The smartest career move ever made by CM Punk was right at the beginning of his contract with the WWE. He kept his name. He was CM Punk in the indies and that carried over to his WWE career. And while WWE had the rights to that name during his time as a contracted performer, the name is now back to being his and his alone. It was an impressive and savvy contract stipulation on his part, considering how many other performers have changed their names heading into developmental. Then theres all the wrestlers who have had had to change their name after parting ways with the company so as not to violate WWEs stringent copyright policies. These policies put the performers at a detriment in their post WWE career because they find themselves unable to get billed as the name fans would associate with them. While many out there know that CM Punks birth name is Phil Brooks, its simply not the name associated with his in-ring career and various achievements. Phil Brooks wasnt the longest reigning champion of the modern era, CM Punk was. Hes been billed on a couple of occasions as Brooks, most notably when he appeared on AMCs Talking Dead, and it just didnt look right. But that was in the midst of his messy break up with WWE and thats not a problem anymore. Whether it be his new career with the UFC, writing comic books for Marvel or simply making appearances at a whole host of different events, it stands to reason that CM Punk will always be billed as such because that name is money and its money that will no longer be going towards the WWE. So even if Punk eventually settles into a new career completely separated from wrestling or ring combat of any kind, he will still be drawing attention away from WWE because much of his loyal fan base that he cultivated as a wrestler care more about him than the company that supposedly wronged him on so many occasions. CM Punk will always be a thorn in WWEs side because he is the one that got away on a search for greener pastures and brass rings outside of pro wrestling.
I am a writer and stand-up comedian living in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. I didn't witness the Bret Hart screw job in person, but I did watch the Breaking Point PPV live and that was terrible it its own way. I am dangerously obsessed with professional wrestling and its surrounding culture. I am the current ring announcer for a local fed called the IWS. I got to introduce Tommy Dreamer a while back. My head almost exploded. I am a mark, and proud of it. I also co-host a podcast called Go Plug Yourself, which has featured quite a few local wrestlers and even Mick Foley. Speaking of the Mickster, I once got to be his warmup act when he was in town for comiccon. My head actually exploded that time. I've recovered... sort of.
