here have been many potential feuds and matches over the course of
wrestling history that didn't come to fruition for whatever reason. Fans
often look back and wonder "what if," but that simply leads to
disappointment. One dream rivalry that should never reach that point,
though, is CM Punk vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.It
is difficult to think of two gimmicks that are more perfect to oppose
each other than Punk and Austin's. Punk is a straight-edge heel who
believes that he is better than everyone else and craves being called
the best wrestler in the world. Austin is a beer-guzzling, no-nonsense
face who knows that he's the best but doesn't look for confirmation from
anyone else.
Punk and Austin are tailor-made for each other, and it would
be an absolute shame if the fans were deprived of it. Talk of a
potential match between them started over a year ago when Austin became
much more visible as host of Tough Enough, and while there isn't any
true indication of when that match might be, I feel like it will be
sooner rather than later.
That Attitude Era connection has come up quite a bit recently with the impending release of the WWE '13 video game. The biggest feature in the game is the inclusion of an Attitude Era story mode as well as many playable characters from that time in wrestling history. The main focus, however, is unquestionably Austin as he even has his own collector's edition available.
THQ has released some interview segments in recent weeks regarding the game and one of great interest was a debate of sorts between Punk and Austin that was moderated by Jim Ross. The two of them talked about the differences between the Attitude and PG eras and also about how each of them would fare in the past and present.
The discussion became contentious, and it got to the point where it was unclear whether they were talking about the game or real life. Punk said that he would beat Austin in any era, and Stone Cold offered the opposite opinion. It was clearly a calculated move by the WWE and a precursor of things to come.
Many have targeted WrestleMania XXX as the event where the dream match will come to fruition, and that is definitely a possibility, but I'm optimistic that it will happen at WrestleMania XXIX this coming April in East Rutherford, N.J. Whatever the case, it's a matter of when—not if—this match, and the feud that goes with it, is going to happen.
Austin would then challenge Punk at WrestleMania the next night on RAW and the entire feud could be built on disrespect. Punk will say that Royal Rumble was supposed to be his night but that Austin just had to steal the spotlight and relive his past glory. There is so much pointing to the match happening that it simply can't be ignored. Punk is one of the biggest stars in WWE currently, but he can't reach legendary status until he has a WrestleMania match for the ages, and Austin would help provide that. Austin is the most controversial wrestler in WWE history and Punk holds that title for the present day, and I don't believe there is anything that can stop them from meeting in the ring at some point.
That Attitude Era connection has come up quite a bit recently with the impending release of the WWE '13 video game. The biggest feature in the game is the inclusion of an Attitude Era story mode as well as many playable characters from that time in wrestling history. The main focus, however, is unquestionably Austin as he even has his own collector's edition available.
THQ has released some interview segments in recent weeks regarding the game and one of great interest was a debate of sorts between Punk and Austin that was moderated by Jim Ross. The two of them talked about the differences between the Attitude and PG eras and also about how each of them would fare in the past and present.
The discussion became contentious, and it got to the point where it was unclear whether they were talking about the game or real life. Punk said that he would beat Austin in any era, and Stone Cold offered the opposite opinion. It was clearly a calculated move by the WWE and a precursor of things to come.
Many have targeted WrestleMania XXX as the event where the dream match will come to fruition, and that is definitely a possibility, but I'm optimistic that it will happen at WrestleMania XXIX this coming April in East Rutherford, N.J. Whatever the case, it's a matter of when—not if—this match, and the feud that goes with it, is going to happen.
Austin would then challenge Punk at WrestleMania the next night on RAW and the entire feud could be built on disrespect. Punk will say that Royal Rumble was supposed to be his night but that Austin just had to steal the spotlight and relive his past glory. There is so much pointing to the match happening that it simply can't be ignored. Punk is one of the biggest stars in WWE currently, but he can't reach legendary status until he has a WrestleMania match for the ages, and Austin would help provide that. Austin is the most controversial wrestler in WWE history and Punk holds that title for the present day, and I don't believe there is anything that can stop them from meeting in the ring at some point.
