This is the kind of **** I really hate. I REALLY REALLY want to enjoy that match, it was awesome, but the finish, what it stands for, and what it leads to, all ruins it for me.
The whole hook to Cena v Punk is Cena couldn't beat him when it mattered, something none of Cena's other archrivals have been able to say. For almost 2 years now, Punk has had Cena's number. Why give the resolution to that away on free tv? You want yet another Rock/Cena/Vince ********** to main event mainia, fine, but leave Punk out of it. Bad enough he had to job to Rock twice leading up to this.
Now, even if Vince changes his mind and decides he's not sick of this feud, the big story point is already gone, thrown away to make Cena look good before his snorefest against Rock, as if he wasn't already known to be above everyone else in the company.
Punk's lost to Rock, he's lost his edge over Cena, and with Vince souring on this feud, once Cena has the belt back, what can Punk possibly do that won't be a demotion down the card? He's proven he's the closest thing they've got to being on Cena's level, a program with a Sheamus or Orton half way down the card isn't going to cut it, and isn't how he deserves to be rewarded after the past year and a half. Least they could have done was save the loss that drops him down the card for WM so they can have a real "heel getting his comeuppance" moment.
Won't even get started on problems with Rock v Cena II.
I really do like the idea of Punk and Taker. Promo's should be good, and I think the best way to go is for Punk to demand the match instead of Taker targeting him. "If I can't have the WWE Title, I'm going to do something that might be even greater... break the streak."
Unlike others here, I think Taker can do it and have a good, maybe even great match with him. He brought it last year and took a ton of wicked chair shots and kept going, and he's too proud to return if he's going to stink up the joint. The fact he used a house show to start working off rust is a good sign in my opinion. Punk can help lead him to a WM worthy match.
Only thing is, Punk really can't afford the loss. If he wins, then it might be even better for him than being in the main event, but if he loses, he'll have spent the entirety of 2013 up until that point getting **** on, and that's really not right.
Rant over.