2014: Year In Review

2014 has been very headline worthy, for both good and bad. It has also been filled with plenty of dominating performances, and plenty of surprises. This will be my first official year in review, and what better year to analyze than this year alone? Walk with me through this roller coaster that we know as 2014. This will be a combination of Sports and Entertainment.

January:

• Florida State defeats Auburn in the BCS Championship Game. Jameis Winston is named MVP.
• CM Punk makes headlines all across not only the wrestling world, but the sports entertainment world in general as he abruptly departs from WWE. Punk's departure sent shockwaves across the Internet, with fans, other wrestlers, podcast hosts, etc speculating what led to his exit.
• Dave Batista returns to the WWE to surprisingly win the Royal Rumble, which backfired as the fans were furious about his win. What made this even worse was the fact that Daniel Bryan was not even in the Rumble.

February:

• The Seattle Seahawks demoralize and annihilate the heavily favored Denver Broncos, 43-8 in Super Bowl 48. Seattle's Legion of Boom Defense attacked MVP Peyton Manning from all corners, and shut down his receiving corps. The Broncos Defense was also exposed in this series. The Seahawks put the NFL on notice that night.
• The WWE launches their new Network (repeat it with me: it only costs $9.99). That is right. For $10 a month, you could watch every PPV in WWE History, along with every WCW, and ECW PPV. You could also watch every episode of RAW and Nitro, along with Classic Programs like World Class Championship Wrestling. Instead of the usual $40, $50, or $60, the PPV's come with the packaged deal. At first, they gave you the option of paying $55 up front for the 6-month commitment. Hulk Hogan made his return to promote the Network, along with others such as Stone Cold Steve Austin and John Cena.
• David Stern retires after being Commissioner of the NBA for 30 years, with Adam Silver taking over.

March/April:

• 11-time Champion and Coaching Legend Phil Jackson returns to the NBA to become president of the New York Knicks, the team that he won two rings with as a player (1970, 1973).
• The NCAA Men's Basketball tournament begins with The Florida Gators as No. 1.
• The UConn Men's Basketball team wins the NCAA National Championship, with Shabazz Napier as the Most Outstanding Player.
• Pro Bowl Defensive End DeMarcus Ware signs a 3-year $30 million deal with the Denver Broncos, after being released by the Dallas Cowboys.
• Ravens Running Back Ray Rice is indicted by an Atlantic City Grand Jury on a charge of third-degree aggravated assault.
• WWE celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the Greatest Event in Wrestling History, as they present WrestleMania 30 at the Mercedez-Benz SuperDome (not Silverdome), in New Orleans, Louisiana. That weekend, we saw the return of the Ultimate Warrior and Razor Ramon as they took their rightful place into the WWE Hall of Fame with Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Lita, Paul Bearer, and Carlos Colon. At the start of WM XXX, we witnessed history as Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold, and The Rock all stood together in the same ring. The three biggest box office draws in wrestling history stood together in one ring. What really made it special was the staredown with Austin and Hogan, which was the ultimate fantasy match for years. This was a sign of things to come, as the event was very memorable. The biggest surprise in history came when Brock Lesnar defeated The Undertaker to end The Streak. Heyman and Lesnar were nearly just as surprised as the fans. The image of the fan with the glasses said it all. Daniel Bryan defeated Triple H in the first match of the night, and went on to defeat Randy Orton and Batista to become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion in a very special moment. This was WWE's way of rewriting what happened with Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero.
• The next night, The Ultimate Warrior comes out to Monday Night RAW to address the fans in a heartfelt, and very prophetic speech. This would be Warrior's final appearance, as he suffered a heart attack the next day. He would soon be pronounced dead only at age 54. It felt like a surreal punch in the face. Warrior's heart truly beat its final beat, and what he did in his life makes his legacy live on forever.
• On the bright side, newcomer Paige makes her debut on RAW from NXT as she defeats AJ Lee to win her first WWE Divas Championship.
• Former LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling makes a controversial and racial comment towards his girlfriend, telling her that he did not want blacks coming to the games. This caused a massive outrage, as fans and players voiced their displeasure. NBA Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson was heavily involved, as Sterling dropped his name in his disgusting remarks about black players and people. Commissioner Adam Silver would soon ban Sterling for life in the midst of the firestorm.
• Michael Sam becomes the first openly Gay player to be drafted into the NFL.
• Kevin Durant is named NBA Most Valuable Player for the first time.
• Evolution reunites to feud with The Shield. The Shield defeats them at Extreme Rules.

