Welcome to the Machine: CM Punk Breaks the Glass Ceiling

I have learned over the years that to take professional wrestling as seriously as I used to is stressful and detrimental to my own well-being. Why would I engage in a truly heated discussion about sweaty, oily men rolling around in tights with others on forums and websites that I will never meet and never have a connection with? There was a time in my life where I would have torn into certain agitators, keyboard warriors, columnists and fellow readers and posters with enough venom to murder nations. I am no longer that person. I am married with responsibilities – and most importantly, limited time. It is not worth it. But I am a flawed human being. There are moments when my rage boils over so much that the only reprise is to walk away from my computer, television or phone and just…breathe. The last couple of weeks have been one of them.

Let’s put these events together in a nutshell: At Survivor Series, Sting made his long (LONG) awaited WWE debut and made history by interacting with WWE talent in a WWE ring for the first time in his career. CM Punk broke his silence on Colt Cabana’s Art of Wrestling Podcast and revealed specifics that lead to his departure from the company even though he was considered a top-tier performer. Vince McMahon then made an appearance on Stone Cold Steve Austin’s podcast to discuss both, and revealed some heavy facts himself. These three moments in a bubble are monumental. To be bombarded with all in a space of fourteen days can be overwhelming for some who have followed professional wrestling with a fervor and passion that rivals that of rabid football fans (whether it is European or American is irrelevant – both sets of die-hard fans succumb to pure fits of insanity.)

We are currently in a fit of hysteria not seen in a while. From my vantage point, the entire system of mainstream professional wrestling is set to implode from cries of creative staleness from WWE that has create a domino effect for smaller promotions. Professional wrestling’s popularity is based on the worldwide standard that WWE has created in expanding their universe farther than any other promotion in the artform. But it seems stars are being less made, but manufactured. It is perhaps the great debate among fans. Who was “made” – either by the volume of the fanbase or sheer will or through an ingenious plot that creates the illusion of both along with a corporate twist. At some point, we discover a star who becomes part of the machine.

This will not be an analysis of Punk’s allegations of WWE’s medical procedures, the debate on whether performers are “independent contractors”, if current WWE superstars are going for “the brass ring”, if Vince McMahon listens to his audience or how well Punk will fare in his future endeavors. Simply, I have chosen to analyze the path performers have made to become perceived as a star outside of the WWE machine – and in doing so have become part of the machine itself.

Pandora’s Box time: When The Rock debuted at Survivor Series 1996, was it his initial “created” presence and aura that defined him as Reigning King of Mount Perpetually Over or was it the fans who continued to force the issue when their corporate owners failed them and refused to display a star’s true potential. And what is this Mount Perpetually Over, anyway? Who is it that will be forever be considered one of the necessary cornerstones for the mainstream success of the artform of modern pro wrestling? Honestly, it is debatable that there are more than the usually imagined four faces on the faces of Mount Rushmore. Debatable. That’s the key word.

I think CM Punk going to UFC has forever etched him as a viable box office attraction and mainstream phenomenon. He had transcended past the oft stereotyped caricature of the lumbering carnies a good chunk of society sees it as in 2011 when he defeated John Cena to a unified hometown crowd at Money in the Bank. During that time, Punk was known as the brash dropper of pipebombs and always had something to say about how Business was done. He had done 448 straight days represented as WWE’s Champion and it will forever be debated if he was presented as such.

A stroke of what seems to be well-timed (and ironic) genius has transcended Punk further in his 331 day silence regarding his business with WWE from his January 26 abrupt departure from the 2014 Royal Rumble to the December 1st Podcast he pretty much nuked the internet with. He then completed an irreversible 2nd knockout blow to enter the realms of mainstream credibility after his earth shattering appearance at UFC 181 and declaring himself a competitor in the realm of what is considered legitimate combat fighting. Very few have done so and Punk’s six day media-busting party has given legitimate weight to professional wrestling’s mainstream credibility and respect. Punk is also entering this world in the most abstract and absurd way, further lending credence to Punk’s stubborn need to bombard the planet of how great he is that has lit a fire under the asses of his most fervent detractors. Just as mainstays like The Rock, Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, and John Cena will forever have those who will shout from the mountaintops of how they are overrated in some way, CM Punk’s popularity will always be split amongst those who will follow his career to their graves and those who will take their hatred for the man to theirs. Take a look at the main offerings on the right of 411mania’s Spotlight Stories. Nearly every one displays a photo of Punk and everyone seemingly has an opinion about it. It is actually glorious to watch Punk bring his brand of chaos to the collective thoughts of wrestling fans who can’t help to defend him or can’t help to crucify him.

