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Now I appreciate that although some people may not understand why this would make a good feud (story wise, not ring wise) and why don't they just tag team or something, going into "social analysis" mode for a moment, I think WWE's Creative have GOD ABOVE FORBID hit on something with this. In every society their are a number of groups divided by varying social outlines - I'm 19 and living in Liverpool, England *cheap pop* and I have to say that not only does this storyline actually interest me but I think it will interest a lot of younger people.
The past few years have seen social trends change and the current fashion is the alternative - within alternative culture are vary social groups, call them what you will, "goths", "moshers", "emos" et al, but at the heart of the fashion is the bastard love child we like to call "punk". I disagree completely with what I have just wrote because punk is not a fashion statement, it's a way of life and that applies to all of the groups and many more that I mentioned, BUT a lot of people see the lifestyle as more of a fashion statement than an actual way of life.
Herein lies the feud - the true core of alternative culture against the outsiders, the "posers" who seemingly mock it's values. Think of it as the difference between real ECW fans (old school ECW) - people who are passionate about the business and entertainment form that they love, versus the guys who just turn up trying to incite fights at house shows just because somebody said that they like John Cena.
On one hand you have CM Punk - the wrestling embodiment of true punk, the real spirit of working your way out of hell and making something of yourself whilst never forgetting where you came from. Of course as well as rocking out and following a straight edge lifestyle (something I myself follow); discipline, hard work and not being ashamed of who you are.
On the other hand, you have Shannon Moore - the wrestling embodiment of a poser. As seen in his vignettes, he considers himself to be seen as a "reject", a "social outcast"-but at the same time on ECW this week he said "I'm the Prince Of Punk, and I'm bringing sexy back". Couple this along with his outset attitude - claiming to be societies victim without actually ever saying why, and you have your classic heel! A whining, snot nosed "punk" (pardon me) who feels that he should be the center of attention at all times. Consider Shannon Moore to be the alternative equivalent of Johnny Nitro and you can see why people of my generation can't stand the guy.
With the simple words, "You're a poser" and a slap to the face, CM Punk fired the first shot of this war between the old guard of true punk and the new breed of spoilt brats who think they're punk just because of how they dress/look, and just like any poser in that situation, Shannon Moore did NOT react because he's cocky and hey who needs to fight this guy when you're already so far under his skin just by being who you are and representing what he hates? I hate WWE Creative at the best of times but I honestly think, if this feud can be given some background combined with simple promo's as saw on this weeks ECW, we may have our first break out feud of the new ECW. I don't want to draw historical comparisons, but this COULD be the new ECW's equivalent of Tommy Dreamer and Raven, in that they seemingly come from the same background, have an intense feud which gradually develops into a love/hate relationship (if they do end up teaming). Remember, I said COULD - this is just my own opinion!
I genuinely believe that this will get more younger people interested in ECW, a modern retelling of the classic face/heel scenario, but it seriously needs time to develop unless Creative wants fans left scratching thier heads at what the hell just happened (as if Creative would ever do that!). I'm no expert on wrestling, I've never written an article on it before and this is all just based solely on my own opinions, social background and under a minute of footage on ECW. The fact is though, society has changed, but to all the older readers who were there for the first pure incarnation of punk, it's true that the more things change the more they stay the same.
The Prince Of Punks versus The True Punk? All I can say, is in the words of The Ramones, "Beat on the brat, beat on the brat, beat on the brat with a baseball bat OH YEAH!".
You can write at James Johnson at jj_uk@hotmail.co.uk.