May/June:

• The Shield end their feud with Evolution at Payback. Batista leaves the next night on RAW, which opened the door for The Shield to disband. Seth Rollins takes Batista's place, as he joins The Authority.
• The San Antonio Spurs dominated the Miami Heat (4-1) to capture their fifth NBA Championship (4th all-time). Kawhi Leonard is named NBA Finals MVP. The Spurs wiped the floor with Miami, ending the party in South Beach. LeBron James would soon become a free agent, as he would take his talents back to Cleveland.
• The Los Angeles Kings win the Stanley Cup
• John Cena captures the WWE World Heavyweight Championship for the 15th time in his career. That night, Seth Rollins wins the Money In The Bank Ladder Match.

July:

• Germany destroys Brazil 7-1 in the World Cup Semifinals, to defeat Argentina 1-0 in the final to win the World Cup.
• The NFL announces that they would Ray Rice for the first two games of the season, starting August 30. Rice would also be pulled from the Madden 15 Video Game.
• Paul Pierce signs with the Washington Wizards.

August:

• Comedic Legend/Icon Robin Williams dies at the age of 63 from suicide, as a result of depression.
• LeBron James sheds a very noticeable amount of weight in the off-season from a summer-long carbohydrate cleanse.
• Steve Ballmer, who retired from Microsoft in February, buys the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion after former owner Donald Sterling sells the team.
• Michael Strahan and Derrick Brooks are headliners for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
• Brock Lesnar continues his run of surprises and dominance, as he conquers John Cena to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Brock won in extremely convincing fashion, as he nailed Cena with an incredible 16 German Suplexes. Cena looked like a jobber from the 80's, as Lesnar pummeled him form start to finish.

September:

• The NFL punishment of Ray Rice becomes even more severe after a surveillance video is leaked of him dragging his wife into the elevator.
• Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl Running Back and former MVP Adrian Peterson is indicted on Child Abuse, after photos were released of his son having cuts and bruises on his thighs, hands, back and buttocks. The image of the NFL took a massive blow.
• MLB and New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter retires.
• 2004 NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups retires.

October:

• The San Francisco Giants defeat the Kansas City Royals 4-3, to capture their eighth World Series Championship.
• 2K Sports releases WWE 2k15 and NBA 2k15.
• Peyton Manning becomes the NFL's All-Time Leader in Touchdown Passes.

November:

• Sting makes his very long awaited debut in WWE, as he helps Team Cena defeat Team Authority at Survivor Series.
• DC Mayor For Life Marion Barry passes away at age 78.
• Former Pro-Bowl and Future Hall of Fame NFL Cornerback Champ Bailey retires.
• New York Yankees Great Alfonso Soriano retires.
• CM Punk finally breaks his silence, as he appeared as a guest on his friend Colt Cabana's podcast.

December:

• In response to Punk's interview, Vince McMahon appears as a Special Guest on Stone Cold's Podcast. McMahon addresses a number of issues, including Punk, Macho Man, The Network, etc.
• WWE NXT: R-Evolution is highly acclaimed and received great reviews from many fans and analysts in the world of wrestling. This event showed the rise of very familiar faces from the Indy Circuit, such as Sami Zayn (El Generico), Kevin Owens (formerly Steen), Hideo Itami (Kenta), Finn Balor (Prince Devitt), and Adrian Neville (PAC). This is a great sign of things to come, as Triple H made a statement with this event.
• Roman Reigns wins Superstar of the Year at the 2014 Slammy Awards.
• Kobe Bryant passes Michael Jordan for 3rd place on the NBA's All-time Scoring List
• The Movie "The Interview" receives backlash in the midst of the North Korea controversy, and is postponed, only to be later released.
• The Dallas Cowboys clinch the NFC East Division with a 12-4 record.
• DeMarco Murray breaks Emmitt Smith's Single Season Rushing Record.
• San Francisco 49ers fire coach Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh later becomes Coach of The Michigan Wolverines.
• All-Star Point Guard and NBA Champion Rajon Rondo is traded to the Dallas Mavericks.

Once again, this is my first Year in Review Article. Overall, this has been a very eventful year in different ways. I hope that you enjoy it. Get ready for 2015.

Kobe "Passing" MJ

Congratulations to Kobe Bryant for reaching his personal (very personal) milestone of passing Michael Jordan in Career Points. His longevity and hard work have paid off. However, something has to really be said about this. As always, it is my assignment to dig deeper into details when someone reaches an achievement at a volume rate. I don't just focus on the similarities, because that is way too easy. Instead, I focus on the entire body of work and production. So, in this case I will dissect Kobe's numbers and see how they weigh.