The clear stench of the entire barrier-breaking set of announcements serving as a massive corporate publicity stunt and ego boost has turned Punk off from several fans who either respected his contributions to professional wrestling or who never gave Punk a chance in the first place because he did not fit into the mold of what constitutes an ideal sports entertainment champion. My next claim is basically putting a line in the sand of how I feel about the situation, but I am honestly claiming this from a logical, objective point of view:

Just as Hogan appearing in Rocky III or The Rock hosting Saturday Night Live put them on the map to be looked at as more than a professional wrestler, Punk has solidified his place among the chosen (key word) few to break the glass ceiling and will forever be perceived as a pop culture phenomenon and – admittedly – a larger than life personality that is more than what made him famous. He is now bigger than professional wrestling. Some absolutely LOVE this from within the business of professional wrestling and his fans that observe outside this. Just as many HATE this turn of events because they essentially never gave him a shot in the first place. Now Hogan and The Rock will also forever have those who will make a case for why they aren’t as awesome as most see them to be, either based on their lack of technical prowess (MOVEZ) or because they were perceived as acts that failed to evolve at points in their career. Steve Austin and John Cena is also accused of this, and they, like their WrestleMania X-8 rivals will have a rabid slew of “lolhaterz” who take every move of theirs personally and will attack those stars individually integrity.

We need to really assess the claims that professional wrestling are not making as many stars as they used to, or at least consider what is the definition of “making stars” and has it changed over the years. I will make the claim that CM Punk’s first UFC fight will bring in a mainstream appeal that very few from inside the industry enjoys. Is that of CM Punk’s own doing? Ours? The corporate media machine that gave him the platform to reach these heights?

Watching Vince McMahon’s thoughts on CM Punk led me to believe that as much as he is clearly upset over the situation, there is tangible respect that Vince has for the Straight Edge Superstar. Vince shared moments of Stone Cold and himself butting heads from a tone of reflective memory rather than malice. There is the distinct possibility that Punk’s claims that he earned the right to main event WrestleMania as THE GUY was a true point of contention between himself and McMahon. I think McMahon may have realized – especially upon Punk’s UFC announcement – that his 448 day champ was right. Punk CAN be the guy. And now for the solidification of a bold prediction I made: Punk will return to WWE to main event WrestleMania and will as THE GUY.

The way to make it to the top of WWE is simple and yet complicated at the same time. The ones who really made it to the upper echelon somehow found a way to make it past the manufactured creative engine that drove them. Hulk Hogan had a rabid following from AWA and upon the heartbreak of not being crowned as the company’s champion – which in turn proved as one of the death-knells of the promotion – found Hogan as a man without an island. One appearance on Rocky III later, and Hulkamania was born as a phenomenon that is just as powerful as ever. Steve Austin was brought in WWE as The Ringmaster and was falling hard despite displaying potential and gaining a legion of fans from his work in WCW as part of the Hollywood Blonds and Dangerous Alliance as well as his venomous appearances on ECW. A catchphrase later and Stone Cold paved the way to become the biggest moneymaker the industry had ever seen and has enough pull outside the scenes to star and produce respected reality and interview shows.

The Rock started out as Rocky Maivia – a damning interpretation of the company’s out of touch creative philosophies and is on pace to surpass Hulk Hogan in terms of mainstream popularity with legitimate Hollywood box office appeal. Chris Jericho took a less ventured route through the recording industry and returned to WWE as a top tier talent by way of weaving his way to become a respected rock musician. Brock Lesnar showed himself as a man who believes no one can mess with as he departed WWE on his own terms and returned a decade later as a former UFC champion and proven pay per view draw. Batista has broken through from a successful turn in one of the biggest movies of the year and has generated more buzz as he landed a role as one of the main villains in the latest James Bond feature. If early speculation is any indication, John Cena may be next up to rise up to become a legitimate mainstream star as he is a featured attraction in future films, Trainwreck and Sisters with hype that he will be playing against his WWE “Never Give Up” boyscout persona.

Along the way, there have been moments of true greatness and proof that each of these stars can be bigger than the industry that gave them their break. There have also been the expected cries of sell out and the stigma of being known as the “Part Time Superstar” that takes away a spot from performers in WWE that fans feel that deserve it based on their entertaining output from within. At some point (with the exception of Cena…for now), each of these men have gone on record to show some form of displeasure either with the talent or creative direction of their former employer. Words have been said and actions have been taken that could be perceived as a slight on the wrestling/sports entertainment industry or on WWE itself and has created a clear divide amongst fans. Some have dropped massive bombshells that could be seen as an act of defiance that could guarantee they will never work under the WWE umbrella again. For a time The Rock wanted to be acknowledged as Dwayne Johnson and spurned a firestorm from fans who felt he completely turned his back on those who cheered him. Hogan, through his actions in rival WCW and in TNA (not to mention his testimony at the 1992 steroid trials) made statements that could have legitimately blackballed him for life. Brock Lesnar gave the WWE Universe and unabashed fans of the artform two middle fingers on his way out at WrestleMania XX in the middle of loud “You Sold Out” chants at Madison Square Garden. Batista has made it known on several occasions that he disagrees with the PG-based creative direction of WWE. Steve Austin walked away from the company and fanbase that helped make him arguably the biggest money maker in the company’s history (and found himself in wrapped in scandal that he will never escape.) Jericho admitted that he was burnt out and aired grievances about WWE’s grueling schedule.

These moments all have one thing in common: in the strange world of pro wrestling where everything from any angle can be perceived as a calculating “work” from fans, a real-life grudge can shape itself into a slow burn build into a set of appearances that will bring box office, ratings and further lay a financial foundation to WWE’s stranglehold on the business. Hogan was away from WWE for nine years, and returned to face his heir apparent in Toronto to an electric (pun intended) reaction. Even though Hogan was already a proven superstar and considered one of the greatest of all time, his prolonged absence generated enough buzz that he miraculously returned as an even bigger draw. In the same token, The Rock had not competed for WWE in seven years as he amassed a resume that will guarantee himself as one of Hollywood’s premier superstars. When he was revealed as the host of WrestleMania 27, The Great One returned as a GOD among men.

In my opinion, The Rock has laid down the template for WWE to create new stars and is the road that is being paved for more professional wrestlers to transcend their current line of occupation. The Rock left WWE to actually make WWE bigger. The stigma of professional wrestling as a niche form of entertainment rested on his shoulders as he made his hosting appearance on Saturday Night Live and played his role as The Scorpion King in The Mummy series of films. If he bombed, the mainstream acceptance of professional wrestling could probably never recover. Instead, The Rock is known as the “Franchise Savior” and has launched a career as perhaps the premier action movie lead in the world. When he returned, he was no longer “The Rock: WWE Champion”; he was “The Rock: Pop Culture Icon.” The connections made from The People’s Champion’s delve into movies has opened up an avenue for others from his original line of work to take a chance to have a second career that places them far above the stereotype of “wrassler”. More importantly, outside parties are more prone to take a chance on them. Hogan opened the door, and The Rock opened the floodgates. In reality, anything is possible and a top level superstar who has achieved it all in mainstream professional wrestling can truly use their likeness as a brand and own a piece of lucrative mainstream media exposure themselves.

After The Rock, Brock Lesnar made headlines as he left WWE to make a go at playing for the NFL. Lesnar had not played competitive football since 1995 as a high school lineman, and yet made it as far as the practice roster. Some mocked his failure to make the final roster cut, but he proved detractors that he was a physical force of nature who – if truly motivated – could conquer any field that he wanted. That was further emphasized upon his arrival to UFC, where not only did Lesnar reach water-cooler talk status as a pay per view attraction who can make his promoters rich beyond their wildest dreams, but as a specimen that was akin to a human wrecking ball. The Rock gave mainstream audiences a reason to show how wrestling can create entertaining personas that can carry over into film and television, while Lesnar obliterated the notion that professional wrestlers through their choreographed battles can not hold their own in a “real” fight. When Lesnar returned to WWE in 2012, it felt like the biggest thing in the world and Brock’s star was even brighter than he was when he was THE YOUNGEST WWE CHAMPION IN HISTORY. Now, Brock is not only an NCAA Division I wrestling champion, UFC Heavyweight Champion and current WWE World Heavyweight Champion but will be forever known as the man who broke The Undertaker’s Streak at WrestleMania. With rumblings of a return to the UFC, more buzz is building for his brand.

