It's important to highlight CM Punk as part of the pro wrestling context at the time. That way, you'll see how he raised the bar. And it's needless to say he had his work cut out for him. The year was 2006, so not that long ago. And mainstream pro wrestling was stuck in an awkward transitional period. WWE was shifting towards a more PG product. But they had spent the past decade solidifying a chaotic, car crash form of entertainment. This approach included swearing, lots of blood, and a lack of political correctness. But times were changing. Most of those 90's fans had grown up. And the WWE saw an opportunity to capitalize on their new younger fanbase. So this overhaul in their branding meant adhering to family-friendly guidelines. Yes, I realize
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But with the younger fanbase came a younger generation of wrestlers. And they were responsible for leading this new wave of professional wrestling. And that category is where CM Punk fits in. He was the future. He had a previous body of work with smaller, independent wrestling promotions. And it was enough to impress WWE talent executives. But they had no idea what they were getting into with his character. From a business perspective, CM Punk is the kind of guy who'd fight tooth and nail to get things his way. He was adamant on where he stood. And he never made claims that he wouldn't back up. But he still had to appear marketable. His physical presence alone wasn't going to do him any …show more content…
And regardless of whether you loved him or hated them, no one could stop him. As for myself, I couldn't help but respect the guy. If you thought you were better than him, he'd call you out. And he'd put you in your place. When I was 14, I wish I could've done the same. Plus, he made it cool not to fit in, which was a recurring struggle in my life. By no means was he the prototype of a kid's role model. But the fact that I shouldn't have liked gave me even more of a reason to look up to him. Let's face it, we all go through life seeking recognition. We have a voice that no one wants to hear. We have a vision that no one else sees. We face a glass ceiling that no one wants us to break. But CM Punk taught me not to accept rejection or discouragement. When I heard him speak, I learned what it meant to stand up for myself. And that life lesson is something I cherish to this
But with the younger fanbase came a younger generation of wrestlers. And they were responsible for leading this new wave of professional wrestling. And that category is where CM Punk fits in. He was the future. He had a previous body of work with smaller, independent wrestling promotions. And it was enough to impress WWE talent executives. But they had no idea what they were getting into with his character. From a business perspective, CM Punk is the kind of guy who'd fight tooth and nail to get things his way. He was adamant on where he stood. And he never made claims that he wouldn't back up. But he still had to appear marketable. His physical presence alone wasn't going to do him any …show more content…
And regardless of whether you loved him or hated them, no one could stop him. As for myself, I couldn't help but respect the guy. If you thought you were better than him, he'd call you out. And he'd put you in your place. When I was 14, I wish I could've done the same. Plus, he made it cool not to fit in, which was a recurring struggle in my life. By no means was he the prototype of a kid's role model. But the fact that I shouldn't have liked gave me even more of a reason to look up to him. Let's face it, we all go through life seeking recognition. We have a voice that no one wants to hear. We have a vision that no one else sees. We face a glass ceiling that no one wants us to break. But CM Punk taught me not to accept rejection or discouragement. When I heard him speak, I learned what it meant to stand up for myself. And that life lesson is something I cherish to this