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.