Here is the tale of the tape:

Regular Season:

Seasons:
Kobe Bryant: 19
Michael Jordan: 15

Games Played:
Kobe Bryant: 1,270
Michael Jordan: 1,072

Career Points:
Kobe Bryant: 32,331
Michael Jordan: 32,292

Career Scoring Average:
Kobe Bryant: 25.5
Michael Jordan: 30.1

Field Goal Percentage:
Kobe Bryant: 45%
Michael Jordan: 49.7% (50)

3-Point Percentage:
Kobe Bryant: 33.3%
Michael Jordan: 32.7%

Free Throw Percentage:
Kobe Bryant: 83.7%
Michael Jordan: 83.5%

Player Efficiency Rating:
Kobe Bryant: 23.36
Michael Jordan: 27.91

30 Point Per Game Seasons:
Kobe Bryant: 2
Michael Jordan: 8

Seasons with 32+ PPG:
Kobe Bryant: 1
Michael Jordan: 5

Career-High Scoring Average:
Kobe Bryant: 35.6
Michael Jordan: 37.1

Seasons shooting 50% or higher:
Kobe Bryant: 0
Michael Jordan: 6

Seasons shooting 47% or higher:
Kobe Bryant: 0
Michael Jordan: 10

Seasons shooting under 47%:
Kobe Bryant: 19
Michael Jordan: 5

Seasons shooting under 50%:
Kobe Bryant: 19
Michael Jordan: 7

Career Win Shares:
Kobe Bryant: 173.3
Michael Jordan: 214.0

Career Offensive Win Shares:
Kobe Bryant: 123.61
Michael Jordan: 149.88

Seasons leading the League in PER:
Kobe Bryant: 0
Michael Jordan: 7


As you can clearly see, Kobe had to play 19 seasons and 200 more games to surpass what Michael did in 15 seasons (including breaks). Kobe had to play four more seasons than Jordan. FOUR MORE SEASONS!!! At the time that this happened, Kobe played in 1,268 games, while Jordan played in 1,072. That is a lot of time and a lot of ground to make up in basketball. I commend his longevity, but this shows that Michael was a more efficient scorer who took better quality shots. Sure, Michael has had his fair share of missed shots, but he has balanced things in his favor with the seasons where he has shot 50% or higher. Kobe has NEVER had a season shooting 50% from the floor. Michael produced points at a more efficient rate. Michael flat out produced better quality numbers across the board. The only exceptions are total points, free throws and three pointers. Based on the metrics, Michael carried the most weight for his team and was the biggest factor in their success. Earlier in the season, Kobe also surpassed John Havlicek for career missed shots which doesn't help his case either.

Awards:

Rookie of the Year:
Kobe Bryant: 0
Michael Jordan: 1

All-Rookie 1st Team:
Kobe Bryant: No
Michael Jordan: Yes

All-NBA 1st Teams:
Kobe Bryant: 11
Michael Jordan: 10

All-Defensive 1st Teams:
Kobe Bryant: 9
Michael Jordan: 9

Scoring Titles:
Kobe Bryant: 2
Michael Jordan: 10

MVP Awards:
Kobe Bryant: 1
Michael Jordan: 5

Seasons leading in steals:
Kobe Bryant: 0
Michael Jordan: 3

*Bonus Awards:

Olympic Gold Medals:
Kobe Bryant: 2
Michael Jordan: 2

All-Star Game MVP's:
Kobe Bryant: 4
Michael Jordan: 3

Kobe may have edged him out as far as All-NBA 1st Teams, but Michael collected more hardware. Michael was clearly the More Valuable Player of his Era, as he earned the Award 5 times. You can make the case for him having at least 7 or maybe 8, but 5 is still great anyway. Yet, Kobe only managed to earn 1. Out of his illustrious Hall of Fame Career, he only received 1 MVP. One can make the case that he could have had at least another had it not been for controversy (another story). However, you really cannot compare a player with 1 MVP to a player with 5 no matter how similar their games are. There is no debate whatsoever for that. Jordan was the Toast of the Basketball World. As I have covered before, Jordan proved that he was a better quality scorer. His 10 Scoring Titles are perfect evidence of that. You definitely cannot compare their scoring when one player has 8 more scoring titles than the other. There have been people who want to bring up Shaq as the reason why Kobe did not score more. You're right. Shaq was the reason, because he was the more DOMINANT player. If Kobe was more dominant earlier in his career, his numbers would have proven that. However, he was not as consistent as his counterpart. Meanwhile, Michael was the most Dominant and Consistent Playmaker on his team.

Now, this is where the gap becomes even wider, Ladies and Gentlemen. It is time to break down their performances in the Playoffs.

