CM Punk Wrestling Style Revitalizes WWE RAW

CM Punk has added a lot to WWE RAW. CM Punk's wrestling style is completely different than any competitor we have ever seen in the WWE. His fast paced, yet well executed style with his diverse array of unorthodox moves is refreshing. Here are a few of CM Punk's favorite moves:

The GTS or Go To Sleep

This is CM Punk's current finishing move, imported from Japan. In it, he lifts you up on his shoulders in a fireman's carry position, then drops you down face first onto his knee. No one has kicked out of it yet.

Anaconda Vise

This was the finisher of choice when CM Punk first came to the WWE on ECW. It is a submission hold, where he would slam you down in a Rock Bottom position, grab and arm and pull it up over the opponent's head. He would then pull back on their head, causing great pressure on the neck.

Shining Wizard In The Corner

CM Punk uses this move just about every match, which is often referred to as a simple "knee to the face." He often follows this brutal move up with a running bulldog out of the corner.

Springboard Leaping Clothesline

CM Punk gets good height off the ropes, and this move shows that he is athletic enough to fly like his smaller counterparts.

Plancha

CM Punk will time to time leap to the outside of the ring onto one or multiple opponents, a truly surprising and devastating wrestling maneuver.

Pepsi Plunge

CM Punk has not done this move since he arrived in the WWE, though I eagerly await for the moment that he does it. However that moment may never come. The move itself is essentially a Pedigree off the top rope, so it is rumored that Triple H will not yet him use this destructive pro wrestling move.

Double Underhook Backbreaker

This is a move that at one time Chris Jericho used to do, though I haven't seen him do it recently. As someone who has experienced this move up close and personal, I can say for a fact that it hurts A LOT.

Hurricanrana

CM Punk can be seen doing this move on WWE RAW, where he holds the WWE World Championship. Every once in a while on the independent circuit, you could see CM Punk pull off a beautifully painful reverse hurricanrana.

CM Punk Strikes

CM Punk uses many unique kicks and strikes, including a spinning backfist as well as a roundhouse kick that has laid many opponents out.

That's about all of CM Punk's primary moves that you can see him perform every week at 9 PM on Monday Night RAW!

CM Punk vs. Batista at WWE's Great Amaerican Bash - A Preview

Soon, CM Punk will make his first PPV Title defense of a major title at WWE's Great American Bash. He will be defending it against a man who very much typifies everything that CM Punk is not. That man is Batista.

Batista is a muscled out... well, "freak." He has a massive physique that could only possibly be described as unnatural. Needless to say, it is pretty safe to assume that Batista has been popping some pills, if not using some syringes.

When Batista first showed up, he wasn't nearly as muscled. However as soon as he got into the Evolution group and started getting a push, all of a sudden his size ballooned. As a result, over the course of the next year or two his in-ring work went downhill because of his lumbering form. Huge, unnatural muscles tend to work against a performer expected to move around at high speeds.

Batista's matches ceased to be very entertaining, unless he was placed against someone smaller like Shawn Michaels. Even though Batista's size has gone down considerably since the Chris Benoit tragedy, he still lumbers about the ring, and has obviously lost a good deal of the flexibility and speed he used to possess, all due to his drug use.

So here is my question: Why doesn't CM Punk mention that? CM Punk is drug free and straight edge - what is the purpose of being that way if the WWE will not allow him to point out the advantages that gives him? CM Punk is in peak physical condition - Batista is an unnatural, roided out monster.

CM Punk should stand in the middle of the ring before the Great American Bash, and talk about Batista's drug use. He should show old videos of Batista performing, moving faster, then should show clips of some of his recent matches, where even small movements seem labored.

Maybe then, the WWE wrestling fans would realize why being straight edge really matters in professional wrestling.

CM Punk: New World Champion!

CM Punk has finally arrived.

After putting around on ECW and not really doing a whole lot (except for a meaningless ECW Title reign), CM Punk finally got drafted to RAW at the 2008 WWE Draft. Before that he had been misused and hadn't been winning a whole lot.

Monday June 30th, 2008 is a day that may live forever. It was 9 PM, the show was WWE Raw, and the show opened with JR coming out and giving a farewell speech, which was then interrupted by Edge. Edge gave a great heel promo, before saying that he would never defend the belt against a WWE RAW Superstar again.

