As WrestleMania season approaches, The Rock and John Cena will reignite
their feud en route to having what should be a classic encounter in
front of over 80,000 fans at the Sun Life Stadium.
It is a match has been touted as a cross-generational affair, pitting the "Attitude" era against the current PG dynasty.
And while it should be a memorable match, there is one bout that could rival, if not surpass it.
That match is The Rock vs. CM Punk.
Although such a hypothetical encounter won't be happening anytime soon, the best way to maximize its potential would be to ensure The Rock is as invincible as ever before it comes to fruition.
Specifically, The Rock would have to defeat Cena at WrestleMania. That is, Cena cannot be the one to receive the torch from arguably the most celebrated wrestler of our time.
The WWE may beg to differ, but Cena's time is no longer now; it is quickly fading into the past. He's been on top of the card for nearly seven years now, beyond his peak and is beginning to trend downward in the wake of the latter half of his career.
To compare, Cena's WWE run amounts to Steve Austin and The Rock's combined and is almost as long as Hulk Hogan's (1984-1992). Not to mention, Cena has been much more overexposed than his aforementioned counterparts.
Punk would be the perfect opponent for The Rock
Suffice to say, there is nothing Cena can do to revitalize his
character or the company short of a heel turn, which, given the WWE
writers' history, could end up a flop anyway.
Consequently, Cena is fated to simmer as a babyface for the foreseeable future, ensuring that the WWE doesn't lose out on his merchandising proceeds.
On the other hand, CM Punk, unlike his contemporary, became a new man only six months ago. Now the WWE champion, he continues to impress as a charismatic talker and talented performer in the ring.
More than anything, though, the "Straight Edge" superstar has the potential to take another step and lead the WWE into a new era.
Having already defeated Cena at both Money in the Bank and SummerSlam 2011, Punk needs one extra push, so to speak, to pass the threshold from superstar to icon.
The man who can do CM Punk that favor is none other than The Rock, whose flair for capturing the audience's attention would seamlessly complement Punk's.
Fortunately, there is already a built-in issue in place, as Punk has expressed exasperation with "Dwayne" both on and off WWE TV. Notably, in a November 2011 interview, the Chicago-native aired out the following grievances about "The Brahma Bull":
CM Punk already takes issue with what The Rock stands for
Notwithstanding if Punk's comments were candid or for
storyline purposes, a feud between him and The Rock would be a natural
one.
For instance, with a little tweaking, The Rock could plausibly epitomize the noveau riche hedonism of Hollywood, whereas Punk could temper his blue-collar image as one who is not afraid to say what is on his mind. In some ways, the clash between the two would be an evolution of Austin vs. McMahon with enough wrinkles to make it novel again.
In additon, the place/event to culminate such an organic rivalry would ideally be in Los Angeles at the 2012 edition of SummerSlam.
The Rock, in his newfound homeland of "Hollywood" would go head-to-head with the individual who represents the people with his actions, not just his words.
Moreover, to make the angle go off without a hint of a hitch, it would perhaps be necessary for The Rock to turn heel, publicly choosing his passion for the film industry over wrestling. It would be a return to his 2003 roots, which should jibe well with—and affirm—Punk's on-air criticisms levied at "The Great One."
Finally, when Punk proves The Rock and the people right at SummerSlam 2012, an icon will surface, rich with credibility, to rally the WWE universe onwards to a new dimension.
It is a match has been touted as a cross-generational affair, pitting the "Attitude" era against the current PG dynasty.
And while it should be a memorable match, there is one bout that could rival, if not surpass it.
That match is The Rock vs. CM Punk.
Although such a hypothetical encounter won't be happening anytime soon, the best way to maximize its potential would be to ensure The Rock is as invincible as ever before it comes to fruition.
Specifically, The Rock would have to defeat Cena at WrestleMania. That is, Cena cannot be the one to receive the torch from arguably the most celebrated wrestler of our time.
The WWE may beg to differ, but Cena's time is no longer now; it is quickly fading into the past. He's been on top of the card for nearly seven years now, beyond his peak and is beginning to trend downward in the wake of the latter half of his career.
To compare, Cena's WWE run amounts to Steve Austin and The Rock's combined and is almost as long as Hulk Hogan's (1984-1992). Not to mention, Cena has been much more overexposed than his aforementioned counterparts.
Punk would be the perfect opponent for The Rock
Consequently, Cena is fated to simmer as a babyface for the foreseeable future, ensuring that the WWE doesn't lose out on his merchandising proceeds.
On the other hand, CM Punk, unlike his contemporary, became a new man only six months ago. Now the WWE champion, he continues to impress as a charismatic talker and talented performer in the ring.
More than anything, though, the "Straight Edge" superstar has the potential to take another step and lead the WWE into a new era.
Having already defeated Cena at both Money in the Bank and SummerSlam 2011, Punk needs one extra push, so to speak, to pass the threshold from superstar to icon.
The man who can do CM Punk that favor is none other than The Rock, whose flair for capturing the audience's attention would seamlessly complement Punk's.
Fortunately, there is already a built-in issue in place, as Punk has expressed exasperation with "Dwayne" both on and off WWE TV. Notably, in a November 2011 interview, the Chicago-native aired out the following grievances about "The Brahma Bull":
He's not around. It doesn't help morale when the guy goes right from his limo to the dressing room to the dressing room to the ring. He's very bourgeois Hollywood. He came back, he did WWE Raw after that. He said he was never gonna leave. And the next time we saw him is a month later. Yeah, it does bother me. A little hello would have been nice. He could have run by with his own entourage.
CM Punk already takes issue with what The Rock stands for
For instance, with a little tweaking, The Rock could plausibly epitomize the noveau riche hedonism of Hollywood, whereas Punk could temper his blue-collar image as one who is not afraid to say what is on his mind. In some ways, the clash between the two would be an evolution of Austin vs. McMahon with enough wrinkles to make it novel again.
In additon, the place/event to culminate such an organic rivalry would ideally be in Los Angeles at the 2012 edition of SummerSlam.
The Rock, in his newfound homeland of "Hollywood" would go head-to-head with the individual who represents the people with his actions, not just his words.
Moreover, to make the angle go off without a hint of a hitch, it would perhaps be necessary for The Rock to turn heel, publicly choosing his passion for the film industry over wrestling. It would be a return to his 2003 roots, which should jibe well with—and affirm—Punk's on-air criticisms levied at "The Great One."
Finally, when Punk proves The Rock and the people right at SummerSlam 2012, an icon will surface, rich with credibility, to rally the WWE universe onwards to a new dimension.
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