– CM Punk is featured in the official trailer for season two of the IFC program “Maron.” You can check out the official trailer above or by going to IFC.com.
– WWE added the latest edition of their “SmackDown Fallout” series to their official YouTube channel. The latest episode features Hornswoggle and El Torito talking about their showdown on this week’s SmackDown. You can check out the video below.
– According to a new TMZ article, WWE talent have been informed to stay away from Nancy Gracie following the controversial way she handled Ultimate Warrior’s recent passing. You can check out the complete article at TMZ.com.
– A fan sent along the following screen capture of the new Ultimate Warrior documentary that aired on the WWE Network on Thursday night. In the scene where Warrior meets with Triple H at WWE Headquarters, you can see on the Royal Rumble poster on the wall in the background that someone put a post-it note over the face of CM Punk. Check it out below.
The Big Red Monster is back, and it appears he is on a collision course with Daniel Bryan. After reclaiming his mask last week on Raw, Kane vowed to take care of the WWE Champion and send him to the depths of hell.
In true WWE storytelling fashion, they had a Kane video package queued up and ready to go about five minutes later, leading me to believe that he will be featured prominently in the storyline in the coming weeks.
With Evolution set to take on the Shield at Extreme Rules and seemingly no other contenders in line, it appears that Daniel Bryan’s first pay-per-view title defense will be against his former tag team partner.
Kane has temporarily retired his suit in favor of his signature mask in an attempt to exact revenge.
The thought of Kane headlining a pay-per-view in 2014 and competing for the WWE Championship could leave some fans scratching their heads, but I believe it could work well if planned appropriately. With other storylines, particularly the Shield/Evolution program, eating up a good portion of the main event roster, creative was left with few options for Bryan’s matchup at Extreme Rules.
Randy Orton still holds a rematch clause but is fighting with Evolution, not to mention that Orton/Bryan headlined three pay-per-views last year and most fans would like something fresh. I think Brock Lesnar is being built up to eventually challenge Bryan for the title, but it would be too soon and neither superstar could afford a loss immediately following WrestleMania. Lesnar needs to continue winning to validate his win against the Undertaker and Bryan cannot lose the title just one month after finally winning it. A no contest would also leave the crowd unsatisfied with the outcome.
Therefore, I think Bryan and Lesnar will both be built up over the coming months to set up a blockbuster showdown at SummerSlam. Bryan’s first victim will almost assuredly be Kane. It is no secret that Kane is past his prime, but he can still put on a decent match if paired with the right opponent.
At the very least, the two have been involved with one another in the storyline over the past several months and creative can rely on that to tell a decent story. It certainly works a little better than randomly choosing someone like Sheamus or Alberto Del Rio to challenge for the title.
WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley posted the following on Facebook regarding CM Punk’s decision to leave WWE, noting that Punk was in “considerable pain” for the past three years:
“Yes, the response to that funny photo of CM Punk on a milk carton was incredible. While I respect everybody’s opinion – as long as it is given in a respectful way, I have to disagree with those out there who find great fault in Punk’s simply walk away. I am kind of like a ghost that drifts in and out of WWE, but in my past three years of drifting, I have never been to a WWE event where Punk was not in considerable pain. Ice packs, heating pads, and visits to the trainer were as much a part of his daily routine as eating. sleeping, and wrestling. Performing at that level, in that degree of pain was only possible when accompanied by the passion that turned an unlikely Indy kid into one of the greatest WWE superstars of his generation. Once that passions gone, then so are all of the things that made him great. I know what it feels like to go through the motions, and to do what needs to be done solely for the paycheck. It’s not pretty – and though I have not talked to Punk since the night before he left, I have to believe he has too much respect for what he does to let people see him going through the motions. If or when that day comes when CM punk returns to WWE, I hope it’s with that same passion that made so many of you care about him to begin with.”
I miss the pipe bombs.
I miss “The Best in the World.”
I miss CM Punk.
