CM Punk: Pro wrestling has a lot to do to get where I want it to go, Triple H just doesn't get it

by Geno Mrosko on Sep 22, 2011 6:31 PM EDT in WWE

If you've watched the past few months of WWE programming than you've undoubtedly heard CM Punk speak extensively of change.

Change we can believe in, change we can get behind, all that good stuff.

The pro wrestling business, as long as it follows the pattern is has for years and years now, will surely die. That's what Punk believes and it's the last thing he wants to happen, seeing as he loves it so much. That and it's his livelihood.

But what exactly is the problem, or, more specifically, who? That would be the men and women who have been in power for as long as anyone can remember -- the McMahon family, which now includes former superstar turned WWE executive, Triple H.

"The Game" made recent comments that WWE doesn't need to evolve but UFC definitely does. And not only that, the extremely popular mixed martial arts organization isn't actually competition to pro wrestling's biggest company. It's a different brand of entertainment that has no bearing on ratings and pay-per-view buyrates and what not.

This is, of course, not the case and as long as Triple H and the McMahons seem to believe so, they'll continue to get crushed at the box office. In an interview with MMA Hour, Punk expands on this:

"I wouldn't say [MMA has] 'hurt' us, I think that might be a little harsh of a term, but to deny that UFC is our competition is a little ridiculous. Cirque du Soleil is our competition. Mad Men and Breaking Bad is our competition . I think everything that people spend their time on and their money on is our competition and to blatantly say that mixed martial arts has no barring on what's good or bad in our business, is silly; it's close-minded. You're putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound."

Punk directly contradicting what his bosses are saying to the media is a quick way to find himself back in the role of curtain-jerker and let's hope that doesn't happen because the reality is, he's right. MMA is most certainly competition to WWE. In fact, folks like myself only discovered it because of pro wrestling.

There's a crossover appeal that an intelligent thinking brain can never deny.

Triple H is a lot of things but stupid isn't one of them. He's known as the "Cerebral Assassin," both in storyline because of the character he developed but it applies to his ability to manipulate and position himself in the best light possible as well. But as Punk explains, his "ridiculous" statements are borne from a lack of education more than anything else.

"Pro wrestling as a whole in my opinion has a lot to do to get to where I would like it to go. I think the people who discredit mixed martial arts in pro wrestling have very antiquated ideas and honestly, I think it's an education thing. I've had many conversations with Triple H about mixed martial arts, and he just doesn't get it. It's funny, because pro wrestling many people don't get, and there's an old saying, 'Pro wrestling is religion.' They're very similar in regards that if you're trying to explain to somebody who doesn't get it, there is no explanation that will get them to get it. But someone who gets it, there is no explanation needed. It's just very black and white."

Indeed, UFC operates on almost the exact same business model WWE created and has exploited for years. The problem is pro wrestling has become a watered down, stale product while MMA has exploded into the mainstream and is growing more and more popular as the years go by.

And instead of Vince McMahon and Triple H deciding to learn a thing or two from a business that has passed them by, they've decided to ignore it and act as though it's not actual competition. An odd thing, considering how prudent they are as businessmen.

Punk is fighting an uphill battle that many others have lost before him. The tide, as they say, may be too strong to overcome.

Tweet Comment 9 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Read More: wwe, ufc, triple h, vince mcmahon, raw, cm punk, the game, pro wrestling, mma

Comments

The frustrating thing is

The UFC have found that the most important way to capture the fans’ imaginations is to give them the fights they want. Not the fights they think we want to see.

There are obviously a few exceptions over the years but this business model is the complete opposite of what the WWE has been pushing over the years and I strongly believe it will cost them dearly.

Dear WWE,
If your core product is this bad, how the hell do you expect anyone to invest time and money in any of your other shitty business ventures?

by Holls Hoyce on Sep 22, 2011 6:43 PM EDT reply actions

Punk’s comments are self-contradictory. Either MMA and wrestling require education to be understood, or they’re like religion in that no amount of education will win you over if you don’t get it on a gut level. So which is it?

Secondly, for some reason he is really short-selling the argument that wrestling and MMA are similar by saying that “all entertainment is competition.” While that’s true, the stronger argument is that MMA is what many wrestling fans wish that pro wrestling was and believed as children that it was: a shoot (for the record, I have no interest in watching two guys actually try to knock each other’s blocks off, but I understand why some people do).

Triple H is an extremely shrewd self-promoter and has risen to the top of the wrestling world, in part, by anticipating his competition. There is no doubt in my mind that he understands the threat posed by MMA to pro wrestling, but admitting that publicly would show weakness, something which is antithetical to WWE dogma. I’m also sure he knows that many fans see the product as middling, but again, why admit that openly? WWE is still making money had over fist.

