When CM Punk first found himself breaking his way into the main event scene years ago, he was highly annoyed by the amount of publicity he was receiving. It was a completely different animal for someone so notoriously anti-social. But eventually he began to deal with it. In fact, he began to see it as a good thing. He could use what ever amount of fame he had achieved to help pro wrestling. That was what he had always wanted and it was merely a tool. A means to an end.
But this was something different. A terrible tragedy had happened the likes that had never been seen in the industry and as World Champion of the promotion, he was getting calls for interviews and his in-box was destroyed by e-mails. Even his friends who weren't even a part of the company were getting plea's to speak with the media about. This was new to even him and he was struggling with how to deal with it.
CM Punk: "Fucking vultures."
Since his cell's voice mail was actually full at this point, he simply tossed it aside the large tour bus he traveled in. His home away from home where he preserved his sanity. But that sanity seemed like it was slowly ticking away. Slumped on a dark colored sofa in the stationary vehicle, his Cubs baseball cap hung low over his face. Since all of the autograph signings had been cancelled there wasn't a great deal to do except wait the night out. It's not as if anyone felt like doing much. Curt Hawkins was currently crashing in the bus since random passenger's drifted in and out. A much higher level of comfort than a rental. Hawkins had met Punk at an ROH show even more he stepped foot into a ring to train.
Curt Hawkins: "..This..blows.."
Hawkins added in an eloquent phrase.
CM Punk: "Sometimes I don't feel like doing this anymore."
Hawkins had raised an eyebrow. Anyone who knew Punk knew that being a pro wrestler was the only thing he had ever wanted to do. This was an alarming statement.
Curt Hawkins: "..Wait..what?"
CM Punk: "The guy was a fan. A fucking psychotic fan but a fan. He killed a fuckin' kid, man. What would have happened if Randy wasn't there? What if I had been there? Or you? Or Jess? Or any of us?"
He could only pause and shake his head.
CM Punk: "I just wanna wrestle. All that shit with Cena those last few months. Now this. It's a lot of pressure. Too much pressure. It's not even fun anymore."
Curt Hawkins: "Dude. Punk."
Hawkins had leaned forward on the sofa opposite to Punk, placing the X-Box controller he had in his hand on a nearby table.
Curt Hawkins: "The locker room needs you right now. We need guys like you and Jericho. Leaders."
CM Punk: "No one should have ever had to die for this."
Curt Hawkins: "I agree but we can't stop. Show goes on, right? I don't know Wes real well but he wouldn't want you to quit. Everyone wants to see you and Styles tear the house down. This company needs a stellar performance from you two right now. And we all know that if anyone can do it, it's you and AJ."
The tattoo covered, recent thirty four year old leaned back his head and closed his eyes.
CM Punk: "At least I know I can beat the shit out of AJ and he won't complain. It's going to be therapeutic right now. He's probably got a lot of steam he needs to let off as well."
The match was going to be a very physical contest now, that was for sure.
CM Punk: "Show goes on. You're right. I'm going out there with AJ and we're going to put on the best fucking match of the century. I want every single person that steps into that ring at the pay per view to step their game up and give those fans something to cheer for. Or I'll personally kick the living shit out of them myself."
Hawkins' eyes grew a litte wider and he rubbed a palm along the back of his neck.
Curt Hawkins: "..Uh..that's the spirit?"
CM Punk: "Just be lucky you don't have a match."
A half grin on the face of the Champion eased Hawkins' nerves slightly. Punk's fist came to a rest inside of his palm as he began to grind it into the flesh. He didn't have any answers. But neither did anyone else. So he would just have to make them up along the way. Whether or not he was still champion when the pay per view ended, he was putting it on his own shoulders to keep the roster from falling apart.
XXX
The Space Needle in Seattle, at some six hundred and five feet, was the highest point in the city. So it was only fitting that the World Champion would be inside. Someone on top of their game at the highest point, literally. Inside of the famed rotating Sky City restaurant to be specific. There sat the Champion, cross legged, on one of the tables, covered in a black cloth, where someone might enjoy a meal. Wearing his new, bright yellow "GTS" t-shirt with a simple pair of black shorts. His big shiny belt was resting over his shoulder. The large, rectangle shaped windows all around him showed off the entire landscape of the city, along with a sky filled with stars.
CM Punk: "Why exactly am I hanging out in a national landmark all by my lonesome? Because I want a piece of mind with an amazing view. And I'm the World Champion, The Best In The World, and I can do whatever I want. I could have a waiter in here right now serving me assorted cheeses with little tooth picks in them but I let him have his weekend off. Ya see.."
He gave a slight tug to his t-shirt, available for purchase now, giving the collar a stretch or two.