That brought Batista out, his opponent from Night of Champions. Batista proceeded to slowly and a bit awkwardly beat down Edge, eventually ending with a weak looking Batista Bomb in the ring.

As Batista walked up the ramp to the back, the straight edge hardcore superstar CM Punk's music hit. He had the Money in the Bank briefcase and his own referee with him, and stormed the ring. CM Punk was practically jumping out of his boots as he waited for what seemed like a very slow match introduction before they finally rang the bell.

CM Punk walked over and picked up a prone Edge and put him in the GTS.

1. 2. 3! CM Punk wins! CM Punk wins! CM Punk wins!

Well, Edge certainly got a taste of his own medicine, seeing as how he's cashing in the Money in the Bank briefcase not once, but twice to win World Titles. CM Punk celebrated with his new World Title, in near tears.

As great as CM Punk is, this shows an amazing leap of faith in CM Punk by the WWE backstage crew and specifically Vince McMahon. For someone who was rumored to have a little bit of an attitude backstage (because CM Punk KNOWS how good he is just like HBK did back in '92) that's pretty amazing. It shows that Vince might start doing what's best for the business instead of pushing the tired, old and bland 'company guys'.

While this was a great moment for CM Punk, I can't help but feel that he will only be used as a transitional champion to get the belt from Edge to a top heel on RAW. I guess that's the way it goes, as I don't think they would trust him to carry their 'A' show right now. I immediately predicted after he won that he would be used as a transitional champion and drop the belt within the next 2 months to JBL, or perhaps (outside chance) Chris Jericho or a returning Randy Orton.

Sad but true, but it looks like we'll have to wait a while longer for CM Punk to get a long-term title reign. Then again, if the ratings suddenly jump with CM Punk carrying the show, who knows what might happen?

CM Punk: WWE - The Pinnacle of Professional Wrestling

CM Punk debuted in the WWE on the ECW brand starting in July of 2006. He immediately started cutting face style promos about his straight straight edge lifestyle. He also began to claim a Muay Thai background. He made his TV WWE wrestling debut on August 1st, 2006 at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The roof nearly came off of the place as the crowd went absolutely nuts for CM Punk. The journey had begun.

Our straight edge superstar then began a feud with Mike Knox over Knox's (kayfaybe) girlfriend, Kelly Kelly. After that feud, Punk went on to team with Degeneration-X and The Hardy Boyz at Survivor Series 2006, which his team one. At the abysmally awful ECW Pay-Per-View December To Dismember, CM Punk was the first knocked out of the elimination chamber match.

Soon after the PPV, CM Punk started a feud with Hardcore Holly who ended his 6 month singles undefeated streak on January 9th, 2007. He bounced around on ECW feuding with the likes of Matt Striker before qualifying for the 2007 Money in the Bank ladder match at Wrestlemania 23 by defeating Johnny Nitro. In that match CM Punk was knocked off the ladder mere seconds before Mr. Kennedy pulled the briefcase down - highway robbery if you ask me.

From then on CM Punk got involved with a stable named The New Breed, lead by Elijah Burke. He feuded with them for several months, which included a singles match between them at Judgement Day which he won. The feud culminated in a tag match at ECW One Night Stand 2007 that saw Tommy Dreamer, CM Punk & The Sandman defeat The New Breed in a tables match.

When then-ECW champion Bobby Lashley was drafted to RAW, he was forced to vacate the ECW title. A tournament was set up that eventually ended with a match at the Vengeance PPV. The scheduled participants in this match were CM Punk and Chris Benoit, however Benoit no-showed the event due to what the WWE called "personal reasons". Johnny Nitro was substituted for Chris Benoit and won the ECW Title, defeating CM Punk. We would find out a few days later that Chris Benoit had tragically murdered his wife and son, then taken his own life. CM Punk was torn apart as he looked at the opportunity before the PPV as wrestling a hero, and teared up the next night on RAW when they ran a Chris Benoit tribute (before they knew it was a murder-suicice).

Punk started a feud with ECW Champion Johnny Nitro, who now had changed his name to John Morrison. CM Punk failed to capture the ECW Title from John Morrison in their PPV match at Summerslam, but then finally succeeded on September 1st, 2007 on ECW Television.

