The Chicago Botch Continues

As I said earlier this week, the WWE got me with this CM Punk thing. On Monday, with the tournament to crown a new WWE Champion and the new angle of Triple H taking over, I thought they were already making post-Punk plans. This week, Punk returns with his WWE title belt to stand over John Cena and his WWE title belt.

When this whole angle started, I was a little bit skeptical about whether Punk was really going to leave or not. In a recent interview, Punk says he made the call to stay the night he won the title in Chicago. Still something not connecting for me, but Punk is still here. He never really left.

And that is one "botch", or mistake, that some fans are complaining about. The WWE brought him back too soon. Yes, they could have easily have had Punk show up at lowly events on the indies scene or continue to show up and irritate WWE superstars at events, but how long could have that gone on before fans started to guess that Punk really was coming back eventually? Mystery would have already been over and just lingering, much like the computer that used to run Raw. No one knows who the Anonymous Raw GM was, but does it even matter? It stopped being an intriguing mystery months ago. Same thing would have happened with Punk. Yes, he can do cool things that internet fans like, such as mocking Triple H at fan events, but it can still only last so long. Did the WWE pull the trigger too soon? Your call. My point is, it had to be pulled sooner or later. Pulling it right when Cena won the title was not a bad move.

That might be another "botch". Looks like the WWE has two Champions on Raw holding the same title. Not the first time this has happened in wrestling. Looks like these two will face each other again. That is obvious. Cena is still centerpiece. Punk has beaten him this year many times in singles matches. If Punk is staying, it is only a matter of time before he loses to Cena. That is not a bad thing. Heels get built up to lose to faces. It happens. Problem is, I am picturing CM Punk reverting back to the mediocrity that had dirtsheets and fans saying he was unhappy with how he was being treated and pointing to the evidence of all his PPV losses over the last year and whatever else. Paul Heyman will be back commenting on how the WWE is not using Punk enough. To put it simple, I still see Punk ending up like Nexus. Even if he gets a Wrestlemania match against Triple H or Steve Austin, Punk will fall back to being under Cena. If there was another face on Raw near centerpiece status or legend status, Punk would be even more screwed. There is always the chance that Punk would take a position like that, and so be treated somewhat like Randy Orton was when he and Cena were both on Raw. Nevertheless, the momentum Punk has now will be lost sooner or later for the benefit of Cena.

Then there is the lingering botch that hurts the WWE the most. Ratings are still at 3.2. No huge drop from the previous week, no raise, but should there have been some kind of big change? They advertised the crowning of a new WWE Champion, then had John Cena face Rey Mysterio for the title later on, then had CM Punk return, and throw in Triple H somewhere in there. With all this controversy and having Punk show up to cause an uproar at the convention last week, it is kind of sad that ratings are even. Not one of Raw's overall ratings in July 2011 was more than Raw's overall ratings for July 2010. The controversy really started this month, with CM Punk "leaving" with the title and Triple H "taking" power. Last year, with Nexus, the angle started before July. It seems like the WWE should focus on strengthening their midcard. I'm sure this CM Punk stuff is doing well, but the overall product seems weak.