Playoffs (Career):

Kobe Bryant: 25.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.7 apg, 44.8% FG, 81.6% FT
Michael Jordan: 33.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 5.7 apg, 48.7% FG, 82.8% FT

Player Efficiency Rating:
Kobe Bryant: 22.4
Michael Jordan: 28.6

Career Win Shares:
Kobe Bryant: 28.3
Michael Jordan: 39.8

Offensive Win Shares:
Kobe Bryant: 21.0
Michael Jordan: 27.3

Defensive Win Shares:
Kobe Bryant: 7.3
Michael Jordan: 12.4

Career Win Shares Per 48 Minutes:
Kobe Bryant: .157
Michael Jordan: .255

NBA Playoff runs over 50% shooting:
Kobe Bryant: 0
Michael Jordan: 5

Playoff runs over 48% shooting:
Kobe Bryant: 1
Michael Jordan: 7

Playoff runs under 50% shooting:
Kobe Bryant: 15 (entire career)
Michael Jordan: 7

Playoff runs under 48% shooting:
Kobe Bryant: 14
Michael Jordan: 6

Playoff runs under 46% shooting:
Kobe Bryant: 11
Michael Jordan: 3

Playoff runs under 44% shooting:
Kobe Bryant: 7
Michael Jordan: 2

Playoff runs over 30 ppg:
Kobe Bryant: 4
Michael Jordan: 12

Playoff runs over 32 ppg:
Kobe Bryant: 2
Michael Jordan: 8

Playoff runs over 34 ppg:
Kobe Bryant: 0
Michael Jordan: 7
Jordan's 33.4 ppg in the Playoffs is a Record in NBA Playoff History. Michael Jordan became an even more powerful machine once the postseason was underway. He delivered against some of the most elite competition the game has ever produced.

Now, time for the Biggest Stage of them all (The NBA Finals).

Finals Appearances:
Kobe Bryant: 7
Michael Jordan: 6

Finals MVP's:
Kobe Bryant: 2 in 7 appearances
Michael Jordan: 6 in 6 appearances

This is the major and most deciding factor when comparing Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, because this is about how you perform in the NBA Finals. It is not enough for them to be close in championships (Jordan-6, Kobe-2), because that is a very lazy argument. A true student of the game dives deeper to see how well they played on the largest stage of Basketball. Jordan was the Most Valuable Player in the Finals EVERY Season that he led the Bulls there. On the other hand, Kobe was the Most Valuable Player in the Finals twice. Michael was the best option in the Finals each year, because he rose his game above everyone else on the court. Kobe only received the award twice out of seven appearances. Meanwhile, Shaquille O'Neal was Finals MVP THREE Times. Not acceptable and not comparable whatsoever. Michael produced better numbers and results on the game's largest stage. Chicago turned their opponents pretty much upside down. The Lakers did too in the three peat years, but after that they were not as much of a threat as previously. For the most part, Jordan's Bulls went against more stacked teams in the Finals (Lakers, Blazers, Suns, to name a few).

Finals Performances:

Michael Jordan:
1. 1991 (31.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 11.4 apg, 2.8 spg, 1.4 bpg, 55% FG, 50% 3PT, 85% FT)
2. 1992 (35.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 6.5 apg, 1.7 spg, 0.3 bpg, 52.6% FG, 43% 3PT, 89.1% FT)
3. 1993 (41.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 6.3 apg, 1.7 spg, 0.7 bpg, 51% FG, 40% 3PT, 69.4% FT)
4. 1996 (27.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.7 spg, 0.2 bpg, 41.5% FG, 31.6% 3PT, 83.6% FT)
5. 1997 (32.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 6.0 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.8 bpg, 45.6% FG, 32 % 3PT, 76.4% FT)
6. 1998 (33.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.8 spg, 0.7 bpg, 42.7% FG, 30.8% 3PT, 81.4% FT)

Kobe Bryant:

Kobe Bryant:
1. 2000 NBA Finals: 15.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 36.7% FG
2. 2001 NBA Finals: 24.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 5.8 apg, 41.5% FG
3. 2002 NBA Finals: 26.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.3 apg, 51.4% FG
4. 2004 NBA Finals: 22.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.4 apg, 38.1% FG
5. 2008 NBA Finals: 25.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 5.0 apg, 40.5% FG
6. 2009 NBA Finals: 32.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 7.4 apg, 43% FG
7. 2010 NBA Finals: 28.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.9 apg, 40.5% FG