Punk held on to the title from September 2007 to late January 2008, during which time he defended his title successfully against Elijah Burke, Big Daddy V, The Miz and John Morrison. On January 22nd, 2008 on ECW TV CM Punk finally lost the ECW World Championship to Chavo Guerrero after Edge interfered and speared CM Punk.

And then finally after years of hard work, struggle and dedication, CM Punk went to Wrestlemania 24 on March 30th 2008 and won the Money in the Bank Ladder Match, granting him a title match at any time within the next year for any title he wants. This elevates CM Punk to almost a main event level player, and I imagine that we will soon be seeing the spotlight shining quite a bit brighter on this young star.

CM Punk: Beginning of a Straight Edge Legacy

CM Punk, also known by his real name Phil Brooks, was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 26th, 1978. His rise from obscurity to the main event in the wrestling business is unparalleled. He is known as the straight edge superstar, and that's not only his gimmick, but also his lifestyle. While he is new to the WWE, he has been in the wrestling business for quite a while, his prior experience fueling his meteoric rise since he first showed up there.

CM Punk first got his start in wrestling in a backyard wrestling organization called the Lunatic Wrestling Federation. The name CM Punk arose when he was put into a tag team named the Chick Magnets, comprised of him and CM Venom. The great mystery is solved, as CM originally stood for 'Chick Magnet'. He didn't last long in that backyard wrestling federation though. Unlike his friends, CM Punk saw wrestling as more than a fun hobby - he wanted to make a go at the pros.

Our straight edge superstar then went and signed up at Ace Steel's wrestling school in Chicago. While he was training, he competed at St. Paul's Steel Domain Wrestling. It was there that he met another excellent wrestler with which he shares quite a history to this day, Colt Cabana. They became great friends and gradually began to work their way into the wrestling business together. On the independent circuit they formed a stable with other graduates of Ace Steel's wrestling school called the Gold Bond Mafia.

Most of CM Punk's early years on the independent circuit were spent wrestling for IWA: Mid-South. He had many feuds there with Colt Cabana and Chris Hero, as well as winning several titles, including the promotion's heavyweight strap. Punk's high profile matches with Colt Cabana drew attention from the wrestling business as a whole, and he soon started working in Ring of Honor and an emerging TNA.

Soon after Punk's debut in Ring of Honor, he turned heel and began a lengthy feud with Raven, involving many bloody matches. In full on heel mode, he would tell fans that he was better than them because he was abstinent, drug and alcohol free, and straight edge. This got over quickly with the fans. Later on in his Ring of Honor career, he teamed with Colt Cabana to win the ROH Tag Titles twice.

Meanwhile in TNA, Punk became a part of Raven's eclectic group 'The Gathering'. He was never very highly featured in TNA, and for many 'The Gathering' was seen as a flop angle redux. Punk then went on to quit TNA Wrestling when TNA refused to allow its wrestlers to also work Ring of Honor shows.

Back in Ring of Honor, Punk was having a series of highly acclaimed matches with Samoa Joe for the ROH World Title. In June of 2005, CM Punk accepted a deal with WWE, however went on to win the ROH World Title that same month from Austin Aries. CM Punk then went heel immediately, and as he defended his title started claiming that he was going to take the title with him to WWE. He finally lost the ROH World Title to James Gibson (known in the WWE as Jamie Noble) on August 12, 2005 in Dayton, Ohio. His final match with ROH (for the most part) was the very next night, a 2 out of 3 falls match that he lost 2-1 to his good friend Colt Cabana. CM Punk would later make one last unscheduled appearance in ROH on February 11th, 2006. He teamed Bryan Danielson to defeat Jimmy Rave and Adam Pearce in the main event of the evening.

Punk then started training with WWE developmental. He was assigned to then WWE developmental territory OVW and debuted on September 26, 2005. On November 9th, Punk went on to win the OVW Television Title, which he lost to Aaron 'The Idol' Stevens in a three way match on January 4th, 2006.

CM Punk then made his first debut in the WWE when he made a cameo as one of John Cena's 'gangsters' during his entrance at Wrestlemania 22 on April 2nd, then finally went on to win the OVW Heavyweight Championship on May 3rd. During this time he also captured and then lost the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship with Seth Skyfire. On August 30th, 2006 CM Punk finally lost the OVW Heavyweight Championship to Chet 'The Jet'. He was then brought up to the main WWE roster full time.

Check back often for more CM Punk news and notes!