A few months ago, CM Punk walked out on WWE. That’s the catchy, grabby headline, anyway. In reality, he walked out on his fans. WWE will be fine without him. They have seen the best of all-time come and go and they continue to be a multi-billion dollar conglomerate.
When Punk first left, most of the attention was on the behind-the-scenes happenings of a business arrangement gone wrong. Everyone was focused on the story behind what led to his departure. As a fan, which I remain first and foremost, my initial reaction was more along the lines of, “damn, that sucks.” No more CM Punk pipe bombs? No more “Best in the World” in-ring performances?
When the “Chicago Made” Superstar first delivered his infamous “pipe bomb” promo in June of 2011, I fell back in love with the sport I have had a passion for since childhood. At the time, I was growing sweet on this new love of mine known as mixed-martial-arts. Pro wrestling became too PG. It was too geared for children.
CM Punk changed all of that.
After hearing of his promo, I checked it out on YouTube. From then on, my television was tuned into the USA Network every single Monday night. The key segment I looked forward to each week was one that featured Punk with a microphone in his hand. He never failed to deliver the type of entertainment that I had missed for so many years.
Eventually everyone in the pro wrestling business gets burned out. As of right now, I hold out hope that Punk will regain his passion for the business in the same way that he helped me regain mine. I fully expect to hear Living Colour’s “Cult Of Personality” again one day.
But what if I don’t?
After all of the focus on the answer to the question, “what happened?” died down, the attention now seems to be on ole’ Phil Brooks himself. After all of of those who cried “work” realized as the Chicago RAW came and went, the big WrestleMania XXX event came and went, and we still haven’t seen “The Best in the World” on our television sets, it seems like the reality is finally setting in.
He isn’t coming back. Not anytime soon, at least.
So what does this tell us as fans? Punk couldn’t work out an arrangement that would see him remain as an active WWE performer? In a time where many top-level Superstars are managing to secure special part-time contracts with limited dates and tons of dough, you mean to tell me that both sides couldn’t figure something out?
The job of a promoter is to deliver the matches and performers that people want to see. Clearly people want to see CM Punk in WWE. Having said that, how is it possible that Vince McMahon couldn’t come to some kind of arrangement to deliver Punk in Chicago, or in New Orleans?
Something isn’t right here.
I obviously don’t know Vince McMahon on a personal level, but I think it’s safe to say that his reputation as a guy who will bury the hatchet with people is well known. His reputation as a guy who delivers what people want to see is at the least above average. Knowing that, you would have to assume that he made every effort possible to get Punk back in the mix.
It didn’t happen.
The question now becomes, what is it that CM Punk wants? Based on behind-the-scenes rumblings, it seemed that Punk wanted a guaranteed spot in the main event of WrestleMania. Since he walked out, it seems as though anything short of that wasn’t good enough.
WWE doesn’t suffer, it’s the fans that suffer. Especially CM Punk fans. WWE fans will still find something to enjoy on Monday and Friday nights. WWE will be just fine. CM Punk fans, however, are screwed.
Unless you’re a fan of Mike Maron or Talking Dead, you’re not going to have the chance to see your favorite performer on television.
After reading a lot of feedback across a variety of platforms, I am noticing a trend. No longer are fans saying “screw WWE for not giving Punk what he wants.” The mood seems to be more along the lines of “what the hell, Punk, why aren’t you coming back?”
Listen, we don’t know what happens behind closed doors. It’s unfair to say with any kind of real certainty that the blame lies on this person or that person. But the bottom line is this: they need to figure out something that appeases both sides. The bottom line is WWE needs to deliver CM Punk. At the same time, CM Punk needs to figure out a way to get back in the mix. If he’s burnt out, that’s one thing. Take some time off, rest up, heal up, and get back in there. If he’s done, he’s done. But from all accounts, that’s not what happened. What happened, as best I can tell, is Punk didn’t get his way, so he up and left.
