10 Reasons Why You’re Watching WWE Wrong

3. Expecting CM Punk To Return

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WWE.com

What are the "CM Punk!" chants trying to convey?

If his name is shouted as some form of uniform protest, the gesture is as self-defeating as an asphyxiation fetish gone wrong. The fans chanting his name have already purchased their ticket. WWE does care what fans chant at shows; they mute microphones, they remove signs, they desperately spin that we boo who we're meant to cheer and cheer who we're meant to boo - but ultimately, the company values money more than the reception of the product.

If fans chant CM Punk's name because they genuinely expect him to return to WWE, that might be even more moronic. His infamous appearance on Colt Cabana's Art Of Wrestling podcast could not have made his feelings toward WWE more clearly.

He'll probably come back at some point; money and ego supersede bad blood in pro wrestling. But to expect him to come back because a few hundred fans in Green Bay, Wisconsin asked him to is asinine. The point isn't exclusive to Punk. A certain subset of wrestling fans are always begging for some name from wrestling's past to come back to the fold. The roster at present features AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Neville, Brock Lesnar...match quality is higher than it has been in years.

Can't you make do?

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!