Part of the reason fans turned on CM Punk is down to WWE's masterful response to the situation. They basically gave no reaction to it, no Austin style smear attack, nothing. What that did was make WWE look the innocent party, they weren't the ones acting out, Punk was. WWE's silence gave the impression that they were leaving the door open for Punk, they weren't going to throw him under the bus. When Punk then didn't return to the company it was perceived as if WWE had left the door open but the star just hadn't taken it. Anger switched from WWE on to Punk who was perceived as the difficulty in the faltered relationship. The big concern was the March 3rd Raw, Punk's hometown where WWE expected to take some heat for the exit. They diffused this situation brilliantly, scripting the show in a way that hinted Punk would return at the end of the show. When he then didn't it was him who looking like the bad guy. WWE also got additional benefit by using heat off the situation to power the Authority storyline. The company had took a negative and made it work for them, showing that they're the masters of the crowd, not the other way around. There has since been subtle undertones in booking which has painted Punk as a quitter. Both Stephanie and Hunter in the last few months have had lines which reference how Daniel Bryan isn't the kind of guy to give in and quit. These veiled lines have became the general perception of Punk's behaviour. Subliminally WWE has influenced fans against Punk.
