10 Ways CM Punk Changed WWE FOREVER
Do I have everybody's attention now?
CM Punk is a divisive figure among wrestling fans. Those who love the straight-edge superstar will laud him for his in-ring work and his top-notch promo abilities, while those who hate him typically cite that he is a "quitter" and that he doesn't seem like the nicest individual to be around, by multiple accounts.
Still, this has not stopped fans from chanting his name at events. One would think that after enough time had passed since his untimely departure from the company that the chants would eventually end, but here we are, six years later and still hearing that all-familiar chant of "CM Punk! CM Punk! CM Punk!" from the stands.
Well, not currently, since there are no fans allowed at wrestling shows at the moment, but you know.
Whether you love Punk or you hate him, he left behind an undeniable legacy. He was a part of so many incredible matches and segments in WWE that one could argue that his self-designated moniker of "Best in the World" was not far from the truth. His body of work has not only inspired countless wrestlers over the years, but many booking decisions, as well.
And even today, his influence on the overall WWE product remains evident.
10. He Influenced The Way Wrestlers Cut Promos
Okay, people talk about the "Pipebomb promo" so frequently that it has almost become antiquated by this point, but it really was a groundbreaking moment in wrestling history. So much so that it has inspired a change in the way that WWE superstars cut promos.
See, prior to the Pipebomb, WWE writers subscribed to a more formulaic promo style. This is not to say that this writing style is extinct today, as we still sit through many generic promos with catchphrases shoehorned into them (see: every Braun Strowman promo ever). But CM Punk showed the creative team that honest-sounding, fourth-wall breaking, and even sometimes unscripted promos can actually make for much more intriguing television.
Since then, folks like Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe, Kevin Owens, and even John Cena (among others) have been granted more freedom to blur the lines between truth and fiction in their promos. On top of that, many backstage officials have been pushing for less "word-for-word" scripting and more "bullet point" style promos as of late. Much of this progress can be directly attributed to the organic and unparalleled promo style that skyrocketed CM Punk into superstardom.
On the subject of people who don't abide by WWE scripting...