CM Punk's Inevitable Heel Change

Punk’s Straight-Edge preaching did not cease this week – but found new ways to irritate the Charismatic Enigma. Jeff Hardy does not hide his past, but openly admits being suspended twice, and despite his past, he’s been clean for over a year.

Yet, that’s not enough for Punk, since he self-righteously states that alcohol has never touched his lips, or gotten mixed up with drugs. Punk, noticing the kids in the arena wearing Hardy t-shirts and arm sleeves, tells Jeff that he should learn to be perfect because the kids look up to him as a hero; and if he doesn’t, he’ll end up a statistic. Jeff vehemently knocked Punk out of the ring – J.R. jokingly commented, “Punk’s the first guy to get knocked down, that’s a statistic.” Jeff Hardy has always been his own man, and he, like everyone else, makes mistakes – but to be considered a possible drug overdosed statistic is dehumanizing.

Punk contested that night against John Morrison in another non-title match – suffering the same result. Morrison may have lost to Dolph Ziggler last week, but it’s no fluke that his two consecutive wins over the Straight Edge should garner him a future World Heavyweight Title match against the winner of Night of Champions. Punk failed to adhere to his own preaching of sportsmanship – refusing to shake Morrison’s outstretched hand.

 But instead of calling it a night, Punk joined J.R. and Grishman for Jeff’s Tag Team Match. As the match progressed – Jeff threw Jericho into Punk’s vicinity. The two set off death stares to one another – and as Jeff turned his back Punk threw Jericho, causing Jeff to collapse chest-first into the side of the ring apron. Mysterio couldn’t believe Punk’s actions, since, isn’t Punk supposed to be one of the good guys? Through the distraction – Ziggler attacked Mysterio with his neckbreaker. Punk is far from being good, because anger consumes him. Even Jericho laughed because he knows that Punk is turning heel.


Jericho turned heel after realizing that the fans pandered to the hypocritical lies of Shawn Michaels; and he knows that Punk will turn as well, so long as the fans continue to cheer and accept Jeff Hardy and his past.