If Punk does come back, and shoots directly into the main event picture, does that make him a hypocrite? Isn’t that exactly what bothered Punk in the first place? Guys coming in and walking directly into main event spots? How is coming back and getting direct access to the top spot any different than what The Rock did? Or Brock Lesnar? Or Batista?
It’s not.
I’m an enormous CM Punk fan. For selfish reasons, I don’t care what happened. I don’t care what it takes to get him back. I just want it to happen. It’s up to WWE and Phil Brooks to find out a way to make that happen. Everything else is irrelevant.
I spoke about catchy, grabby headlines. I look forward to the day I can put a headline on an article that reads, “CM Punk Returns To WWE.”
I look forward to more pipe bombs.
I look forward to seeing more of “The Best in the World.”
I look forward to seeing CM Punk.
Despite initial reports to the contrary, the latest word going around is that CM Punk is still receiving his merchandise checks from WWE. As noted on Thursday, WWE has been continuing to sell Punk merchandise, including the distribution of new Punk merchandise at WrestleMania Axxess in New Orleans this past weekend.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin has mentioned several times when reflecting on his walkout of WWE that during his hiatus, he was not receiving money from WWE, including profits earned on his merchandise being sold. He noted when talking about Punk walking out on the company during recent podcasts and media interviews that Punk is leaving tons of money on the table, but apparently that is not the case.
At the time Punk walked out on the company, he was the number two merchandise-mover, trailing only John Cena. At this point in time, while the latest official figures have yet to come in, it is believed that he is still among the top five wrestlers in the company in terms of current merchandise sales, and possibly as high as number three.
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Radio)
– CM Punk is currently being advertised to appear as a guest on “Maron,” an IFC cable show with comedian Mark Maron. The new season of the show is scheduled to premiere in May.
– WWE recently added the following behind-the-scenes look at the WrestleMania XXX “cold-open” to their official YouTube channel.
The following are highlights of a new Chicago Now interview with WWE Hall Of Famer The Iron Sheik:
On Hulk Hogan’s return to WWE: “The Hulk know what best for the business. He know how to make the world news with greatest company in the world WWE. He know I make the Hulkamania that way he never get smart with the legend.”
“My movie show how I make the company biggest company in the world. I love how everybody know I am the real not that Hollywood blonde jabroni Hulk Hogan.”
On Ultimate Warrior’s passing: “He break my heart. He my wrestling brother. I always respect him as performer he one of the best ever. God bless him and forever I be sad.”
On CM Punk leaving WWE: “I don’t know much about it. I know he great worker he respect the business. Sometime the people get burn out but I work in my day 320 day a year.”
Check out the complete interview at ChicagoNow.com.
WWE released new CM Punk merchandise during WrestleMania XXX weekend in New Orleans. Based on the fact that Punk breached his contract by walking out on WWE, WWE is legally within their rights to unload their existing CM Punk merchandise inventory. However, the legalties of producing new merchandise for Punk and selling it while he is not active in the company becomes a bit tricky.
For whatever this is worth, Steve Austin noted on a recent podcast that he was not paid for the merchandise WWE sold of his when he walked out on the company, however the company did not produce new Austin merchandise while he was on that particular hiatus.
– For whatever this is worth, if CM Punk is returning to WWE at WrestleMania XXX tonight, nobody in the company is aware of it. As previously reported, Punk was in attendance at the Chicago Blackhawks NHL game, although that doesn’t confirm anything one way or the other, as he is still fully capable of flying into New Orleans in time to be at the show if he is scheduled.
– Former WWE Diva duo Layla and Michelle McCool, aka LayCool, reunited backstage at the WWE Hall Of Fame ceremony on Saturday night. You can check out a photo of the two together below.
@MBoone420 @RyanClarkWZR
LayCool Reunited At The WWE Hall Of Fame!
