Undertaker, some say Randy Orton or Ryback.

However whomever Punk is going to be facing at the biggest stage of them all, his presence will be missed in the championship main event. Punk not only has elevated himself when it comes to being an individual superstar, but he has brought out the best out of John Cena.

I believe I speak for all fans when I say “this rivalry needs to last forever”.

WWE: Why the Undertaker Should Beat CM Punk at WrestleMania

So after much speculation and worry, the Undertaker made his return to WWE at a house show in Waco, Texas a few days ago.  Before his return, there were many news reports stating that Taker was too injured to compete at WrestleMania and his rumored match with CM Punk was in doubt.

However, now that Undertaker has returned, WWE has to build the match with Punk with only five weeks remaining until the biggest show of the year.  Fortunately for them, Undertaker matches need very little build storyline-wise because Taker himself is the draw. 

WrestleMania has turned into a showcase for the Undertaker and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.  Taker’s streak is more over than any title in the entire promotion and people genuinely care when Undertaker seems in trouble during his matches.

Think back to the Undertaker-Triple H End of an Era match with Shawn Michaels as the referee.  I honestly thought the live crowd was going to have a collective heart attack after the “Sweet Chin Music into Pedigree” spot.  Even the group of people watching the event at my house gasped all at once and they were only casual wrestling fans. 

The truth of the matter is that people pay for WrestleMania to watch the Undertaker extend his streak.  No fan of WWE really wants the streak to end because that means an end to the last two decades of dominance. 

That is the exact reason why the Undertaker should beat CM Punk at WrestleMania.

Now, there is a very vocal minority of fans who state that Punk should be the one to end the streak because he has the most to gain from the victory.  I would argue Punk doesn’t need a victory over the Undertaker at all because it wouldn’t help him in the long run.

Look at it this way, Punk is clearly the No. 2 wrestler in the company right now behind John Cena The hierarchy in WWE looks like this:

1.  John Cena

2.  CM Punk

3.  Everyone else on the roster

I don’t count the Rock because he is a part-timer even as world champion and Taker only appears two months out of the year.

So how would beating the Undertaker help CM Punk?  Punk is so head and shoulders above everyone else on the roster that Taker’s rub wouldn’t mean anything.  It’s not going to propel him above John Cena (and really, why would you want that anyways?), so what’s the point?

CM Punk can lose to Taker in a fantastic match and then milk heel heat for the next couple of months by whining and complaining about the loss in classic heel fashion.  A rub from Taker is only going to serve to end the streak, nothing more.

In my humble opinion, Undertaker’s streak at WrestleMania should never end.  When it’s WrestleMania 50 and an elderly Undertaker is sitting at ringside, the streak will still mean something.  You could argue that the streak has been the most prestigious title defended at WrestleMania over the last ten years.

So if the victory over Undertaker won’t help CM Punk, then there is no point to doing it.  Have Taker defeat Punk, pop the crowd huge like usual and then, if the rumors are true, you can focus on Undertaker’s farewell match next year.

It’s what the fans want to see.

WWE: Why the Undertaker Shoul

Seasonal Geetings Form The WWE

I had mixed thoughts about this,

1. They took the time to do it… but some (most) look like they couldn’t care less

2. Cena as the conductor, really really… really?

3. They couldn’t just say Merry Christmas?

WWE Champion C.M. Punk on Nerdist.com

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WWE Champion C.M. Punk appeared on the Nerdist.com podcast with host Chris Hardwick and spoke about his knee surgery. Punk said he doesn’t want to have another surgery as long as he lives. He said he removed the stitches and is aggressively rehabbing to get back in the ring.

The interview was conducted in Punk’s home. He said he’s proud that when people walk in they don’t know what he does for a living. He said he finds it odd that some wrestlers take the opposite approach. He also mocked the idea wrestling fans complaining constantly, yet watching the shows every week. You can listen to the interview at Nerdist.com podcast.

In signs of incredibly good taste, Punk stated that his favorite movie of all time is “Slap Shot” and he would take a trip back in time to see bands such as Guns-n-Roses on the Sunset Strip. Host Christ Hardwick apologized upfront for not being a big fan of wrestling. “I talk to Punk as a guy,” Hardwick said. He also labeled Punk a “super nerdy guy.” He meant that in the best way possible and added that Punk is a “really good guy.” In addition to hosting the podcast, Hardwick is a comedian and the host of AMC’s “Talking Dead” television show.

CM Punk continues to prove he’s terribly petty and insecure

CM Punk is an extremely talented professional wrestler. He’s a hard working athlete who has tirelessly worked to hone his skills to help make him what he is today, the WWE champion and one of the very best in the entire world. He’s great on a microphone too, having nearly perfected the art of the promo.

He’s also one of the most petty and insecure individuals you will ever come across.

He’s shown this throughout his career, as so many who have come into contact with him can attest to how he acts in certain situations, but it’s his twitter account that is most revealing. He mercilessly mocks his critics and those who attempt to interact with him using poor spelling and improper grammar. There’s no real issue with that part of it because, really, no one is bleeding for some idiot calling out Punk on the Internet through the cloak of anonymity.

But there are times when he goes much further, seemingly for no reason at all. Today was one of those days.

