I write a wrestling column every Monday and Friday for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. It can be found online at TribLIVE.com.
Today, I wrote about RAW in Chicago, which has all kinds of buzz surrounding it with the fans and rumors for a CM Punk return. The following is an excerpt:
Monday Night RAW is going to be in Chicago, and fans are attempting to band together to hijack the show.
They plan to do this by voicing their displeasure at Chicago native CM Punk being absent from WWE programming since he went home the day after Royal Rumble.
The fans are going to pay for gas, parking and tickets to get in the building to be mad about something. Oh, and they'll probably buy a CM Punk shirt if some are available at the merchandise counter.
Who's working who?
If fans really wanted to hijack the show, nobody would walk in the building. If it's two minutes until ‘RAW' goes live and there is an almost empty arena, that gets the point across to WWE in one of the biggest markets in the country.
But that won't happen.
As much as the fans are upset about CM Punk leaving, they still will give their money to the “man” all the while trying to stick it to him. That “man” is Vince McMahon, and he has their money, and he has them hooked. They can complain all they want, but those fans are addicted to the product, especially critiquing it. They don't know how to not go to “RAW” if it's in their hometown.
WWE has made the mistake of not addressing the situation. As soon as Punk walked out, I felt they should have quickly addressed it, and it would have helped the situation move on. Not saying anything so far on WWE television has allowed it to be an elephant in the room.
I'm not suggesting the Chicago crowd won't still have strong emotions on the situation. However, I think McMahon should have taken the same action he did when Steve Austin walked out in 2002: Go to the ring and tell the people the truth. Tell them Punk was unhappy with some decisions in the company and went home.
Now, social media accounts are being created to get fans attending “RAW” in Chicago to revolt. Again, it's a revolt they have to pay to perform. There is a reason protestors and hippies are always on public property — they aren't paying the institution they are protesting.
And amid all this, strong rumors of a CM Punk appearance are circulating.
Will CM Punk return tonight? Click here to read reaction in the column.
