WWE featured a number of noteworthy segments and announcements on the 1000th edition of RAW, but all served as build-up for the show’s conclusion: a heel turn for CM Punk.
Unlike a typical WWE heel turn, which usually comes from a cheap-shot attack or a promo dressing down the fans, Punk’s turn was built organically into his WWE Championship match with John Cena.
After executing the Attitude Adjustment on Punk, Cena would have been en route to a successful Money in the Bank cash in, had the referee not been inadvertently knocked out. In addition to ruining Cena’s chances of getting a pinfall victory, the ref bump also enabled a disgruntled Big Show to head down to the ring for an interference. Show delivered a knockout punch to Cena as Punk looked on in awe.
At this point, Punk sold the moral challenge. He could take advantage of Show’s assault, work to wake the referee up, pin Cena and claim the championship. Alternatively, he could also do the right thing and allow Cena to recover. He sold the dilemma for a few seconds but then ultimately decided to go for the pinfall.
Cena predictably kicked out, but before he could turn the match around, Show returned to interfere and draw a disqualification. That assured Punk would leave RAW with his belt intact.
As Show continued his beating, Punk made no effort to help his fellow babyface and actually left the ring when The Rock made his way to the ring to make the save. But as Rock set up the People’s Elbow, Punk returned to the ring and surprised Rock with a clothesline. He delivered the GTS to the Great One before exiting up the ramp to a chorus of boos.
Rooting the turn in an honest dilemma helped attract legitimate fan emotion to the situation, and it should pay dividends in terms of making fans care about Punk’s direction. His ability to complain about guys like Cena and Rock overshadowing his championship run is still intact, but he also has the option to play up the significance of protecting his belt at all costs.
It also represented an interesting contrast to last summer’s Money in the Bank match with John Cena. In that match, Cena ultimately cost himself the championship by preventing Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis from executing a screwjob finish on Punk. Here, Punk had the option to do the right thing, and instead did what was most likely to protect his championship.