He needlessly called out the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer by using the sword he attempts to wield so mightily:

“I am getting X-rays. Thought you should know. @davemeltzerWON #scoop”

Petty and childish, but harmless enough, right? He later followed that up with:

“Suckers. Was a chest X-ray for a physical so I can go up in an F-18. Remember who pulls the strings. #BITW”

These tweets, in and of themselves, really don’t seem so bad but if you’ve followed Punk long enough, you know this is the norm. He seems to get off on this idea that he’s some grand magician who casts the line and enjoys a big hearty laugh at the marks as he reels them in.

I don’t know CM Punk personally, nor will I ever pretend to. But his disdain for his own fanbase and the manner in which he treats said fans makes it seem as though he’s angry at them because, well, he is them. And he hates that. He was that kid who idolized Stone Cold Steve Austin while embarking on a journey to become him, the very best in the world. Along the way, he was met with crushing criticism from all sides, a lot of which no doubt helped shape him into the man he is today.

Bitter and insecure.

Chris Jericho often uses his Twitter account to work WWE fans, oftentimes deliberately lying or tweeting misleading information. But he rarely does so maliciously. Punk takes pleasure in smacking down his fans, always reminding them that he is the magician who knows how to do the tricks and you are nothing more than the mark fan who will never know how he pulls it off.

And you are lesser because of that.

In this instance, he extends that to Meltzer, a respected pro wrestling reporter who faces the same issue any pro wrestling reporter does — it’s all bullshit. Everything is a work and everyone is trying to work everyone else so concrete information is incredibly difficult to come by. He, like so many others (myself included), tries his best and that’s all anyone can ask for.

So what’s the point in baiting him like this? Is it just to lord over everyone that Punk is in on the con while Meltzer is the one always trying to find out how the magic trick is done?

There really isn’t a point to it, and that’s the problem. It’s just Punk being petty and continuing to prove that even though he has come this far and achieved more success than anyone could have ever predicted for him, even himself, he can’t shake those insecurities.

But hey, this is pro wrestling, he’s a heel, and it’s all totally cool, right?

The Walking Dead’s Michael Rooker Responds To CM Punk’s Title Offer

CM Punk offered The Walking Dead’s Michael Rooker a shot at the WWE title on a bonus episode of Talking Dead. Interestingly enough, both CM Punk and Michael Rooker are appearing at Wizard World Comic Con in New Orleans this weekend.

Through his Twitter Michael Rooker responded to the challenge. Rooker tweeted, “@CMPunk heard you on the Talking Dead man, be looking for ya and that title belt at New Orleans #wizardworld LOVE ROOKER/MERLE”

Through his Twitter, CM Punk tweeted back, “New Orleans! Tomorrow @WizardWorld @Michael_Rooker gets his shot at the champ!”

So did the fight go down? No official word yet on if there is a new WWE Champion, but the two definitely did meet up at Wizard World in New Orleans. The following picture has been circulating on Twitter that shows CM Punk with title belt in hand staring down Michael Rooker.

Wizard World Comic Con continues in New Orleans on Sunday, December 2, so there could be more action during The Walking Dead panel at 1 PM.

CM Punk Twitter Q&A

WWE Champion CM Punk did a Q & A via his Twitter account over the weekend. Here is some of what Punk had to say:

@CMPunk Who would you like to main event Wrestlemania with if you were given the chance to choose? #SaveColtsFinger

@Jeisner2 the ole rattlesnake

@CMPunk If you could wrestle anyone from wrestling history who is not currently active in wrestling who would it be?#SaveColtsFinger

@CMTesoriero24 Samoa Joe                                                                        

Vince McManhon doesn’t like Twitter

WWE has been increasing the amount of Twitter use among its superstars lately in order to get more people interested.

I am sure you have noticed that many wrestlers’ entrance graphic showing their names also shows their Twitter handle, if they have one. You have probably also noticed that Michael Cole is constantly talking about Twitter in regards to other people’s accounts as well as what is trending worldwide related to WWE. WWE Raw Active you get it.

The reason the RAWactive Twitter poll with Daniel Bryan and Kane was featured on Monday’s RAW after not being featured for several weeks is because Vince McMahon was not there. Triple H was in charge this week and it’s said that he “kind of likes” Twitter.

Vince hates Twitter and while he realizes it’s a part of WWE’s social media efforts, he believes it is a tool for his talents to say some really stupid things in public. He particularity doesn’t like superstars which like to speak out having this tool.

*cough* CM Punk *cough*

Since Twitter took off a few years ago, more wrestlers have gotten on the social network, and the WWE has used it to further storylines, like John Cena and the Rock’s current program going into next year’s WrestleMania.

Vince is not on the site himself. Neither is Stephanie or his son-in-law, Triple H.

Stephanie, being a behind-the-scenes employee, would have less to gain from using Twitter, but Vince and Triple H could use it to their advantage quite well.

Triple H is still one of the more popular people in WWE despite not wrestling that much, and having him on Twitter would make for not only some hilarious remarks, but also for some good storylines. His humor would most certainly be appreciated amongst the Twitterverse as well.

Vince would also benefit from having a Twitter, even if he just had some intern posting his messages. Vince is currently being used sparingly on television, but a Twitter account would allow him to stay relevant in the minds of younger fans.

If only Vince could reach out and give us a piece of his mind… i’m sure he’d say “some really stupid things in public” 🙂

Update: CM Punk ‘Fools Universe’ In X-Ray Stunt

CM Tweeted: Tuesday: 22:55 (GMT)

“Suckers. Was a chest X-ray for a physical so I can go up in an F-18. Remember who pulls the strings. #BITW“

I wonder if we will get any cool pics of that… Lets hope 🙂