Chris Jericho made an impression upon millions of viewers as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars to illuminate that wrestlers can be just as graceful as professional dancers. Before that, Jericho had been making small waves as the frontman for his band, Fozzy. Before that, he was the first ever WWE Undisputed World Champion. Fozzy now tours worldwide with a great following of fans while Jericho himself enjoys success as a New York Times bestselling author and pop culture talking head on various VH1 shows. His return was met with much fanfare and even tried to use his star power to help Fandango (with middling to disastrous results, depending on who you ask.) Despite that, make no mistake about it – Jericho is a much, much bigger star now than he was even five years ago.

Batista re-emerged in WWE last year to a wave of criticism based on timing, as Daniel Bryan was considered the promotion’s #1 attraction and some felt he was being pushed aside for someone who had been given his spot because he had been placed in a position to succeed. It was seen as a slight to Bryan, who had organically created a connection with the audience to reach the heights he did. Batista’s second WWE career became the most transparent example of a star who had become bigger than the promotion (in hindsight now – remember Guardians of the Galaxy had not been released yet) and was placed at the top of the food chain solely for that reason. Despite that, the buzz surrounding Batista’s blooming Hollywood career has given him the options to transcend being just The Animal and any return from him to Vince McMahon’s universe will have millions of dollars attached to it. I feel a Batista return to WWE after his appearance in Spectre will help generate revenue he would not have been able before his departure.

This brings me to CM Punk, who has looked into the face of the corporate structure of WWE – the same one who told him he would never make it and had to have outside forces fight for him just to be seen – and flipped two of the biggest birds they have ever seen. The basics of the scenario is this, whether one is a fan of Punk or not: Punk deserves he proved his worth to headline WWE’s biggest show and be presented as the main attraction. He was never given that opportunity. In Vince McMahon’s own words, John Cena was the last WWE superstar to work for that “brass ring” everyone is fawning over; Punk intends to prove McMahon wrong. If CM Punk can headline a UFC show, and perform at a high enough level to be considered a formidable draw in the foreseeable future, Punk will have proven all of his detractors, including Vince McMahon and Triple H wrong. Punk’s announcement to join UFC has created a buzz that is reverberating outside of WWE on a global scale and has penetrated mainstream culture with a shot that will be felt for the next decade.

This is the path all WWE Superstars need to take if they want to be seen in the higher echelon to be viewed as one of the greatest of all time. If a pro wrestler is able to succeed in spite of or without the WWE Machine, when the time comes that they do return, their stock will have raised significantly because they will no longer be re-entering WWE as just a “WWE Superstar”. They will be viewed as treated as a larger-than-life superstar. Hence the difference between the above mentioned and John Cena’s current situation as WWE’s top draw for a decade.

Therein lies the unique conundrum of WWE’s lack of ability to “make new stars” and the fundamental question that subconsciously everyone is arguing about. With John Cena atop of the WWE mountain for so long, is Punk actually justified in his grievances? Cena is Mr. Dependable, but the crux of the issue is in terms of mainstream appeal and in terms of who is on the lips of public consciousness The Rock, Brock Lesnar, Jericho, Batista and now CM Punk has surpassed WWE’s flag bearer. At this point in time, if CM Punk returned to WWE today he would be – by far and away – a bigger mainstream attraction than his Money in the Bank arch nemesis. If Punk’s subsequent UFC appearances prove to draw, even more rumors about an eventual WWE return will emerge, and he will be spoken about in the same vein as Austin, Lesnar, The Rock and Batista as superstars who can walk in at WWE at any time and immediately become the focal point. Expect these rumors to go on for years – and expect the build and burn for what may seem to be the inevitable – a future CM Punk/WWE collaboration to grow. Punk has just created a legend for himself to develop. Defenders and critics of the Straight Edge superstar, defenders and critics of WWE and their business practices and the split fanbase between those who view the artform as “pro wrestling” vs. those who are content with its shift into “sports entertainment” are on a collision course to argue and debate for a good, long time – and with a passion that 98% of performers would sell their soul to be in the middle of.