More often than not, Michael Jordan's level of play in the Finals was above those around him. In the process, Jordan also caused the game of others like Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant to be elevated in the process. It was clear cut for everyone to see. His results speak for themselves. Michael's series in 1991 was a statement to prove that he could do more than just score. Ever since, no other players in Finals history have averaged 10 apg or higher. While Kobe's numbers in the Finals were great, they simply cannot compare. The only time that he averaged at least 30 ppg or higher in the Finals was in 2009. Good series, but not awe inspiring to say the least. Jordan's 41 ppg in the 1993 NBA Finals is a Finals record still to this day. Jordan in the Finals was otherworldly. You could never find a single series in the Finals where Michael Jordan was outplayed even in the slightest. In 2000, Kobe was outplayed by Austin Croshere in the Finals. That would NEVER happen on Michael's watch. In 2004, Kobe sabotaged the Lakers by deliberately playing poorly because he had an attitude about being second banana to Shaq. It was like Robin getting tired of fighting next to Batman as he became Nightwing. Michael conquered with Centers the calibre of Bill Cartwright and Luc Longley. That is pretty much all you need to know.

In Conclusion, while it is great to admire Kobe's accomplishment, one must not become stuck as a prisoner in the moment. Once again, one should never just settle for a comparison based on style and flair. It is more than just style of play, but results and body of work. Michael Jordan compiled an incredible FIVE MVP awards in an Era loaded with MVP Level Legendary Players. Anytime that you could be named the Most Valuable Player in a time with the likes of Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Hakeem, David Robinson and others. That is simply a testament to how brilliant he truly was and his brilliance carries over for generations to come. Kobe is a throwback to Jordan, which is why he is admired so fondly by the current era of NBA fans who either were not even alive when Michael played or have a sketchy recollection of Jordan. If anything, Kobe's numbers are more of a resemblance to Jerry West, but with more accolades. Believe me, that is not a knock on his game at all. Both men are the toast of the Shooting Guard Position, but Michael will remain the single ruler of the throne.

Special Thanks: www.basketball-reference.com, Bruce Blitz (Blitz Sports Network), Clutch 23 Productions just to name a few.

CM Punk vs. The Machine

November 2014 has put a new meaning to the term "November to Remember". First, Wendy Williams and Lifetime get lynched on Social Media for their horrific biopic of Aaliyah's life and career. (Williams NEVER admits any wrong at all). Then, DC Mayor for Life Marion Barry passed away. TMZ produces a smear headline following his death. On the bright side, Sting made his VERY long awaited debut to the WWE at Survivor Series. The world stood still in amazement (including myself). If you thought things wouldn't get any crazier, think again. Last week, fans were given quite a treat over the Thanksgiving Holiday, as CM Punk finally broke his 10-month silence as he was interviewed by his longtime friend Colt Cabana on the "Art of Wrestling" Podcast. This was clearly Colt's highest rated and most listened episode, because the episode received so many hits that it crashed his website. That's right ladies and gentlemen. Kim Kardashian was not the only person that "broke the Internet". CM Punk broke it into pieces with this compelling two hour never before heard interview. It was very refreshing, and eye opening listening to this interview. Punk opened the floodgates and pulls the covers on how poorly managed the WWE has become.

First off, Punk starts the interview by saying that it is not a shoot and admitted that he was bitter. He went on to defend his feelings of bitterness, by saying that he was still working through them. With everything that he did in his career, Punk was clearly bitter about how things were handled in his career backstage. As I listened to the interview, I chose to stay in the neutral corner because I knew that since Punk was telling his side, there would be some things that you would have to question. He also says that the interview was not a bash WWE campaign like so many other interviews by former wrestlers. Punk is known to have a short fuse, and as you listen to the interview you can find where he blows that fuse. This episode is also filled with "F Bombs" and other expletives, because Punk and Cabana knew that they were not muted or filtered by the WWE emphistructure. Now, I will present the following points that Punk makes and how I feel about them.

