Triple H and CM Punk have been playing nice for a few weeks now, and while I have to admit, I’m enjoying their new-found camaraderie, I am a little suspicious of what I’m seeing.
It seems like just yesterday that these two guys had more heat than a sinner in church on Sunday. They hated each other, and for two entirely separate sets of reasons.
Punk was the rebel, the outspoken maverick who was single-handedly trying to start a revolution in the company that he claimed was just not fun anymore.
His target? The man who he considered to be the root of the problem, the Superstar who had lost his edge. Triple H.
Hunter’s newly appointed role as Chief Operating Officer was getting the best of him. The situation was exacerbated by a Superstar who had suddenly become so disenfranchised by the company that he walked away with the WWE Championship.
Triple H viewed Punk as a self-righteous, arrogant egotist whose desire to shake things up was more of a self-serving agenda than he would have anyone believe. Punk needed to be taught a lesson, and Hunter was just the man to do it.
Before their match, Punk was untouchable in every way. He had the crowd, he had the fans online and he was absolutely killing it on the mic. No one could hang with him when he spoke. No one.
Kevin Nash, who had always been known for his ability to improvise and have fun on the mic, was left for dead whenever he was cornered by Punk.
John Cena, who always appears as though he’s forcing it a bit in his promos, was upstaged by Punk, whose relaxed delivery came naturally to him and drew the fans in every time.
Then there’s The Game, who is as affective on the mic as any worker we have ever heard, and though he of course held his own, he could not get over Punk with the crowd.
Their aggression, which had been building for several weeks, finally came to a head at Night of Champions, with Hunter’s job as COO on the line. Punk’s unbelievable run as the top face on Raw and the hottest star in the business was reaching its apex, as he was stepping into the ring with one of the greatest of all time.
The animosity between the two was palpable, and fans expected a lot from their match. But what they got was something totally unexpected.
CM Punk and Triple H are bros.
OK. Well, that was one way to go, I guess.
I suppose WWE creative felt there was no other way to handle it, as they apparently were not interested in turning Hunter heel again, and Punk was too over as a face to do anything else. On one hand, it makes perfect sense.
But on the other hand, it does seem as though Punk has somewhat lost his edge. In many ways, the revolutionary has laid down his pipe bomb and joined the other side.
Punk has actually received some heat for this, as some fans have accused him of selling out. The voice of the voiceless chose to silence himself in favor of the status quo.
The truth is, of course, it’s all storyline. Punk is no more a maverick who walked away with the WWE Title than Triple H is the man who was trying to get a hold of his company and take out Punk in the process. It’s just a part of the show.
But it goes a long way to proving the effect that a good angle has on fans and just how absorbed they can be in the storyline. It’s proof positive that pro wrestling still works and that the drama is not lost on the fans whose money supports the product.
So, why am I having a hard time with Punk and Hunter chumming it up like a buddy cop movie? The truth is, I really don’t. As I said in the beginning, I dig it, I find it entertaining.
But I just don’t know how long I see it lasting. Their new-found mutual respect can only go so far before their egos come into play. We’ve seen it a thousand times before: two faces who get along but eventually begin to rub each other the wrong way.
Then there’s the whole conspiracy thing, which can rear its ugly head at anytime. Will it happen in their match against The Miz and R-Truth? And, if it does, how will it affect the bromance between Hunter and Punk?
No matter what happens at Vengeance, there are two constants that are sure to still be in effect when it’s all said and done. Punk wants change and is willing to fight for it. Hunter is The Game and plays second fiddle to no one.
Wonder how that partnership will work?
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