S.J. Maximus
Championship Contender
I'm always the first guy to invade comparison threads and tell the OP that guys aren't 'the second coming of other guys' or 'this guy in 2011' but no matter how hard I try dissuade them, there are 2 comparisons that have always persevered and remained to exist. Coincidentally (or maybe not, I don't know), Both comparisons have to do with the legendary Texas Rattlesnake Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Once upon a time in a year called 2010, there was actually an IWC darling who was not CM Punk. This darling, like Punk in 2011, had come into the year as a top heel but would soon turn into a top face. His carelessness, selfishness, and aggression just got the crowd crazy and every time his music hit the crowd popped big. As a matter of fact, they popped so loud that people questioned if Cena was still the top face. At this point, WWE took advantage of this by putting the IWC darling in multiple segments a night, doing his finishing move whenever he wanted to whoever he wanted and he continued to get the loudest pops of the night. This man, Randy Orton, then went on to win the WWE Championship, which is when they completely altered his character. They made him gave some random "extra gear" that he could kick into, they made him spasm on the mat for a reaction, they made him pose to the crowd for a reaction, and worst of all they made him smile and pander to the crowd. Today, Orton is far from an IWC darling but the story I said is very reminiscent of Stone Cold until the part where he changes.
CM Punk on the other hand, used reality and his wit to win over fans. He brought up backstage issues, called people by their real names, referred to himself as the voice of the voiceless (IWC) and continues to evolve his character. He only really outpopped Cena at Money in the Bank in his hometown, yet he continues to be the true focal point of RAW as well as the entire WWE product. He has been in the main event of the last 3 pay-per-views and has managed to win the WWE Title twice, for 2 very controversially short reigns. My question to you is, which man, CM Punk or 2010 Randy Orton, resembles the great Stone Cold more? Which one was/is more capable of having the impact he had? Which one was/is more likely to have the impact he had?
If you ask me, 2010 Orton was almost a complete replica of 1997/8 Stone Cold Steve Austin. They were both a top heel who was used to help put over a face (for Austin it was an increasing irrelevant Bret Hart, for Orton is Rhodes or Dibiase) and increase his own heat, but won over the crowd inadvertently and became extremely over with the fans. IMO, they both won the crowd over by being carless, selfish, and ruthless while also talking mad shit (cutting great promos in the process). They both had those finishers that came out of nowhere and could be struck at anytime on anyone (many celebrities have been hit with Stunners and RKO's). If they didn't make Orton smile, pose and win the title in 2 months I guarantee you that he would've continued on Austin's path of chasing the title for a year and then finally winning at WrestleMania in a classic WM moment.
I've rambled enough. Thoughts? Who is more 'Stone Cold' (pun intended)?
Once upon a time in a year called 2010, there was actually an IWC darling who was not CM Punk. This darling, like Punk in 2011, had come into the year as a top heel but would soon turn into a top face. His carelessness, selfishness, and aggression just got the crowd crazy and every time his music hit the crowd popped big. As a matter of fact, they popped so loud that people questioned if Cena was still the top face. At this point, WWE took advantage of this by putting the IWC darling in multiple segments a night, doing his finishing move whenever he wanted to whoever he wanted and he continued to get the loudest pops of the night. This man, Randy Orton, then went on to win the WWE Championship, which is when they completely altered his character. They made him gave some random "extra gear" that he could kick into, they made him spasm on the mat for a reaction, they made him pose to the crowd for a reaction, and worst of all they made him smile and pander to the crowd. Today, Orton is far from an IWC darling but the story I said is very reminiscent of Stone Cold until the part where he changes.
CM Punk on the other hand, used reality and his wit to win over fans. He brought up backstage issues, called people by their real names, referred to himself as the voice of the voiceless (IWC) and continues to evolve his character. He only really outpopped Cena at Money in the Bank in his hometown, yet he continues to be the true focal point of RAW as well as the entire WWE product. He has been in the main event of the last 3 pay-per-views and has managed to win the WWE Title twice, for 2 very controversially short reigns. My question to you is, which man, CM Punk or 2010 Randy Orton, resembles the great Stone Cold more? Which one was/is more capable of having the impact he had? Which one was/is more likely to have the impact he had?
If you ask me, 2010 Orton was almost a complete replica of 1997/8 Stone Cold Steve Austin. They were both a top heel who was used to help put over a face (for Austin it was an increasing irrelevant Bret Hart, for Orton is Rhodes or Dibiase) and increase his own heat, but won over the crowd inadvertently and became extremely over with the fans. IMO, they both won the crowd over by being carless, selfish, and ruthless while also talking mad shit (cutting great promos in the process). They both had those finishers that came out of nowhere and could be struck at anytime on anyone (many celebrities have been hit with Stunners and RKO's). If they didn't make Orton smile, pose and win the title in 2 months I guarantee you that he would've continued on Austin's path of chasing the title for a year and then finally winning at WrestleMania in a classic WM moment.
I've rambled enough. Thoughts? Who is more 'Stone Cold' (pun intended)?