• Sponsorships: CM Punk originally approached Vince McMahon about sponsorships with the idea of wearing shorts with advertisements on them. McMahon shoots them down right before he turns around to give the green light to Brock Lesnar to do the same thing. Punk vents about part-timers like Brock Lesnar and The Rock who receive major deals and promotions to boost ratings for one big PPV here and there (Royal Rumble, WrestleMania) and then they never show up the next night. The ratings drop or stagnate soon after. Punk vents about guys like part timers and the Golden Boy John Cena always get the major deals.
• Hypocrisy/Double Standards: I appreciate how Punk opens up about how bipolar and hypocritical the wrestling business can be. He tells Vince about how he wanted to walk to the UFC Octagon with his friend Chael Sonnen for his PPV fight. McMahon denies him as he would later let Triple H go to the ring with Floyd Mayweather Jr. (Favoritism strikes again) Vince claims that UFC is too violent and people could die. Punk responds by bringing up how Owen Hart died in a WWF/E ring from an accident. (Hard hitting, but Punk felt it had to be said) Vincent K. also does not like the idea of women fighting in UFC/MMA, but yet women have competed in his promotion and the industry as a whole for decades.
• WrestleMania Pay: Punk vents about how he was underpaid during WrestleManias 28-29. Guys like The Rock, John Cena, Undertaker, Triple H and Brock Lesnar were all paid much more than him. Later, Vince and others tell him that his match with Taker was the "Match of the Night" yet do not pay him enough to support that. He claims that he should have gotten paid just as much as everyone INCLUDING The Rock. This is where I would have to respectfully disagree, because The Rock is a Megastar who does miracles business wise. The Rock makes millions upon millions of dollars and his net worth is tremendous. He deserves to be the highest paid out of everyone else. As far as John Cena and others, I agree that he deserves equal pay with them.
• Movie Deals: Punk tells Colt that he was approached about doing movies for WWE Studios. The movie that he points out was the sequel to "12 Rounds". During this time, Punk was heavily on tour as WWE Champion and he desperately needed some knid of break. CM Punk claims that Triple H told him that he would do his best to get Punk the role (which he clearly didn't even try to do). It turns out that the role eventually went to Randy Orton instead. The worse part about this story is that Punk found out about it on the Internet. Triple H did not even have the decency to text him about what happened. Trips claimed that there was little he could do about it which was clear fabrication and lies. Like the Lesnar advertisement and the Triple H appearance at Floyd's fight, this was another example of the shameless favoritism by WWE.
• Conflict with Ryback: This was the most hilarious segment of the podcast, as CM Punk blasted Ryback for how clumsy he is and how he is prone to injure others. Punk says that Ryback took 20 years off of his life after kicking him in the ribs (Ouch!). CM Punk outright called him "Steroid Guy". With no punches held back at all, Punk admits that he believes that Ryback uses 'roids. Honestly, I would not be surprised at all (More on the whack WWE Wellness Program later). I have never been impressed with Ryback myself and I don't blame him for feeling that way. I wish nothing bad upon him, but that is just the way it is. Ryback responded with multiple tweets. There is no problem in responding as long as you can put your money where your mouth is. So far, Ryback has yet to do that.
• The Shield: Originally, CM Punk came up with the idea of the highly popular faction The Shield. He says that the original plan was for him to be the architect of the group with the original lineup being Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and fellow former ROH star Chris Hero (Kassius Ohno). However, WWE rejected Hero from the group in favor of Roman Reigns because of his image along with family connections to the company. WWE felt that Roman would fit in as long as he can be coached through so that he could improve. At first, CM Punk's name was linked with The Shield whenever they made their run-ins to attack stars like Cena, The Rock and Ryback. As things went on, CM Punk's name would be disconnected with The Shield as WWE took his idea and remixed it in their favor. As we all know, Seth Rollins received the credit as the "Architect of the Shield" which is far from reality.
• Creative Directions: Punk also talks about the lack of creative direction in his career at this point. He also brings up how he had an elbow injury from WrestleMania 26 and having surgery after the European Tour. After four days, he was back on the road as Vince wanted him to cut promos. Punk goes on to say that he had laser eye surgery and then had to work on RAW when the Nexus debut. He says that he got poked in the eye, and they had nothing left for him during that time. Colt questions Punk as a friend, by saying maybe it was because he was such an A-hole to everyone backstage. This is another point where I would have to slightly favor the company because Punk went on to berate the 60+ members of the WWE writing staff. Remember, this is the same guy that has said on his documentary that when writers give him ideas, he would rip them apart right in their face. They may not be the best, but at least respect the fact they are simply doing a job. With the way that he disrespected people who could make or break his career, I could understand why someone would reach a point where they would no longer put up with it. 