#WWEHOF #WrestleMania #WWE pic.twitter.com/p9dUYf1XDI
— Ranjit Chahal (@TheRsc20) April 6, 2014
– As previously reported, a photo surfaced that showed CM Punk in the front row at a Chicago Blackhawks NHL game. After checking around, I was able to confirm that Punk indeed was at the game today in Chicago. This shouldn’t be taken as confirmation one way or the other, as he could easily still hop on an airplane and be in New Orleans in time for WrestleMania XXX tonight, although we haven’t heard of anything in that direction today.
– The following is a photo of the finished trophy for tonight’s Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania XXX:
First look at the final version of the Andre Trophy #WWEAxxess
#WrestleMania30 #WM30 #WWE
@MBoone420 @RyanClarkWZR pic.twitter.com/IyipQhSIPD
— Jorge Romero (@Jromer0) April 6, 2014
– The following is a photo of CM Punk at a Chicago Blackhawks NHL game. We haven’t been able to confirm whether or not this picture was taken today, although we do know that the Blackhawks did have a game today.
Not Confirmed : #cmpunk IS IN CHICAGO at the Blackhawks game today #WrestleMania30
#WWE
@RyanClarkWZR @MBoone420 pic.twitter.com/EwKwiJqBCz
— Jorge Romero (@Jromer0) April 6, 2014
– The following is a new video WWE posted on their official YouTube channel featuring some wishes being granted by WWE Superstars for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
– At WrestleMania Axxess in New Orleans, there are a number of grave sites for the 21 victims of The Undertaker at WrestleMania. The following is a photo of the WrestleMania XXX grave site, where Brock Lesnar will lay if he loses to “The Phenom” this Sunday.
The Grave for The #Undertaker next Victim at #Axxess
#WrestleMania30 #WWE #TheStreak #WM30 @MBoone420 @RyanClarkWZR pic.twitter.com/vs2W2cbj2Q
— Jorge Romero (@Jromer0) April 5, 2014
– Rey Mysterio posted a new message on his official Instagram account noting that he misses CM Punk. You can check out the message below:
Rey Mysterio on Instagram saying we miss #CMPunk
#WeWantPunk #wwe #Axxess #WrestleMania30 @MBoone420 @MBoone420 pic.twitter.com/HXDwrobsIN
— Jorge Romero (@Jromer0) April 5, 2014
– Variety recently published an article that claims WWE Studios will be co-producing an upcoming Vince Vaughn film. The movie is called “Term Life,” and is a thriller that will be released in 2015. You can read more on this story at Variety.com.
– The following is a photo of some cool CM Punk art that is being featured at WrestleMania Axxess in New Orleans:
Cool #CMPunk art AT #Axxess
#WWE #WWEAxxess #WrestleMania30 #WrestlemaniaAxxess #WM30
@MBoone420 @RyanClarkWZR pic.twitter.com/PPUNCvikvq
— Jorge Romero (@Jromer0) April 5, 2014
– WWE Hall Of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper will be debuting a new weekly podcast at PodcastOne.com. The news was revealed during a recent “Talk Is Jericho” podcast, where Chris Jericho’s weekly show featured a commercial from Piper himself promoting a show called “Piper’s Pit” that will be released every Monday.
– As previously reported, CM Punk was spotted at the “Against Me!” concert at the Durty Nellie in Palatine, Illinois on Friday night. Below is a photo of Punk on stage during the show.
Posted on Instagram here is proof of apparently #CMPunk at a concert event in Illinois
@MBoone420 @RyanClarkWZR pic.twitter.com/itlssgW7It
— Jorge Romero (@Jromer0) April 5, 2014
– For those asking if CM Punk is in New Orleans this weekend, he was actually on stage at an “Against Me!” rock concert at the Durty Nellie in Palatine, Illinois on Friday evening. Obviously this doesn’t mean anything one way or the other, as he could still very well show up in New Orleans tomorrow or Sunday, although we haven’t heard anything like that at this point.