The one thing I don’t understand is why Punk is publicly voicing his not-very-well-thought-out opinion. Maybe he’s decided he doesn’t like the view from the top.

by joliemadchen on Sep 22, 2011 8:14 PM EDT reply actions

Punk short-sells the argument because he wants to give the perception that he’s saying something he shouldn’t, while in a roundabout way giving a very corporate answer like “everything is our competition”.

by Keith Harris on Sep 22, 2011 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Not very well thought out? More like he’s just pointing out the obvious. Anyone can speculate what anybody is thinking but it is just that. If the ppv buy rates hasn’t shown that something needs to change in WWE than it never will be because of ignorance. We have the same thing that’s been going on for years, they give the titles to the same people which will either be Cena or Orton who are pretty much guaranteed to to be a champion at some point. The reason why MMA has evolved is because they have fighters who actually do work to get to where they are and you never know what’s going to happen. Anyone that discredits this is being ignorant themselves. While in WWE the ones who do bust their ass, they have to jump through hula hoops and walk through hell and back putting up with whatever torments Vince puts them through. It’s about politics plain and simple. Here’s a guy that showed his ass to the world on more than one occasion but yet there were performers who did nothing but help the company in anyway they can and they get shitted on. It took Henry what 15 years to be a world champion but had to deal with alot shit from fuckhead yes men over the years.

I’m sure HHH and the McMahons know UFC is competition and sure they may not admit but it’s do to them rather wanting to be politicians than help the business flourish the way it should and giving people something worthy of watching. I understand you want someone to represent your company but there’s only so many times you can make someone a champion before people get sick of it. Doesn’t anyone learn anything from the past? The NWO started out as the hottest thing around but you keep doing the same thing over and over again, it’s going to get worn out. It’s common sense.

People want to see things change and for anyone to not want it is being close minded but then again, alot of fans are already misguided and spending money on things they absolutely don’t need. All these merchandises they buy from companies, does anyone wear them outside of a show? Or even years from now? I still do but that’s me. The way I see it is some like to give HHH more credit then he deserves, if Punk is the only one that’s going to say it then so be it. If no one wants to admit, that’s going a vacation and running away from your problems or trying to. No matter how far you run it’s going to be there and HHH along with the McMahons need to see this but because they are to selfish to not want to and with Linda running for Senate to blow millions of dollars on a losing entity is just a damn shame because if affects the company as a whole and when it affects that, it affects the fans.

We’ve delt enough bullshit over the years because she was so hellbent on being an actual politician that nothing will change because they have to keep it PG 13. All the while they are losing money not just by doing the same shit weekly but her running is also making fans turn away from the actual product. If Vince really wanted some kind of change, he’d stop letting his wife help ruin the business. A reason for people like myself looking for that alternative is cause WWE who is still the biggest company in the country and maybe even the world is cause they don’t have any changes that UFC has or Indy promotions for that matter.

It doesn’t matter though what I think or what anyone does cause if they don’t see their own faults, then nothing will change no matter how much we want it. I think I said something like that already.

by congestedthoughts on Sep 22, 2011 9:00 PM EDT reply actions

I’m almost sure I’ve read or heard Paul Heyman making comments of a similar nature as Punk’s over what is WWE’s competition.

I think Vince is legitimately clueless about MMA. I actually think though that Trips knows but just doesn’t want to admit that MMA has had an effect on their business because he knows they don’t have a real answer or response to the moves the UFC is making. His comments may have been more about trying to save face in the public than anything else.

by Hardcase on Sep 22, 2011 9:19 PM EDT reply actions

Just 11 short years ago, WWE knew exactly what to do and its purpose.

by Sir Ingenious on Sep 22, 2011 10:05 PM EDT reply actions

WWE realized UFC was competition when they started doing the supershows. They're prepping the audience.

-Jim Cornette has attested to this: “Vince McMahon doesn’t watch anything that’s not his product.” I believe it. Vince has never watched any other wrestling but his, and relied on his agents to do his scouting. Which is why you have a gallery musclemen and strippers with no actual talent, because that’s what Johnny Ace is all about and wants to see.

-Dunn and others have insulated Vince McMahon and lulled him into thinking he’s not in the same vein as MMA and will thusly always have an audience. But as the attendance has shown, it’s not true anymore. WWE is edging ever closer to TNA numbers in crowds and audience.

- Riddle me this: do you ever see the Fertitas selling their product? No. You have a great pitch man like Dana White out in front, bearing the standard, who isn’t afraid to admit when his company puts on a terrible show, and takes PERSONAL responsibility if a match sucks. He’s not afraid to take a championship off someone or cut someone if they’re underperforming. In short, he makes it look like a legitimate business. He’s not working the social media or lying about anything.

-WWE, by contrast, acts like it’s better than you the fan, stuck in the old-time mindset that it’s a brotherhood. “You don’t understand the deep intricacies and nuances in a match or how stories are told.” There’s a lot of ego and politicking that grows from this, because it’s not up to your physical or charismatic ability to make you a champion, it’s whether an increasingly paranoid, isolated, and senile old man and his carny crew believe you deserve it. It takes it’s cues from movies, but acts towards its employees like they’re commodities. No other business has such a draconian attitude towards its ~~employees~~ independent contractors.

by KalShadar on Sep 22, 2011 10:44 PM EDT reply actions

Depends what demographic you're talking about

MMA isn’t competition for the younguns crowd who shouldn’t be watching legit beatdowns. But MMA is the natural next step up, so it’s wrestling’s job to keep the attention of those who like both but can only afford one.

Release...the KITTIES!

by GoForthAndDie on Sep 22, 2011 11:04 PM EDT reply actions