I am a fan of CM Punk’s work. I will not deny that. I also am aware of the perception Punk gives himself to be a brash, outspoken anarchist that has shown he has no regard for the opinions of others. Maybe it is a Libra thing. We were born 5 days apart and I humbly admit I share several of Punk’s traits as someone whose passion sometimes supersedes my logic and tact. I have burned – nay – nuked bridges with those who I feel wronged me in the business world. At this time, I will never write as an OpEd columnist for The Lima News ever again. I know where they stand about the scenario and they know where I stand. Neither of us were “wrong” in how we felt about my leaving, but I will admit that neither party handled it particularly well. We both knew what we were getting in when I was allowed total creative control to write an article in the Bible Belt about the chances of an Atheist ever running for President of the United States. Good times.

I also acknowledge my own mistakes in building my film festival. I was driven to prove certain local powers wrong that I could create a tangible, profitable and star-powered event that could generate buzz in the city I reside in. It was inferred that if I accomplished certain tasks given of me, and was able to raise a certain amount of capital that my event would make it a “made” attraction – meaning that the event would always have backing from those who could provide it to keep it as a staple of the community. I did what they asked, and from my point of view, the goalpost was moved. Part of that was some of the leaders of the community “testing my dedication”, which I failed at. Part of that was also my…unique way of networking and maneuvering my way to reach my goals. That essentially spelled doom for my event as my stubbornness to not slip into the role of “corporate shill” essentially destroyed some relationships before they even started. Ironically enough – the battles I foolishly chose created a perception that little old me is a dedicated patron of the arts and have been given even more opportunities to be involved in the community I live in. I have been able to expand my repertoire in Lima as a movie reviewer, product spokesperson and general local media personality. Somehow I am treated with more respect in lieu of my massive failure to create the event I envisioned because I convinced enough people that I have the chutzpah to be an individual. It is not the perception I asked for, nor was it the perception “given” to me – but it is the one I am known for and will happily acknowledge if it gives me enough credibility for me to share an opinion – and have that opinion considered for other issues in my community. I had to not reach my initial goal to be able to reach others I had for myself. Life is funny like that.

CM Punk essentially finds himself in that strange scenario. Whether or not one agrees with either his story of mistreatment as a WWE superstar or his methods of expressing it, one thing is certain; CM Punk demands respect from his peers and demands to be treated as the star he believes himself to be. There is nothing wrong with knowing your worth. It is actually a trap a lot of the human race falls into. Some of us slave away at our place of employment and feel under-appreciated by those who hired us and gave us responsibilities that we feel we are not properly compensated for. Without getting into the messy politics of who deserves what and why I will observe that most everyone in some way believes they are worth something in society.

Finally, as a fan of the artform I need to stress my full objectivity on the situation. Reading the criticisms and arguments have not shifted how I feel about the matter in one way or another. I am absolutely fascinated by this turn of events as I remember CM Punk gaining traction as an independent darling on the internet and the nearly unanimous praise he received by fans upon his arrival to WWE. The expected backlash at Punk has reared its ugly head and we are at the point of no return. Punk has stepped into the realm where he will be labeled a hero and a hypocrite. He was once part of the WWE marketing machine, even though he stood outside it. He is now part of the UFC marketing machine – and has joined the ranks of performers who have entered mainstream culture. Whether or not he wants to admit it, Punk has become part of the machine he has raged against. If he makes a return to WWE (which I now believe he will – the transparency and precedence set by those before him is too great to deny any other situation from occurring), CM Punk will get everything he feels he is owed.

And that is honestly none of my business. But it will be fun to speculate and gauge the emotion of the fanbase for the next ten years.

Len Archibald is the former Executive Director of the Northwest Ohio Independent Film Festival, and is a current movie reviewer for WLIO in Lima, Ohio.

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