• WWE Network: Punk addresses his concerns over the launch of the WWE Network. He questioned the idea of going from a $70 WrestleMania for example to selling it at $9.99. He desperately wanted to know how it would impact his pay, as he asked everyone to ultimately Vince McMahon, Jr. himself. Even Vince had no clue, which is what drove CM Punk crazy. Punk could not believe that the Chairman and CEO of the largest Wrestling Promotion in the World did not know how the Network would affect the paychecks of his employees. A serious red flag on WWE's part. 
• Management: This is where things really get interesting. Punk tells all about how the WWE only protects themselves and not their employees. He compares how the NFL does everything to monitor concussions for their players with one of the best concussion staffs that one could ask for. Meanwhile, Vince wants nothing to do with that at all.
• Wellness Policy (Staph Infection): This was the breaking point for me when it comes to WWE and their "Wellness Policy". Punk talks about his issues with Concussions and how they cleared him to wrestle even with such a serious injury. He says that WWE cleared him while he had his headphones on, then told him to run the ropes. Pretty shady way of evaluation. He also complained about how WWE wanted to take him out of the Rumble early by having Kane eliminate him. In that case, I have no problem. However, this all pales in comparison to the alarming news when CM Punk finds out that he had a lingering Staph Infection. He tells Colt that for three months he wrestled with a strange bump that proceeded to turn colors as time went on. No matter how much he complained about it to the WWE Medical Staff, they continued to give him antibiotics. Punk then goes to AJ Lee's Doctor to get another opinion. The Doctor tells him about how severe his infection was. So much so that he could have died. This is a massive indictment on how piss poor the WWE Wellness Policy is. They have become the punchline of Social Media, as it should be expected with countless Memes laughing at how idiotic they are. How could they possibly let this linger on for as long as they did without further examination? That is inexcusable. Staph Infections are so severe that they could spread to the bone and cause amputation. It is surprising that the Federal Government hasn't been breathing down their neck about this issue, especially with the other black clouds hanging over them with the wrestling body count of deaths (Eddie Guerrero, Mr. Perfect, etc. do those names ring a bell?). What a terrible environment to work in. Of course as we know, the WWE Wellness Policy has been curved to protect some more than others. The fact that Vince would not provide Health Insurance for his employees is distasteful and deplorable to say the least. 
• Departure: This is where the story takes an even bigger turn for the worst. After the Royal Rumble, Punk went to Vince's Office to have a word with him. Triple H was there as well, and Punk made sure that Trips stayed to listen. CM Punk called out both Vince and Hunter on how they mishandled things in his career, and how he was mistreated. Punk made sure to point out how he still resented Triple H for not putting him over three years ago at Night Of Champions. He vented about his anger over part timers like The Rock, Brock Lesnar and Batista getting promoted to title shots, etc without having to work hard like the people on the active roster like himself. He held nothing back and ended by simply saying "I'm done". Vince gives him a hug, while Punk gives a half-hearted pat on the back before he shakes Triple H's hand as he walks out. This is where things become muddy, because Punk claims that he was an "Independent Contractor" and he left money on the table. He claims that money didn't matter at that point. He then says that WWE put him on suspension because of his actions. He then gets texts from Vince and Triple H asking him how he was doing. Punk was so bitter and burnt out that apparently he responded in a very rude way to Hunter's text. 
• Termination: Once again, things go from bad to the absolute worst. On the day of CM Punk's Wedding to AJ Lee, he receives termination papers in the mail. The termination papers were similar to Alberto Del Rio's, where he could not make any UFC/MMA appearances whatsoever. This was the straw that broke the camel's back in so many ways. WWE REALLY hit a completely new low. This was without question planned by them to humiliate him on his wedding day. The thing that I did not get was how in his contract it says he was free to leave at anytime, yet they fire him on his wedding day. 
• Royalties: First, Punk says that money did not matter to him anymore. Then, after he finds out that he was fired, he hires a very tough shark lawyer to go after WWE for royalties from the game and other WWE outlets. It turns out, Punk won the settlement and will not discuss the details of how much he won. 
• Thoughts on Chris Jericho: I was very surprised about what CM Punk had to say about Chris Jericho. He suspected Y2J as someone who had an agenda. Punk felt that Jericho really did not care about him, but wanted to do an interview to get exposure for his Podcast. (As if he really needs it)

