7 Reasons Kevin Owens Is The New CM Punk
They may not look anything alike, but Punk and Owens have a great deal in common.
Kevin Owens decimation of John Cena last Sunday was undoubtedly one of the biggest wrestling moments of the year. However, fans who witnessed the NXT Champs victory at Elimination Chamber will be struggling to shake an accompanying feeling of deja vu. Almost four years ago, CM Punk shocked the world by pinning the champ at Money In The Bank 2011, an undisputed victory for "the voiceless" - or disenchanted internet wrestling fandom - over the WWE's mainstream target audience. It was electrifying, even for those who didn't understand every implication of Punk's pipebomb manifesto. The effects are still being felt today; Daniel Bryan's WrestleMania 30 triumph almost certainly wouldn't have happened without Punk leading the way, while Roman Reigns would almost certainly have won the WWE Championship at the expense of Seth Rollins. Punk has proven that unorthodox indie-types can make it big in the WWE, and Kevin Owens looks to be the latest to benefit. He also looks very likely to succeed, as he shares many similarities with his predecessor. If ever the stars seemed aligned in somebody's favour, now is surely the time. In beating John Cena, Owens didn't just announce himself as a major force in the WWE. He gave fans an insight into the future of the company, one which sees him firmly in the spotlight.