Question: has CM Punk left WWE forever?

Everyone in the entire world seems to already know this, but just in case – stories suggest that CM Punk has walked out on WWE, hence his absence from Monday Night RAW.

There’s always the wobble over whether this is real or kayfabe, but, like the Daniel Bryan/Royal Rumble saga, this is also being covered by mainstream media; and although WWE are sticking to their “no comment” line – as they did over the weekend – they don’t need to, there’s enough hysteria (and, obviously, interest) being whipped up without them having to do anything.

Question: what was your WWE Best PPV match of 2013?

Idly watching WWE’s latest home DVD release – Best PPV Matches of 2013 – was an odd experience for me.

To be honest, give me a show or compilation with Renee Young presenting and you can guarantee I’ll watch – she’s smart, she knows her stuff, and she has a real personality – a terrific addition to the WWE’s reporting team.

But even with Young doing the links between matches, it seemed a bit strange to me to watch PPV matches in isolation – out of the context of their PPVs and their broader storyline. Although I saw all last year’s WWE PPVs, watching them back in this setting was like watching them for the first time, entirely free of the baggage I brought to them initially.

Obviously MY best PPV matches of 2013 would mostly involve the Shield, CM Punk and Daniel Bryan, but I understand and appreciate that this has to be evened out to appeal to people who aren’t ladysmarks, so of course you’ve got John Cena v the Rock and Alberto Del Rio v Rob Van Dam as well.

Fact: Monday Night RAW can be amazing just for half an hour

You might have seen on Twitter today that some of the folk in the British wrestling community have been posting only nice tweets – none of the negativity and bitching that we normally get on there.

And in that spirit, I’ve revised the blog I was going to write today.

Facts from Friday Night Smackdown, Manchester Arena, Tuesday 12th November 2013

As always, a brief round-up of my reaction to the episode of Smackdown that’ll air this Friday, and which we saw filmed last night. Spoilers abound. (We also saw Main Event matches but I don’t care about that because if it’s not on Sky Sports, it doesn’t really exist.)

Fact: CM Punk’s ‘Grammar Slam’ needs a spelling bee

I could not love CM Punk’s Grammar Slam featuring “they’re”, “there” and “their” more. I may use it as a teaching aid for my first years next semester.

But then…then I saw this (on the “Then/Than” episode). 

Facts about Wrestlemania 29: CM Punk deserved to lose to the Undertaker

All internet carping aside, I really enjoyed the extension of the Undertaker’s streak for 21-0.

That is despite being a devoted CM Punk fan, and an admirer of Paul Heyman’s work to the extent that I believe he is the best thing to happen to WWE in the past two years.

Because, let’s face it, Punk deserved to lose.

Fact: CM Punk has been WWE Champion for a year

A few days late, but congratulations to CM Punk for passing the 365-day mark as WWE Champion.

Commiserations to Paul Heyman for not scaring that flunkey enough to ensure that balloons were an overwhelmingly integral part of Punk’s celebration.

Review: WWE RAW, Manchester Arena, November 3rd 2012

Isn’t it adorable to see kids at WWE shows? They cheer, they shout, they scream, they mimic the taunts and moves of their heroes, they completely believe everything they’re seeing is real.

And they get really annoyed when they have grown-ups sitting behind them shouting, “CENA SUCKS!”

Yes, I spent Saturday night on the shelf of the Manchester Arena cheering for all the heels (as well as screaming an ill-advised “I LOVE YOU, CLAUDIO!” when the US champion made his way to the ring) and thoroughly distressing the trio of children in front of me who for some reason did not want Dolphin Ziggler to win the Special Attraction match against the one-armed John Cena.

Some facts about RAW 1000, July 23rd 2012

Last night was the 1000th episode of RAW, and marked a new era – from now on, we’ll have three hours of live promo action with a bit of wrestling every Monday night!

So here are my thoughts on last night’s show. Spoilers abound, obviously.

Question: What is going to happen in the WWE championship contract Money in the Bank match?

Everyone’s attention is focused on the Daniel Bryan v CM Punk title match, with AJ as special guest referee, but something weird is going to happen in the Money in the Bank match for former WWE champions.

Yes, OK, there seems to be a consensus that John Cena will win so everything else is academic, but there’s more to this match than there initially appears.

For starters, there is no way it’ll just have four contestants, with two of them being Kane and Big Show. It would be the most tedious ladder match of all time.

So one can only predict some kind of late entrant – or two. Who else would be eligible?