Conclusion: Overall, I was glad to hear this, because of his strange silence for so long. At first, I was disappointed because he was same man that called himself the "Voice of the Voiceless", and three years later he was silent. Now, his side of the story has finally been cleared up for the whole world to hear. This interview did substantial numbers and set records for Cabana's Podcast. I also find it ironic that the Interview was sponsored by WWE 2k15 with all of the profanity involved. The news also came during the time that I am covering CM Punk's career in my greatest wrestlers list. I will go into more detail about WWE's latest response when I finish listening to Stone Cold's Interview with Vince McMahon. 

The Pain Has Returned: Brock's Historic win

Please allow me to take a quick break from my Top 50 Countdown to address a significant event that happened at Summerslam that has shaped the course of wrestling history from this point forward.

This year has had a trend of dominating performances. The Seattle Seahawks obliterated the Denver Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII. The San Antonio Spurs assassinated the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals 4-1. Germany manhandled Brazil in the World Cup. WWE has followed that trend as well as of late, as Brock Lesnar has had a monumental year. First, he conquered the Undertaker's Undefeated Streak at WrestleMania XXX with not one, not two, but THREE F-5's! As Lionel Richie said: "Once, twice, three times a lady." To add the icing on the delicious cake, Lesnar captured his fourth WWE Championship by dismantling John Cena with 16 German Suplexes and 2 F-5's at the Biggest Party of the Summer, Summerslam live in Hollywood. (Side Note: 16 is Special, because it also represents the record for World Titles, still held at the moment by Nature Boy Ric Flair).

With all of that being said, Brock's win was impressive by not only who he beat, but how he beat him. For the last decade, Cena has been the franchise star of the WWE. The way that Brock won sent a clear message that this is finally the time of transition. We saw pieces of that at WrestleMania, but the ultimate stamp was made when Brock vanquished the company's Centerpiece. No champion in history had ever been dominated that badly. Hogan and Austin NEVER got pummeled the way that Cena did. Even The Rock was never beaten this badly when he lost to the same man 12 years earlier, Brock Lesnar himself.

Speaking of that, Brock's win at Summerslam has Unified both Titles, meaning there will only be one Undisputed WWE Championship. WWE has officially retired the World Heavyweight Championship (The Big Gold Belt). At Summerslam 2002, Brock Lesnar defeated The Rock to become the last Undisputed WWE Champion at that time. After Brock won, he was sent to Smackdown to become their exclusive WWE Champion. This is how the WHC was reborn. Fast forward to 2014, Brock defeats John Cena at Summerslam to become the "Undisputed WWE World Heavyweight Champion". Both of those historic victories took place at Summerslam. As you have now noticed, everything has come back full circle, with Brock being the most common denominator.

Of course, as soon as Brock was booked to face Cena at Summerslam, the floodgates would open for division. On one side, you have the Brock supporters (like myself and others) who want to see him win to not only validate breaking the streak, but because John Cena has worn thin. On the other side, you have Brock's detractors/haters (The IWC) who cry and complain because he is a part timer who doesn't deserve it. However, these are the SAME people who complained about Cena having the belt too many times. Now that Cena has been dethroned, people STILL complain. Sadly, there are people who have made it as their life's mission to find anything to complain about, especially when it comes to the WWE.



Now, let me set the record straight: Brock Lesnar is an ATTRACTION who DRAWS MONEY!! If you don't have someone who has marquee value to draw fans, your promotion will bleed money. Brock's credibility has made him a spectacle that will bring people from outside of the WWE to watch the product. Lesnar attracts a multitude of fans, including UFC. He brings mainstream credibility to a promotion that has been lacking it for years. When you scan the roster, it is depleted of guys who can cause people outside of wrestling to watch. CM Punk had a brat attack and went home. Daniel Bryan is injured, and not even he can fully break out of the wrestling circle. Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Bray Wyatt are not ready. They still have a very long way to go. Dolph Ziggler doesn't connect at all. He has been a paper champion because of injuries. Miz is a glorified Reality TV star who STILL can't draw a dime. I could go on and on, and you see just what I mean. Wrestling has been diluted to being a niche product, but the key for its success has always been centered around "Sports Entertainment". Sports Entertainment goes beyond just the ring, and transcends to the mainstream media. Look at names like Austin, Hogan, Rock, Savage, even Undertaker to name a few. They have mainstream name value that attracts outside viewers which brings even more money. Brock is that kind of guy. The reason why they rely on part timers like Lesnar, Rock, Y2J, etc is BECAUSE they bring attention. The only names on the full time roster who have a level of recognition outside of WWE are John Cena and Randy Orton, but they have been overexposed.

Brock Lesnar brings a breath of fresh air to a program that has become so rotten that the stench is nauseating. With Lesnar as champion, he creates an intrigue and more of a pursuit for the title, which gives exposure to everyone else. Now, the title will regain a level of prestige that has been lost for a very long time. The title chase will be much more intense compared to previously, where Cena (with Orton in between) monopolized the title picture. When Brock is gone, you will have Paul Heyman filling in the gaps with his brilliant antagonizing promos, building up his client's dominance while trolling the fans. This is classic heel champion storyline writing. Brock would be the kind of champion who defends at the more important events (Night of Champions, Survivor Series, Royal Rumble, WrestleMania). Therefore, when the time comes for Brock to be dethroned at WrestleMania, it will mean much more because they have defeated the Beast that Conquered the Greatest Streak in Wrestling History. With the way the pieces are being set, Roman Reigns is being geared toward that win. Brock would be the perfect monster to defeat for validation.

Ladies and Gentleman, Brock Lesnar is BEST FOR BUSINESS!!