– The following is a new Steve Austin video blog, which is available on the official WWE YouTube channel.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin shows off his workout area – Video Blog: Apr. 4, 2014
“On the set of “Broken Skull Challenge,” Steve Austin shows of his homemade workout area.”
The following are highlights of a Red Eye Chicago interview with WWE Hall Of Famer and WrestleMania XXX host Hulk Hogan:
On the possibility of a new Hulk Hogan-based reality show on the WWE Network: “I would love to do a reality show for the network, brother. I would never bring cameras into my home again, but I have a place in Tampa [Fla.] called Hogan’s Beach. It’s kind of a restaurant and bar setting where it’s on the beach. It’s a huge party place and on the weekends I have 3,000 to 4,000 people coming in, along with these great DJs to host a great time. I would love to have some WWE superstars come down and tend bar or cook. It’s like a “Baywatch” meets “Cheers” sort of thing.”
On possibly doing more movie work: “You know what is so cool, man? I am way beyond of what The Rock is doing now. I would be much more of a great supporting actor because I’m not that type directors are looking for as the lead man. We all know how great of a bad guy Hollywood Hogan can be, so forming into an older Clint Eastwood would be awesome. I would like to be a serial killer or going above the law and doing things that might be illegal, but for the right reasons.”
On the CM Punk situation: “I don’t know why he quit and what the situation was about, but I was really looking forward to meeting the man and getting to know him. As far as me, I have a personal opinion on it and I would love for him to come back. If he needs time off whether it was business or personal, it’s none of my business. Whatever it was, he was such a great superstar and I would love for him to come back.”
Check out the complete interview at RedEyeChicago.com.
As previously reported, CM Punk and AJ Lee recently got engaged. The two were together at the Tampa airport this past Saturday on their way to Washington, D.C. when Lee ended up talking to a random fan.
As the story goes, Lee informed the fan that this would be her last time flying out of Tampa, because she was now engaged to Punk, and would be moving in with him. She then proceeded to show off her engagement ring, which the fan reportedly took a photo of.
As noted earlier this week, Lee wore the ring during RAW. Several pictures of her on the show wearing her ring have surfaced on the internet.
DIRECT LINK: Photos Of AJ Lee Wearing Her Engagement Ring >>
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
On the latest edition of his “Steve Austin Show” podcast, WWE Hall Of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin predicted and said he hopes CM Punk returns at this Sunday’s WrestleMania XXX show, which takes place at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, and airs live on the WWE Network.
“I’m telling you, I’m going to stick to my prediction that CM Punk is going to make his return at WrestleMania 30 in New Orleans,” Austin said. “I made this prediction two months ago here on the show. It’s been a long time, I think he’s cooled his jets, he’s got some rest, and I think it’s time to get back to work.”
Austin continued, “I don’t see him participating in a match but it would be great to see him in a run-in to establish himself, to entrench himself immediately in a memorable and just a great moment, and I would say plant himself firmly in the middle of an angle, because he would be the angle, by attacking whoever he sees fit to attack or asserting his presence rather, whatever the case may be.”
“The Rattlesnake” concluded, “But I see CM Punk coming back at WrestleMania 30. Who knows if it will happen. We will know in about six short days when WrestleMania actually happens.”
Check out the latest edition of Austin’s show at PodcastOne.com.
– The following is a look at the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal trophy being made:
Photo of the #WrestleMania trophy
#WWE #WrestleMania30
@MBoone420 @RyanClarkWZR #AndreTheGiantMemorialBattleRoyal pic.twitter.com/QpV9Ky0O7U
— Jorge Romero (@Jromer0) April 2, 2014
– WWE used their official CM Punk Facebook page to promote a new WWE Network show, complete with a photo of AJ Lee. Check it out below:
#WWE uses #CMPunk Facebook page to plug their New #WWENetwork show (with AJ lee pic)
@MBoone420 @RyanClarkWZR pic.twitter.com/btax3gBEpo
— Jorge Romero (@Jromer0) April 2, 2014
SESCOOPS.COM reader Jeremy Jacobowitz sent along the following …
SportsRev.TV caught up with Daniel Bryan at the Wrestlemania 30 Press conference today and he discussed what it would mean to possibly main event Wrestlemania 30, his thoughts on CM Punk and howPunk leaving opened up the door for him in the company, how he grooms his beard, and how Bri Bella is his “rock”
Check out the interview above.
