The Post's Joseph Staszewski explores the world of professional wrestling in his weekly Post Match Angle.
A moment to wrap my head around, process, and reflect on why CM Punk is the best fifth man for Roman Reigns' Survivor Series team over Seth Rollins or Brock Lesnar creatively. It took a while.
Punk's star power and strong connection to Paul Heyman meant a call from Wiseman — after he reconnected — unless they started calling him CM Uso. There are obvious reasons.
However, after considering and taking into account two important pieces of information, Punk's presence does not bring back anything in the story of Bloodlines, but rather that it may contain a fresh, unfiltered voice. I started to see that it was an opportunity to turn up the volume. Even more.
After helping Punk clean out Solo Chicoa's bloodline ring, Reigns looked confused by his presence and inaudibly asked why he was there.
Punk, an original member of Paul Heyman, told Reigns, it's not about you, it's about him, pointing at Heyman. Reigns replied, “He's my wise man.” Punk jokingly retorted, “Let's see.”
Then, in June, an X user posted the only interaction between Punk and the Chicoa crew. Fearing for his life, Heyman asked the Voice of the Voiceless to take me away from the new Bloodline.
Heyman hinted in an interview with Sam Roberts in August that his return would set up a year's worth of storylines.
Then it clicked.
Punk's role in this regard has three aspects.
Reigns should see him as a threat to take Heyman away, and Punk helping OTC should irritate Rollins even more whenever the time comes for their feud. But more importantly, Punk needs to be an independent voice calling out Reigns for all the damage he has done.
Give Punk the mic next Friday and let Reigns absolutely tear it up.
“Do you know why I'm here? I'm here to help clean up the mess you left after WrestleMania,” Punk should say. “I'm here because after you lost to Cody Rhodes, you packed up and went home. You solo moved into the space you created and eventually you were nowhere to be found. Where was he when he powerbombed him into a table at Madison Square Garden and left him alone, fearing for his life?
“That's why I'm here to make sure this never happens again and to eliminate the people who hurt my friend Paul. I'm not here for you. I'm here for him as long as Solo has the power. Paul is not safe. I have proven that you cannot be trusted to protect him. He will always be in my care, even if it means taking him far away from you. I will always take care of him.”
Sure, Reigns can be cynical about Punk taking the ball and going home for a decade. Punk may be able to play a role in Reigns' success by choosing him to star in The Shield, but it will be hard to argue against him no matter what is said.
It immediately creates the necessary riff to make fans wonder if this union will actually work at Survivor Series, and foreshadows Punk and Reigns' eventual outburst.
We kind of know how Rollins' interaction with Lesnar and Reigns will end here. Punk's existence is far more freeing for both him and Heyman, and could include betrayal.
Let's start the next act.
ten count
If Kevin Owens hadn't defeated Randy Orton with a banned Piledriver, he would have made a convincing case for being the babyface of this story in a promo on SmackDown – a lie I couldn't see through it. It clearly got on a nerve with Cody Rhodes, causing him to lash out while attacking Carmelo Hayes, a man he had barely seen since Carmelo Hayes came to WWE.
The Julia Hart episode has been some of the highlights of AEW TV in recent weeks.
Perhaps the best part of the behind-the-scenes footage of CM Punk's comeback released by WWE is the look of nervousness, joy, and disbelief on his face right before he goes out.
When the time is right, Johnny Gargano should really give his friend Alex Shelley and the Motor City Machine Guns a boost. It would be fun to explore mega-heel Johnny Gargano instead of another split with Tommaso Ciampa.
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods broke up an explosive argument on Raw after simmering frustrations leading up to The New Day's 10th anniversary celebration. It was raw and nothing was off-limits – not even his loss to Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship in Kingston.
I was wondering why Chris Jericho and Ishii's contract signing would start in the locker room, but it made a lot of sense since Jericho tried to run away to the ring without signing. A nice twist on an old concept.
The conditions for the second Continental Classic are better than the first, but I was hoping to get Jay White back to eventually face Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada. Instead, we are looking forward to the first match between Okada and Ricochet in the final.
If Finn Balor isn't careful, he could suffer the same fate as Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley who tried to become the leader of Judgment Day.
Bayley helping Bianca Belair… a real show of trust or a decoy before a heel turn? Naomi certainly looked suspicious when the attack on Jade Cargill was brought up on Raw.
Congratulations to Ring of Honor Pure Champion Lee Moriarty. He will make his painting debut at NADA Miami 2024 during Art Week from December 2nd to 8th.
Moriarty's paintings seek to capture the dual nature of wrestling, often depicting masked wrestlers enjoying leisurely activities or embracing their more delicate nature.
This week's social media posts
Wrestler of the week
Kyle Fletcher, AEW
It was a coming out party for the 25-year-old Australian, who has spent much of his time as a tag team wrestler. He picked up the biggest win of his career on Saturday when he defeated Will Ospreay at Full Gear. Fletcher went head-to-head with perhaps the best in-ring performer in the world and showed real promise in his ability to tell a story in the ring with his expressions and intensity.
Next up is the Continental Classic spot. Here the sky moves forward infinitely.
Featured matches
Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Sami Zayn vs. Solo Sicoah, Jacob Fatu, Toma Tonga, Tonga Loa, Bronson Reed: Men's War Games at Survivor Series (Sunday) 6pm, Peacock)
This will be the first matchup for OG Bloodline since winning War Games two years ago, but this time they will be joined by a combustible element in CM Punk. Much of Bloodline's story hinges on the outcome of this match. If the OGs win, the new group may be able to achieve this. If Reigns loses, he will face Shikoa one-on-one for the title of tribe leader. Locke will eventually appear in this story, but Sunday feels like it came too soon.
