tripleh23
Superstar
Joined on: Aug 9, 2006 14:57:03 GMT -5
Posts: 790
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Post by tripleh23 on Jun 28, 2021 8:16:01 GMT -5
So I know yesterday was the 10 year anniversary of CM Punk's pipebomb. But little did I realize it was also the 19 year anniversary of John Cena's debut. So historically, which of these two wrestling moments is more significant?
I think its Cena's debut. He defined wrestling in WWE for so long. While as much as I absolutely love the pipebomb, its effects were more short term and only shine a light on problems still plaguing the company today.
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Post by MKSavage on Jun 28, 2021 9:45:02 GMT -5
Is neither an option? Personally, neither of these guys were my favorite, or even close, and they didn't make me want to watch wrestling.
The pipebomb could have been bigger, because I think the crowd wanted to root for Punk but, it really didn't do anything for wrestling or Punk. The ratings didn't go up and Punk was pushed to the top but never really given the top spot by the company, and he was gone not too long after that. I think the moment is made out to be a much bigger deal than it actually is, mainly by the "smart" fans that like it when the industry pulls back the curtain, but it didn't do anything for wrestling so it doesn't seem to be that important. Had Punk gone on to become a massive star and boosted the ratings to new heights - which were at all-time lows at the time - we may have looked back on the pipebomb like people look back on the Austin 3:16 promo or Hogan beating Sheik.
As for Cena, I really can't stand the character. He was one of the reasons I stopped watching wrestling in the early/mid 2000s. He was on top for a very long time, so he deserves some credit for that, but he resided over the WWE when it went from averaging 3-4s (and sometimes higher) in the ratings to sub 2s in the early 2010s. Granted, not all of that is his fault. The WWE went way too far with the PG era - pretty much making wrestling softer than Disney movies, and the company didn't do him any favors by pushing him to be this superhuman guy who always got the title shot - even when fans wanted someone else, but he was the top guy in the company so that falls on him.
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Post by rkmo: Autonomous Meat Shield on Jun 28, 2021 11:49:48 GMT -5
In the moment, definitely Punk. It was a crack in the perception of WWE's micromanaging style and felt so cathartic, Punk expressing a portion of fans' displeasure and shattering arbitrary taboos that felt long overdue . Of course the angle went sideways and for the most part, his most prophetic lines proved out to be the most pessimistic: him merely being a spoke on the wheel, the company continuing to be considered successful despite its many asserted flaws, and especially the audience still consuming a lackluster product (to be honest, a philosophy to which I personally don't subscribe). The only apparent effect was having another moment WWE can promote for its old "anything can happen" motto.
As far as which moment had more long-lasting ripples, definitely Cena. Though the "ruthless aggression" moment wasn't as flashy, just the fact it featured the eventual 16-time World Champion and what would become the embodiment of Vince's stubborn refusal to adjust to fan response makes it more impactful in the long run. If it weren't for them proving they can succeed while resisting fan sentiment with Cena, their Big Dawg obsession might never have taken hold.
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Post by PJ on Jun 28, 2021 12:46:42 GMT -5
Cena as he has had a major impact on the wwe regardless if it was good/bad/indifferent. Punk’s “pipe bomb” was essentially a scripted shoot. There’s no doubt in my mind that Vince knew exactly what Punk was going to say before he went out and dropped the “Pipe Bomb”. And like I said in the other pipe bomb thread it didn’t even work at the time of it to me. Because it wasn’t believable. And it didn’t have an impact past the summer.
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Post by jason88cubs on Jun 28, 2021 13:11:34 GMT -5
Idc for either guy but I said Cena
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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on Jun 29, 2021 1:06:49 GMT -5
Cena's debut did nothing. It wasn't until Cena became the Dr. of Thuganomics did he not get finally gain some traction and the fans started to cheer him on.
Punk's pipe bomb was hot for one night and one night only. By the following week, it was back to the same old crap as usual for WWE Monday Night Raw.
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Post by LA Times on Jun 30, 2021 9:22:42 GMT -5
Cenas debut by far. He ended up carrying the company for over a decade and is one of the top 5 biggest stars in wrestling history whether people like him or not. What punks pipe bomb could've achieved was wasted after summer slam.
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Post by Nivro™ on Jun 30, 2021 10:20:28 GMT -5
Cena was a generational star in the likes of Austin, Hogan and Sammartino.
Punk is just a solid worker who's an indy darling
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