CM Punk: "I can wear a bright ass, ugly as sin shirt like this and people will go out and buy it. And actually wear this thing in public. Why? Because I'm CM Punk. And when I say I'm The Best In The World..people actually believe me. Everybody else's nicknames? Not so much. We can't clarify if the devil is really is a big fan of Kane. And Miz SURE as hell isn't anywhere on my list of favorite wrestlers. But when it comes to my moniker, it's a pretty safe bet."
Punk's face lost that cocky edge and suddenly became deathly serious.
CM Punk: "Everyone believes that except for one man, apparently. AJ Styles. Never really been the brightest of the bunch. Phenomenal? Yes. Intelligent? Not really up for any kind of debate. But if he believed I was the best, he would have never accepted my open challenge. So I see this as a slap to the face. Because, you see, I didn't offer up this title shot with the intention of it ever being answered. I said I would take the best my opponent could throw at me, give it back to them tenfold, and make them feel completely useless. So not only is AJ Styles doubting me, he is also calling me a liar. This is not something I take very lightly."
The Straight Edge Superstar held the gold plate of his title towards himself and gave a long look to his reflection.
CM Punk: "But, hey, like I said..Allen Jones has never been the smartest guy. It's something he will admit to himself. So I'm going to make an example out of him. I want to be able to step out into any arena in the country, ask for a challenger, and get no reply. And I think when I'm done with AJ I'll have achieved this utopia I'm striving for. This world where I rule this federation like a king and buxom wenches feed me big ass turkey legs. ..Vegan turkey legs? Use your imagination."
Punk's title came to a rest in his lap while his hands folded together like a comic book super villain that was planning a world destroying scheme.
CM Punk: "Do you know what the sad thing is? AJ and I are opposites that are a lot alike. Doesn't make any sense? I'll explain. He wears nice, fancy suits. I dress like a hobo! I'm a super genius. He's as dumb as a rock! I've got a ton of cool tattoos and he has one giant ass ugly one! But you see we both also share the same vice. And that's women. They love us. If you run down the list of women who have ever stepped into a wrestling ring..AJ or I have probably had sex with them. I've eased up a bit AJ is trying to fill my shoes and good for him. He, hopefully, has the basic motor functions to wear protection, although he probably goes in like a slobbering caveman. If that's the case, HEP A through Z might take him out before I do."
He shrugged his shoulders as if that outcome was no skin off of his nose.
CM Punk: "But there is something less superficial here. We've both stepped our games up. We've both improved in the ring. Both of us are nearly untouchable. I've beaten Kendrick, Miz, Jericho, DiBiase..AJ has done the same. If there was some weird bizarro world where I didn't exist, you might even be able to call AJ Styles the Best In The World."
This was something of a break through as Punk rarely ever complimented anyone, especially at that level.
CM Punk: "Unfortunately for him, I am very real and he's always going to have to settle for second best. AJ and I had wars in the past. In fact, I've had three Wrestle Mania matches with this company and I think the match I had with Styles was my best. A classic. Thing is? AJ could never beat me. Not once. Alright, there was a ladder match where he proved he could climb faster than me but that's only because he's half orangutan. A lot of weird breeding goes down in whatever redneck part of the States he was born in. But I don't recall him ever being able to pin me. Like I said, when it comes to me, AJ is always going to be the runner up. I mean, every look at the stables we've been in. Everybody knows that Elite was waaaay more bad ass than The Trilogy. I'm not even bragging, I'm not being cocky, these are just the cold hard facts."
Punk stood from the table he had been perched on like a bird of prey and approached the camera.
CM Punk: "AJ finally did manage to get himself a World Title run. A well deserved one. Honestly, I was happy to see it happy for him because he's an amazing talent. But do you want to know why he was able to hold onto it? Because I was too distracted by you-know-who to come take it from him. Maybe AJ will prove me and the world wrong. Maybe he has improved so much that he actually can finally defeat me. Maybe he will pull off what's been impossible for him in the past. But here's a reminder. In the Elimination Chamber match that I won this baby in? AJ was a part of it. I started off that match and I ended it. I went through AJ and four other guys. So if he couldn't get it done in that environment, how in the hell is he going to do it when he has to face me one on one, nose to nose?"
The sought after prize was adjusted on his shoulder. He held it tightly and it was going to take a force of nature to pry it away from the Chicago born grappler.
CM Punk: "Speaking of hell..I think Fanniversary is going to be the ninth layer for AJ when he's in there with me. I can't imagine the shock to his system when he discovers that his best still isn't enough. And I don't know if he still follows religion these days, but, come Sunday Night? I'm not going to be the Second City Saint. For AJ Styles, I'm going to be The Second City Satan because he trapped himself in the ring with a devil. And the most important thing I'm going to be when the night is over? The World Champion."
That old chest nut of lifting the title high above your head came back into play. It was just such a powerful image. And it was one Punk was hoping would repeat when the final bell rang.
