wwe.comLets face it he could be an ass, he was difficult backstage, and theres no doubt that even his most traditional babyface characters could rub some people up the wrong way. Not everyone likes CM Punk, or Phil Brooks. But, love him or hate him, WWE is poorer for him not being there. Thats not just a judgement on the quality of the product without him, or the hole hes left in the roster we covered that elsewhere. No, even towards the end of 2013 when he was clearly unwell and slower due to injuries, when hed lost a lot of the fire that had motivated him before, Punk was still one of the most entertaining figures in the company. To paraphrase that infamous pipebomb promo of 2011 thats in the ring, on the mic and even on commentary. And many of the younger, less experienced performers on the roster looked up to Brooks. He might not have suffered fools gladly, and might well have been fairly hard to get along with on occasion, but he was named a locker room leader by no less a man than Triple H, and many others Dean Ambrose, Zack Ryder, Miz, Ryback, wrestler-turned-developmental guru Joey Mercury, to name but a few credit CM Punks backstage help and friendship. Punk didnt just leave a hole in storylines. The man himself is missed in the company, even six months or so later, and with that comes a different kind of resentment. Its a little childish, but its completely understandable.