10 Times CM Punk Disrespected WWE
6. Dress Like A Champion-Gate
CM Punk’s first couple of years on the main roster (yes, ECW was technically the main roster) went pretty well, all things considering. Sure, he ruffled a few feathers, but he was well positioned on ECW TV and quickly became a top guy on the show. An ECW Championship followed before he cemented his position by winning the Money in the Bank briefcase at WrestleMania XXIV. Three months later, Punk was World Heavyweight Champion.
Sure, he lost the title without actually losing it, but a year later he was on top again, this time as a heel. What’s more, Punk found himself feuding with (and getting cheap wins against) The Undertaker. Sounds great, right? Well, Punk eventually lost the title in a one-sided match to ‘Taker, before word spread that the Straight Edge Superstar was being punished for ‘not dressing like a champion’.
Now, there is more to this than the simple wearing (or not wearing) of a suit, as it was another example of Punk going against the grain, deciding not to do what was expected of him and getting in trouble for it. By refusing to dress ‘like a champion’, the only thing he was achieving was giving his detractors more ammo.
This is one that works both ways. It is incredibly petty of WWE to punish a star, a World Champion no less, solely because they don’t want to wear a suit. On the other hand, wearing a suit isn’t difficult, so wear a suit? This really was a ‘who could possibly care?’ situation that became something bigger.