All Hail CM Punk

The WWE just pulled off one of the great storylines in professional wrestling. They gave CM Punk the WWE Title, in a great match at the Money in the Bank PPV. Now, why is this news? The current storyline is that CM Punk’s contract is up, and he was to face John Cena for the WWE title just hours before the contract was to end. That, in the storyline, meant that potentially Punk would leave the WWE with the title. And he used his “what, are you going to fire me?” card perfectly. And last night (SPOILER ALERT) he won the WWE Title in an epic match against John Cena, in which the hometown crowd in Chicago clearly favored Punk over Cena. It’s news because Punk spent the past few weeks ranting against the WWE- on live TV- and their ossified corporate structure. See Punk's "Worked Shoot" promo and Punk vs. Vince vs. Cena

Yes, the WWE is written entertainment, but it’s also very, very, true.

 

The WWE has spent the better part of the last 6 to 7 years forcing a corporate structure down its fans’ throats.  It has gotten to the point where they’ve missed moneymaking opportunities time and time again, and seriously damaged their outlook. Punk has managed to rise to the top of the WWE, only to watch the corporate culture of the company lock him down repeatedly. I’ve seen the guy wrestle personally, in the WWE and in Ring of Honor (ROH). He’s one of the best workers and mic talkers the industry has ever seen- if given the opportunity. And what does he get for it?

He spent the better part of the last two years slowly being dumped down the roster.  Why?

Wither Egypt?

I've been both a supporter and a detractor of the "Arab Spring" in Egypt. I understand the frustrations of the Egyptian people, having to deal with the dictatorship of Mubarak and a horrendously crappy economy. I am happy that they want peace and democracy, and are willing to achieve it peacefully. But at the same point, I know that it isn't as easy as 1, 2, 3 to reach for a viable democracy. I fear that this revolution (for lack of a better term) has more in common with 1789 rather than that of 1989.

This problem is readily apparent in this transcript of a meeting with Michael J. Totten and a senior member of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood. You can read that here: Hanging with the Muslim Brotherhood.

Read on after the jump.

Calling All Hockey Fans

I'm a huge hockey fan (New York Islanders!) and when the NHL has a major trade, draft, or free agency day, it's like the lotto for me. I enjoy the frenzy that comes from it. So, July 1st was the official 1st day of NHL free agency this year, and alot went down. Check it out here: TSN NHL, and here The Hockey News.

                                   (yes, I used to be an Islander. Sorry.)


However, every year there are teams that do good in the free agency and trade market, and others who completely bomb on it. I should know- being an Islanders fan, I've watched alot of great NHL'ers leave the Islanders because Mike Milbury was an idiot for a General Manager. Hey, Bruins fans: You're welcome to Zedeno Chara. And also Roberto Luongo.

Anyways, here's my short list of winners and losers in the NHL free agency crazyday fest: