WWE: A returning CM Punk needs Roman Reigns

CM Punk and Roman Reigns are two polarizing opposites in the pro wrestling world. Reigns is the coroneted, albeit lukewarm, top babyface star of the WWE. Punk is the displaced and overlooked star act that walked out of the company much to the chagrin of his cult-like following.

Reigns has always been viewed as the scripted, overproduced, corporate creation, while fans and critics see Punk as the underground, grassroots, corporate problem child. You can’t get too much different than that. With Punk returning to the WWE scene on WWE Backstage, opposites are primed to attract. CM Punk and Roman Reigns need each other.

I understand that they are polarizing opposites inside the WWE ecosystem, but their business fates and the business fate of WWE are now intricately intertwined together.

CM Punk needs Roman Reigns. It was all fun and games on Twitter last week when pigs flew, Hell froze over, and CM Punk returned to the wrestling world with a surprise appearance on FS1’s WWE stage show, WWE Backstage. Punk walked out to Cult Of Personality as Renee Young, Paige, and others shrieked in excitement. Punk looked like a star as he spoke into the camera and said, “just as they think they got the answers, I change the culture.”

Mr. Punk, that’s all well and good, but you’ll need some answers as well. The appearance? Fun and exciting, of course, but loaded with residual affects riddled with hypocrisy.

The first being that CM Punk is back with the WWE. Sure, it’s a FOX contract, but he’s on a WWE television show. He’s back as a part of the team now and whether Vince McMahon signs his checks or not, Punk is helping WWE deliver strong ratings on the biggest platform they’ve ever had. Because of that, not only will every pipe bomb he drops on the show be questioned with furrowed brows, but his position as the fan’s anti-WWE hero is lost as well. The root of his beloved character is chopped off at the knees.

Enter Roman Reigns.

Should Punk lace up the boots again and return to the squared circle, facing off against Roman Reigns gives him his rebellious credibility back.

Let’s call a spade a spade. Gallivanting around on the biggest corporate network in the country doesn’t scream “punk rock,” “DIY,” or “indy.” Those are important qualities of the Punk character and qualities that he’ll need to earn back now that he’s on Backstage without an authentic edge. Punk fighting Roman Reigns positions himself against the corporation.

Reigns is a corporate entity built in a boardroom that exemplifies virtually every aspect of WWE that a major chunk of the fan base dislikes. Punk wrestling corporate Reigns gives him his edge back and allows him to play the anti-authority figure again while earning back his punk rock stripes. Reigns gives Punk his gimmick back.

Punk needs Reigns for more than just that. He’s 41 years old and has been out of the ring for six years. Can he perform at a high level and live up to expectations he set for himself when he was 35? Time will tell.

Roman Reigns alleviates that problem.

Reigns can deliver in big time matches where his role is clearly defined. Against Punk it would be. The WWE crowd would line up on Punk’s side of the house simply because he was back in the ring again. That solidified reaction would free Reigns up to be himself and thus create an environment that would render the technicality of the match a distant second priority. In that scenario, the pressure is off of Punk to have a four star classic that he may be incapable of having at this point in his career.

Lastly, Roman Reigns is the biggest star that WWE has on its roster outside of Brock Lesnar. All due respect to Seth Rollins and others, but a returning CM Punk needs to work with the biggest star possible and on the biggest stage. He’s already wrestled Lesnar on a major show, so Reigns is next on the list. Seth Rollins can beg on Twitter all he wants, but even today, he’s the Robin to Reigns as Batman in WWE. Big time stars work with big time stars to do big time business. Reigns vs. Punk on the marquee prints money.

Roman Reigns needs CM Punk.

Since his recovery from cancer and return to the company Reigns has feuded with Drew McIntyre, Elias, Shane McMahon, Erick Rowan, and now King Corbin. It’s a cast of misfits that have doused Reigns with irrelevancy for nearly a year now. Enter CM Punk.

Punk revitalizes the Reigns brand and gives Reigns a platform to be the top draw that WWE constructed him to be while Punk was absent from the company. In a match with Punk, fans finally would have the all clear to openly hit Reigns with the pent up frustration and negativity simmering amongst them for years. Reigns would be refreshed. For too long, Roman has been saddled with a character that drowns as he tries to finesse a role that runs counter to the true crowd reaction he gets.

Against Punk, Reigns can be himself, soak in whatever reaction he receives, and finally find his comfort zone as a performer. In addition, Roman Reigns needs some CM Punk in him as a businessman. Suffering succotash, Jack and the beanstalk, and puppies barking to his entrance music are key examples of angles and segments that should have been nixed by Reigns as the top star in the company. Working with Punk can show Reigns how to pull the trigger and use the leverage he has to his advantage. With that, Reigns could reach new heights as WWE’s top star.

WWE needs them both. Anyone out there have a WrestleMania main event in mind? Rhonda Rousey is out of the company. Brock Lesnar has already wrestled every act that would be worthy of a WrestleMania main event with him and The Rock isn’t risking his Hollywood dollars to relive his glory days in the wrestling ring. Enter CM Punk and Roman Reigns together.

The story writes itself. It started with four words. “Make Roman look good.” Four words echoed from the mouth of Punk on the Art Of Wrestling podcast that defined an era of WWE while serving as one of many catalysts to his six-year WWE exile. With Punk back in the fold, those four words now carry new meaning and the avenue to a WrestleMania main event and large, Saudi-less dollar signs for WWE.

CM Punk loves playing coy when discussing his future in wrestling. As of today, he’s not interested in a match. Tomorrow, he very well might be. He’s a man playing his cards to squeeze out every ounce of juice that his return to wrestling affords him. Punk’s a true pro wrestling outlaw in that respect. Bruiser Brody would have been proud. There’s a time to do business though and if he returns to the ring, that business is Roman Reigns.