Paul Heyman spoke to ThisIsInfamous.com this week to promote WrestleMania 30. Here are some highlights of what he said about:
A New Paul Heyman Guy Coming Soon: “We’re going to broadcast his identity and we’re going to publicize and promote it and present it and market it and make as big a splash as humanly possible regarding this new Paul Heyman guy.”
His CM Punk Promo On RAW From Chicago: “My task at hand is to elicit the response from the viewer that they find the Brock Lesnar versus Undertaker match compelling enough to purchase the pay-per-view or get involved with WWE Network to see the match. So when I went out in Chicago, I knew my responsibility was to sell you on Brock Lesnar vs The Undertaker any way that I had to, which included sitting there for the first ten minutes and discussing the 800-pound elephant in the room, which is why C.M. Punk wasn’t appearing in his hometown.”
“As a performer, to get the opportunity to come out in Chicago to CM Punk’s music and to sit down Punk-style in the ring, and tell the true intimate story of this Paul Heyman guy, while I’m doing my job promoting Brock versus Undertaker is the greatest professional high you can offer me.”
If CM Punk Will Ever Return: “You know, there were only three people in the room that night, and that was C.M. Punk, Vince McMahon, and Triple H, and none of the three have talked about it. So whether C.M. Punk will ever or won’t ever appear in WWE again is truly only known by the three people that were in the room on that given evening. Anything else that is stated about it is merely speculation.”
Here we are the Raw before WrestleMania XXX. The go home show of all go home shows. Did Raw deliver? Check out our YES! and NO!
Brock Lesnar Finally F5’s after circling the ring 10 times. NO!
The Undertaker & Brock Lesnar
The Undertaker comes out and cuts seeming the same promo he has each week he’s had a mic. Out pops Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman, eventually Brock circles the ring seemingly a dozen times, before the obligatory Paul Heyman distraction where he slips in with a chair, to distract The Undertaker enough so that Brock can “sneak” in and get his hands on The Dead Man.
I had such high hopes for this program, but I must tell you, I’ve been less than impressed. Paul Heyman cut an amazing promo a few weeks back simultaneously putting over The Streak, and why Brock Lesnar would break it (Undertakers age, wear and tear). Since then this has been a lackluster build for me. Am I really to believe that a huge man like Brock Lesnar is THAT afraid to get into the ring? I can buy into some trepidation, but this was ridiculous. NO!
Alberto Del Rio takes it to Big E. Good Match YES!
Big E. vs. Alberto Del Rio
I thought Big E and Alberto Del Rio put on a great match, with several near falls and a clean Del Rio win. Of course why they constantly beat a champion, I’ll never understand. Does anyone remember when they actually had in-ring introductions for a Big E intercontinental championship match? That being said, YES!
Summer Rae vs. Natalya
I liked how a clip was shown from this past weeks Total Diva’s and there was a match to tie things in. I suppose that’s the one thing we lack when it is seemingly all the Total Divas ganging up on AJ who didn’t want to be on the show. However, the conflict was clearly 100% manufactured, and if there was any ounce of reality to Total Divas before this, there isn’t now. YES!
The Authority implying that Daniel Bryan is a “Flavor Of The Day” like Fandango was last year.
The Authority’s Farewell To The “Yes!” Movement, Batista, Randy Orton
Triple H and Stephanie come out and cut a brutally honest promo that blurts the lines between story line and reality. They made some interesting arguments about people wanting to be on a bandwagon, and support a cause. This brought out chants of CM Punk, Yes, and others including boring. After a Stephanie McMahon narrated promo about Triple H always beating the “Flavor of the Day” including Booker T, Chris Jericho, RVD, Kurt Angle and Jeff Hardy, Out comes BOOtista, and Orton. Pretty much the same song and dance. Objectively I think this was a good Heel Triple H Promo. But I’m exhausted from these Authority promos, and Batista and Orton coming out in succession. I’m tired from Daniel Bryan not getting anywhere in the stratosphere of equal mic time. By itself this was good, but after weeks of this, I’m over it. So I say NO!
The Usos & Los Matadores vs. The Real Americans & Ryback and Curtis Axel
This is basically the Pre-Show match with two teams combined. Less reason to get excited about the match itself. After an incredible year of tag-teams in the WWE in 2013, everything that I have enjoyed up to this point has vanished. Cody Rhodes and GoldDust were the hottest Tag Team attraction in WWE last year, they should have been in the tag-team titles mix, or facing each other, in a brother vs brother match that has been rumored for two years. The USO’s have been in line to win the Tag Titles since July of 13. What better way to elevate those titles then have them win it at WrestleMania XXX against the Outlaws? So another match, similar to what we will see on the small big stage, and I fear that The Uso’s who should retain this, may not possibly, so that a title change gets a reaction, or creates some sort of moment. NO!
Backstage Segment: The Shield & Roman Reigns vs. Kane
I enjoyed this backstage segment from The Shield, they seemed like a cohesive unit here, and I hope to see more of this at WrestleMania. Could The Shield stay together for a while longer? Many thought the match would be all three members of The Shield in a triple thread at this years WrestleMania. I would dislike it to see someone like Dean Ambrose accidentally or deliberately cause a loss for the team. I’d like to see The Shield show their dominance over the last two years. YES!
View Page 2 to find out more YES and NO from WWE RAW
On the go-home episode of RAW last night, the Beast Incarnate finally got the upper hand on the Dead Man with a little help from his advocate, blasting the Undertaker with a devastating F-5 after Heyman provided the distraction.
Thus far, there has been little physical contact between the few, with the only instances being the Undertaker chokeslamming Lesnar through a table during their contract signing and Taker hitting Lesnar with a few punches after popping out of a casket.
To say that this feud has not been fully fleshed out would be a serious understatement. In fact, I would not even hesitate to call it a complete disappointment.
Unlike Undertaker’s feuds the past few years, this one seems rushed together with no backstory, made even worse by the fact that both superstars are part-timers who have rarely appeared on television together.
The CM Punk/Undertaker program was an epic feud that truly felt personal.
Last year’s feud with CM Punk was a masterful build, with a compelling backstory (Punk stealing the urn and mocking Paul Bearer), a weekly confrontation between the two leading up to WrestleMania, and action that actually made the feud feel personal (Punk dumping the contents of the urn on Taker).
This year has been the polar opposite. The two are fighting simply because Lesnar said he has accomplished everything in WWE except conquering the streak. I get that breaking the streak is a valid reason for a feud. After all, it was the reason CM Punk originally wanted to fight the Undertaker in the first place.
However, the difference between last year and this year is that last year’s feud was actually escalated throughout the weeks leading up to WrestleMania, while the Lesnar/Taker feud is literally in the exact same place as it was on the night of the contract signing weeks ago.
It is a shame too, because it is not like creative did not have material to work with. They could have mentioned the infamous confrontation between Lesnar and Taker after Lesnar’s UFC fight a few years back, or their previous feud back in 2002. Instead, it almost seems like the Undertaker has no stake in fighting other than defending the streak, and Lesnar seems disinterested as well. There were elements in place to make the feud seem personal but creative has failed to do so.
WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee and former WWE Superstar CM Punk are engaged, according to a report at f4wonline.com.
AJ Lee will be moving to Chicago soon to live with Punk.
Fans may have noticed that AJ was sporting what appears to be an engagement ring last night on RAW: