As We All Form...
At St. Valentines Day Massacre, UPW and CM Punk's first pay per view appearence, he and Allison Danger managed to beat the "Queens Of Canada", Trish Stratus and Gail Kim, to become the first UPW Tag Team Champions. Punk and Danger were the dominant team that night and richly deserved to win those belts. But, in Punk's promo he stated that he had aspirations higher than of being a tag team champion, he wanted singles gold. And while in his next match, against The Sandman on X-Fire is not a title match - As both men had title matches at the pay per view, Punk walked out with gold but Sandman didn't - But it will go a long way to establishing Punk as a singles star. With UPW's second male title, the Xplosive Title, as well as their main title in the Primetime Championship still yet to be decided, Punk needs to start getting more singles wins under his belt to show himself as a strong competitor and a win over The Sandman will go a long way.
...One Dark Flame
Title: I WANT YOU TO DIE!!
Date|Time: March 1st, 2007, 10:23pm
Location: A Bar
Status: On Camera
A bar. Definately not a place you'd expect to find CM Punk. Especially not a dark, dirty dive like this. But there he is. Sat down on a stool at the bar, a glass of pepsi in front of him. And what about the other patrons of this bar? Well... They'd be what you could class as stereotypical middle aged alcoholics. Alone, out of work, sat in a bar all day trying to kill their livers with an unhealthy intake of alcohol. The mood and atmosphere in the bar is as dreary as the bar itself, nobody is talking, the only sounds being the chink of glass on table and the occassional slurp. Even Punk looks depressed, his head down, just staring at his glass of pepsi. Punk raises the glass to his lips and finishes it off, bringing it back down to the bar and then motioning to the bartender for another. He raises his head up as the camera comes to look at him from across the bar as he looks straight into it, his hair recently dyed again and wearing his usual Wind Breaker jacket.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Sandman. For how different you and I are... There are some similarities. We are both wrestlers... And in your case, I use the term "wrestler" very loosely. We both like getting inked. We both have blonde hair..... Even if my hair is dyed.... And yours just looks dyed.
He snickers.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX And we both had title matches at the pay per view. But that... That is where the similarities end. Because while you walked out of St. Valentines Day Massacre with nothing.... I walked out with this.
He reaches down to the stool next to him, bringing up his UPW Tag Team title belt and putting it down on the bar. The bartender looks at him funny for putting the title on the bar, Punk just shrugs as he refills his pepsi and then walks off. One of the bar's patrons walk past to the exit, stinking of alcohol so bad that Punk almost gags on the stench as he walks by. Punk leers at the man as he exits, but then turns his attention back to the camera.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Y'know, that reminds me. When I was a naive young boy... My Dad used to come home from work every day smelling exactly like that. And I thought that was normal. I thought that was what a hard working man should smell like. But like I said... I was young and naive. I didn't realize he'd been out at a bar all day. I didn't realize that 'work' meant the 'unemployment office'. I didn't realize that it wasn't normal for my Dad to come home, drink another six pack of beer and then pass out on the seat in front of the TV where he sat every night and didn't move once, at all. See, people berate me for being straight edge.... That because I've never tried it, I have no right to judge those who do drink.
He scoffs angrily.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX But y'know what I have tried? Living in abject squalor because all the money my Dad got from the unemployment office... He took it with him to the bar. I've tried growing up with nothing because my Dad spent it all on booze. And y'know what else I've tried? Having to grow up early, getting part time jobs just to make a little money so that I could pay for my own clothes, I could pay for my own lunches at school and even my food at home, I could pay for anything else I wanted...... Because I couldn't rely on my Dad for any of that.
He stares into the camera intently, his face serious and definately pissed at remanicising all this.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX So people say that it's their choice to drink and they can do whatever they want.... But look at those around you who it effects. Look at what your drinking is doing to the lives of other people. My Dad isn't a bad person. He just had an addiction that ruled his life. But at the time I was too young to realize any of this. I didn't realize he was an alcoholic. I didn't realize that the life I was forced to lead wasn't normal for a young boy. But now in hindsight..... I hate my Dad for that. I hate him for the fact that he robbed me out of a childhood because of his addiction. I hate him for the fact that I was forced to grow up with nothing, while all the other kids had parents who actually worked yet still found time to spend with them. They didn't spend all their time in dirty bars, exactly like this one. They didn't spend all their money on alcohol when it was given to help support a family, not an addiction.
He continues to stare into the camera angrily, but then his expression softens as he chuckles a little.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX But before you get the wrong impression... This isn't a "boo hoo, woe is me" speech. I love my Dad. And he loves me, he always did, even during his addiction. My Dad doesn't drink anymore, he realizes just how much it hurt everyone else around him. So drinking isn't just your choice. You have to be aware of how it effects those around you. Which actually.... Leads me right back to The Sandman.
He smirks grimly.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX You and my Dad are a lot alike. But whereas he realized exactly what his addiction was doing, how he was hurting everyone around him.... You still haven't figured that out.
Punk scoffs but still maintains the smirk.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX See, I'm straight edge because of people like you. People who continue to selfishly feed their addiction, regardless of who it hurts. Look at your life Sandman. Look at your ex-wife, Lori Fullington. Look at your son, Tyler. How do you think your drinking effected them? I mean, if I remember correctly.... Didn't they both leave you for your heated rival at the time, Raven? And now.... Now I don't see them in your life at all. I see that Lori divorced you. I see that you're drinking and smoking yourself into a stupour. I see that you're with a whore named Foxy Dreams. I see that if it wasn't for wrestling.... You'd just be one of these out-of-work losers, sat down in a bar all day, attempting to drink yourself to death.
Now Punk is back to his serious face.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Without wrestling.... What are you? You're just a drunk. A bum. A loser.
He shakes his head before another drink of pepsi.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Maybe the standards of wrestling were lax back when you started in the late 80's-early 90's, but for me..... For me I worked hard to get where I am today. I didn't get drunk instead of working out. I would never get drunk before a match. I would never wrestle a match drunk. I have too much pride for this sport to do that. Sport being the key word. Do you see top atheletes competing drunk? No. No you do not. They have pride. They have respect for the sport they're in. You don't see many wrestlers getting drunk either.
Punk is disturbed by someone choosing to take the stool next to him where his title belt was earlier and ordering a beer. Punk looks at the person gone-out as the camera pulls back to reveal Sterling James Keenan - a bandana and sunglasses on his head and wearing a Lars Frederikson & The Bastards t-shirt - Sat next to him. Keenan looks at him, bemused at Punk's expression.
XXX Rockstar From Hell - S J K XXX What? What'd I do now?
Punk shakes his head and sighs out.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Ya kinda screwed up my point.
XXX Rockstar From Hell - S J K XXX Oh... Oh, well, I'll move over a seat, have a few drinks and let you continue with your promo, okay?
He smirks and waves into the camera before moving a seat and the camera goes back to focusing on Punk, him still shaking his head at his friends behaviour.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Like I was saying. Most wrestlers you wont see getting drunk. Well, at least inside the arena. Off hours.... Most like to party. But inside the arena, inside that ring.... You should be all business. But Sandman.... You are just making a mockery out of our great sport. You are setting a bad example. You know me. Everyone knows how I'm straight edge. And how I'm trying to make a good example to everybody watching UPW. But you... What kind of example are you setting to all the impressionable young people watching? What kind of role model are you? They see you drinking. They see you smoking. And they see you "wrestling"... Again, I use that term loosely. And they think to themselves - "Huh... That guy might be kinda cool. He's a wrestler yet he drinks and smokes. I didn't think you could do that? Maybe... Maybe if I drank and smoked I could be like this guy".
Punk scoffs and shakes his head.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX And I hate to say it but.... People are stupid. Especially young kids. It's all monkey see, monkey do. But if they get turned into alcoholics. If they start smoking those cancer sticks.... It's all your fault. A nation of young people... All corrupted by your decadence. And y'know? I'm not gonna stand for that. I'm not going to allow that. I am going to beat you on X-Fire. I am going to make you serve as the example. That drinking and smoking... Isn't cool. That drinking and smoking will only ruin your life. And y'know, I can't even touch on the amount of drugs you have taken off-screen. I am going to defeat you and show that my way, the straight edge way.... Is the better way. That to lead a better life... You need to be smoke, drug and alcohol free. I am going to be a role model to everybody watching UPW. A positive role model. I am going to show that you don't need to drink or smoke to be cool, to be accepted. Just because other people do it doesn't mean you have to bow to peer pressure. I am going to be a role model to all young people out there. I am going to be a role model.... For America.
On cue an American flag is draped into screen behind him. Punk looks back instinctively and is startled at the flags appearence. The camera pulls back to show SJK holding it, grinning.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Where'd ya get that flag from?
XXX Rockstar From Hell - S J K XXX We're in a redneck bar, they all have them.
The bartender comes into screen glowers at SJK.
XXX Rockstar From Hell - S J K XXX Well they do!
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Put that back and don't interrupt me again!
Punk shakes his head again and sighs in desperation as SJK removes the flag and then sits back down, the camera going back to focusing on Punk as he looks at us with an exasperated face.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Back onto the matter at hand.
He shakes his head and sighs out one more time before putting his game face back on.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX For too long now Sandman, your debauchery and decadence have ruined professional wrestling. You're not a wrestler... You're just a brawler. John Cena knows more wrestling moves than you!
Ron Simmons, aka Farooq, then walks into screen behind Punk.
Farooq - Ron Simmons Damn!
Both Punk and SJK stare at him, mouths agape and startled.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX The hell are you doing here?
Farooq - Ron Simmons What? I'm a former APA member. I'm an alcoholic.
And then he walks past the both of them and out of the bar. Punk shakes his head and snaps, turning to address the rest of the bar.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Okay! Do we have anymore alcoholic wrestlers here to interrupt me? Do we? Cos if we do... Come out now! Do not interrupt my promo anymore! Okay? I'm done.
He shakes his head and then turns back to the camera, fed up. But then that changes into more of a pissed off mood.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Ya know, you probably think you're at an advantage with this type of match. That a hardcore match will play exactly to your strengths and you'll be able to beat me. But y'know what? I can be hardcore too! I am hardcore! Being straight edge... It takes discipline. It takes a strong will. I resist temptation each and every single day. And I don't just mean the peer pressures of drinking, smoking and doing drugs when you're on the road three hundred days a year with nothing better to do. I mean the women. You and I Sandman... We both like the women. Even if you seem to think I'm a homosexual. Yeah, I saw your little promo.... How entertaining.
He rolls his eyes.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX But while you can have liasons with any slut that comes your way, such as this Foxy Dreams.... While I. I prefer classy women. I prefer to have meaningful relationships. I don't define a relationship by sex.... I define a relationship as two people who love each other. So, you obviously call me a homosexual. Now... Talk to Maria... Talk to Daffney.... Talk to Tracy Brooks.... They will tell you. I am definately not a homosexual. You were wondering what the CM stands for... Well it stands for Chick Magnet.
He smirks self-confidently but then a thought pops into his head.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Although.... Daffney might say I'm a homo.... She kinda hates me now.
He shrugs and pulls an "oops" face. Keenan chooses here to interject.
XXX Rockstar From Hell - S J K XXX I can vouche for that.
And then leaves Punk alone to go back to his drinking.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX I've been called somewhat of a womaniser through out my career. But then again.... Most people are just jealous with how many hot wrestling chicks I've had in my bed.
He smirks in that cocky way that kinda fuelds those "womaniser" rumours.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX But really, if calling me a homosexual is the best you can do....
He smirks.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX You're gonna get Punk'd.
Again, he smirks.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Yeah, I'm pretty sure I was called CM Punk before that stupid show came out there, Sandy.
He snickers.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX But while you know absolutely nothing about me and who I am.... I know absolutely everything about you. See, Phil Brooks and CM Punk... Are one in the same. It's not a gimmick. I'm the same person whether it's inside or outside the ring. And The Sandman and Jim Fullington... Are one in the same too. In real life, you're still just a hard-drinking, chain-smoking, pill-popping loser too. With us... We're who we are. But we're at completely different opposite ends of the spectrum. Because while I'm a winner.... You're a loser. And always will be.
He stares into the camera intently.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX You really think your wife wanted to be with a 40 plus year old alcoholic with no future? That your son looks up to you and respects you? Because I can tell you now... He doesn't!
He continues to stare in that completely deadly serious manner.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX I tell you now.... Back when I was young and naive... I looked up to my Dad. I respected him. But when I grew up and found out the truth.... He became a different kind of role model to me. A negative role model. I knew from that point on.... I wanted to be nothing like my Dad. And I guarantee you, your boy Tyler... He feels exactly the same way about you. How you let him down time after time. How when even when you weren't on the road.... You were just too drunk to pay attention or do anything with him. I already said how looking back now.... I hate my Dad for him being an alcoholic. And if I would have been older instead of a naive young boy.... I would have beaten the crap out of him for what he did to his family!
Still, he stares in that deadly manner.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX But things are different now. He's a recovering ex-alcoholic now, more than a decade sober.... And we're close now. We're friends with each other. But still... I can't forgive him. I can't forgive him for what he did, all the times that he wasn't there, all the times that he spent all our money on alcohol. I still seethe with rage when I think back to those days. I cannot take it out on my Dad anymore, he's a changed man. But you Sandman.... You I can take it on. You are exactly like my Dad of old. You're a guy who spends all his time drinking, all his time in dank, dirty bars... Hell, ya even own one! And you are a guy who neglected his family up to the point where they left you.... And you.... You don't even care.
He shakes his head in pity.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX You are a sad, miserable man, Sandman. I pity you and your meaningless existence. You're not living.... You're just existing. I mentioned earlier how I was hardcore because I am disciplined and have strength of will.... You are everything I'm not and never will be! Only the weak succumb to their addictions. And it's gotten to the point where every single day, every single breath you take.... Is all to feed your addiction.
Punk breathes hard, anger pouring off of him.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX I hate you. In my heart of hearts I HATE you! In Ultimate Pro Wrestling, where the wrestlers are supposed to be revered... People like you don't even deserve a place on the roster! I would shake your hand before our match like a man but then... You're not even a man! And I don't respect you. I hate you! I hate you for everything you represent. I hate you for the fact that you are a wrestler who is devoid of any talent, you got handed a spot on the roster simply due to past glories, and you got given a title shot because, from what I hear, Foxy Dreams is pretty good at giving blowjobs to bookers in order to ensure her man gets title shots. Everything I have achieved... I have achieved through hard work. I have achieved through wrestling, not this garbage wrestling that made you a hardcore icon in ECW.
You can see the disgust on his face at the mention of "garbage wrestling".
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX What I am, you will never be able to understand. I am disciplined. I am strong of will. On the second of March, on Xtreme X-Fire... I am going to become a monster to fight all the monsters of the world. Those who flush their lives down the toilet. And for what? For booze? For pills? For women? Too many wrestlers have died young. Especially those from ECW. This year alone we have already lost Bam Bam Bigelow and Mike Awesome. And you Sandman... Your lifestyle makes you prone to join them.... And soon. In fact, March second may even be the date. Because when you step into the ring with me.... I am going to unleash all my hate, all my anger, all my rage, all my pent up feelings over my Dad.... And you'll be lucky if you manage to survive this onslaught.
This is the most worked up and intense we've ever seen Punk.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX This is a promise. This is real. This is straight edge!
He brings his arms up, crossing them in an "X", with two "X"'s written in black on his taped wrists. He looks down at the triple X sign he's making and then a thought comes to his head as he brings his arms back down.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Y'know... You probably think triple X stands for porn or hard liquor....
Keenan again pops in here.
XXX Rockstar From Hell - S J K XXX I know I do!
And then again disappears to allow Punk to continue.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX But to me.... Triple X symbolizes the straight edge movement. We are hardcore to our lifestyle. We wear these X's on our hands.... To show that we do not drink. We do not smoke. We do not do drugs. We are strong. We are disciplined. And most of all... We are united. We wear our X's with pride. We are together under the straight edge banner, united as one. Something you alcoholics, smokers and drug users will never understand. We are hardcore. So while you may think you have an advantage being in a hardcore match.... You fail to see just how hardcore I can be. How willing I can be to use weapons to hurt you. How willing I can be to go through any lengths of pain just to inflict it back on you ten fold!
He seethes with anger.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Drink up Sandman! Keep drinking! I WANT you to die! I want your liver to fail! And y'know what, keep smoking too. I WANT you to get cancer! I WANT YOU TO DIE!! And y'know, speaking of death..... Xtreme X-Fire.... March 2nd.... I am going to KILL YOU!!
Okay, now he's really pissed off.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX I AM STRAIGHT EDGE!! AND I... AM BETTER... THAN YOU!!
He continues to pant hard to the camera before picking up his glass, finishing his pepsi in one fell swoop. Keenan chuckles as he moves back into the seat next to Punk, Punk bent over and still shaking with anger.
XXX Rockstar From Hell - S J K XXX Woooow! Gotta say..... Never seen you this fired up before.
Punk raises his head up to signal to the bartender for another. The bartender comes over, takes his glass, fills it up with pepsi and then hands it back as he takes another large drink of it.
XXX Rockstar From Hell - S J K XXX What got into you?
Punk wipes his mouth, still shaking hard as he turns to his friend.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX I HATE The Sandman!
SJK chuckles, scoffing lightly.
XXX Rockstar From Hell - S J K XXX C'mon man, it's just a wrestling match....
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX NO! No it isn't! The Sandman stands for everything I hate. He represents everything that I am against. I am going to END HIM!
SJK sways back on his seat a little in surprise. Punk takes another large drink.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX I am going to show that I should not be taken lightly. That it's going to take more than "He's a homo" promo's to affect me! I am gunning for singles gold to go along with my tag belt right here. And I don't care. Gimmick title. Xplosive title. Primetime title. I'm going to win a singles belt.
Keenan coughs a little before taking a drink of his beer.
XXX Rockstar From Hell - S J K XXX Ya know.... If you want the Primetime title.... You and I are gonna have to cross paths again in the ring.
Punk stares at him dead.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Well if it comes to that.... It comes to that.
He finishes his drink and then reaches into his pocket, pulling out his wallet and leaving money plus tip.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX I'll see you later.
And then he picks up his tag belt and just walks out of the bar, still clearly angry and worked up from his promo. Keenan scoffs/chuckles lightly as he finishes his beer.
XXX Rockstar From Hell - S J K XXX Goddamn, what got into him.......?
Title: Forgiveness
Date|Time: March 5th, 2007, 8.43pm
Location: In The Ring
Status: On Camera
Little over fifteen minutes before Xtreme X-Fire, during the XXXtra show, AFI's "Miseria Cantare (The Beginning)" begins to play over the speaker. After the slow-build up intro, the fans are ready to bang/clap to the "Boom boom ba-boom. Boom boom ba-boom". CM Punk then comes out to rapturous applause, dressed in his windbreaker jacket and ring shorts with the high knee ring boots. Punk walks down to the ring, shouting out the lyrics and encouraging the fans to do so as they join in very vocally.
Love! Your Hate! Your! Faith Lost! You! Are Now! One! Of Us!
Punk climbs into the ring, coming to the centre and kneeling down as he bangs the ring with his fists and then throws up the triple X symbol to the crowd who cheer racously. As the music dies down and the fans begin to stop their banging and chanting along to the music, Punk is handed a microphone as he looks out into the packed out crowd.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX I'm guessing you all saw my earlier promo, huh?
He nods to himself as he pauses.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX And I... I said some harsh words. Some very hard words. How I want.... How I want Sandman to die. How I want Sandman to drink up and for his liver to fail. How I want Sandman to puff on his cancer sticks and get exactly that, cancer. How tonight, in this very ring.... I intend to kill him.
He nods again to think to himself as the crowd are at a loss whether to cheer or boo this.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Well y'know what? I meant every single word!
The crowd gasp in shock as his face contorts in anger.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX The Sandman is a waste of a life! A waste of skin! Of flesh and bone.
Certain sections of the crowd begin to boo him.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Anyone who wants to drink and smoke their life away.... Does not deserve the life they are given!
More boo's to this. Punk smirks, acknowledging the boo's.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Oh let me guess. You're the drinkers and the smokers right? Heh. Y'know, I bet you're here with your kids tonight. I bet that it was your kids who wanted to come and you got dragged along with them. And to make up for it, you've treat yourself to a beer or two. Well let me ask you this. Are you going to drive home tonight? Are you going to be in the car with your a kid, a little buzzed and wondering if you should be behind a wheel? If you're going to put your life and your kids life in jeapordy all because you wanted a drink while you watched the wrestling with your kid. But no. No you're not going to think that. Because that alcohol coursing through your veins is going to be telling you that you're fine. That you're invincible. But no.... You're not invincible. Being drunk is when you're at your most vulnerable! When your hand to eye co-ordination is beginning to let you down and your thought processer isn't working as well. But say you actually manage to get home... That you're sat down in the living room with little Timmy as he's talking non-stop about how good the wrestling was and how awesome his new favourite wrestler, CM Punk, is.
He smirks.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX So what you gonna do then? You gonna kick back and smoke a cigarette? Yeah.... Yeah I bet you will. But y'know what? Second hand smoke kills. And little Timmy, alone in that room with you, breathing in those fumes.... You're writing a death sentence for him! So think about that people. Think about that when you're drinking your next beer. Think about that when you're having your next smoke in the same room as your loved ones. Just think about that!
He pauses as the boo'ers from earlier are stunned into a silence.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX But really, I should be talking about my opponent, The Sandman, right? How I'm justified for actually going as far as to say that I want him to die, right? Now when I was cutting my promo earlier I went on a bit of a tangent about my Dad. About how his drinking ruined my childhood. And if you missed it, well... Tough! I don't like repeating myself. But seen as I'm generous for all you people who didn't catch it the first time.... I said how looking back in hindsight I hate my Dad for his drinking when I was younger. But now.... Now I love him. Now we're close friends. He's stopped drinking and will tell anyone who's willing to listen that drinking is not the answer. I learned a lot from my Dad growing up. I learned that I never wanted to touch a drink in my life because I saw what it did to the people who drank and I saw first hand what it did to the people around those who drank! My Dad became an inspiration to me. Both his earlier drunk self.... And the new man who's more than a decade sober and helps those with drinking problems. And eventhough Pheonix is a long way away from Chicago.... He's here tonight.
Again he pauses as he looks up to the entrance way.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX So Dad... Could you please come out here? I knew you weren't expecting this, but, please, just come out here.
There's a long pause as Punk awaits his fathers entrance until a sixty-something year old man walks out of the entrance way. Thin, and showing obvious signs of past alcoholism he makes his way down the rampway, looking slightly confused, as the fans clap respectfully. Punk sits on the middle rope to allow his father easier access into the ring as he climbs in. The fans continue to clap as Punk's father looks at him, confused as to why he's out here as Punk brings the mic back up to his lips again.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to my Dad, Mr. Brooks.
The fans clap and cheer as Mr. Brooks looks on bemused. Punk looks at his father thoughtfully before continuing.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX Now Dad.... I cut a promo a few days ago and your drinking problem was mentioned heavily in it.
Punk looks solemn as his Dad nods ruefully.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX And I gotta come clean with you Dad, it wasn't good things. I love you Dad, y'know that right?
Mr. Brooks nods.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX But... Looking back at how things used to be when I was a kid..... If I hadn't been a naive young kid back then.... I would have hated you.
Mr. Brooks again nods, looking remorseful.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX And you know this. We've talked about this before. We're at the point in our lives know where we can talk openly about this kind of stuff.
Punk pauses, still looking thoughtful as to what to say next.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX But there is one thing I have never told you. One thing I let slip in that promo a few days. Dad.... I still haven't forgiven you. I still haven't forgiven you for that.
Mr. Brooks puts his head down, looking shamed as Punk looks remoseful himself.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX I used you to serve as an example to my opponent tonight. See, he's an alcoholic like you used to be. And he has a young son too. And when I got thinking about that, all these old emotions and feelings came flooding back about my childhood growing up with an alcoholic father. And it didn't come to me talking about The Sandman. It came to me talking about how much I hated you. All those old feelings... Got transferred onto The Sandman. I went as far to hope that his drinking causes liver failure, that his smoking causes lung cancer. And that tonight, in this ring against me.... He'll be lucky if he walks out alive. And I realized to myself.... I wasn't thinking about facing The Sandman. I was thinking about facing you. The alcoholic father that was never there for me.
Punk's eyes redden as he looks on the verge of tears, same with his father. God, does he have to do this in the middle of the ring in front of all these people?
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX And I've had a few days since then to reflect on all the things I said. I said that... That I couldn't forgive you. And now I realize to myself.... It's been twenty years almost and I still say I can't forgive you. Well tonight... Tonight I will forgive you. You have changed your life around and you deserve my forgiveness. I realize now that it was just an addiction.... You were helpless and the addiction had a hold over you. So I forgive you Dad, okay? I forgive you... For never being there for me. I forgive you.... For spending all our money to feed your addiction. I forgive you.... For being an alcoholic.
His father is now weeping as Punk opens his arms for a hug as Mr. Brooks walks into it and the two hug each other. The crowd cheer and clap for this. But suddenly Punk breaks the hug, moving to the side, and hooking his father, no he isn't going to do this! Ura-nage! Punk just ura-nage'd his own father as the crowd gasp in complete and utter shocker. Following this he goes straight into the Anaconda Vice as he usually does, his father quickly screaming in pain but Punk holds onto the hold for more than long enough, eventually breaking and getting back onto his feet, his father cradling what might be a broken arm. Punk picks up the mic that he dropped earlier as the crowd boo's heavily.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX SANDMAN! I LOVE MY FATHER! HE IS THE CLOSEST FRIEND I HAVE IN THIS LIFE! BUT LOOK! LOOK AT HIM NOW! LOOK AT WHAT I DID!
Punk pants hard into the mic as his Dad still screams in pain.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX IF THIS IS WHAT I CAN TO MY OWN DAD... IMAGINE WHAT I'M GOING TO DO TO YOU IN OUR HARDCORE MATCH!!
He continues to pant, looking positively deranged.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX I HAVE SHOWN WHAT I AM CAPABLE OF! THE LENGTHS I AM WILLING TO GO TO! YOU SANDMAN... YOU'RE NOT EVEN HALF THE MAN MY DAD IS! HE REALIZED HIS ADDICTION WAS TAKING OVER HIS LIFE AND HE QUIT! HE QUIT COLD TURKEY AND NEVER DRUNK AGAIN! BUT YOU... YOU STILL CONTINUE TO DRINK. YOU STILL CONTINUE TO SMOKE. AND YEAH, I BET YOU STILL DO DRUGS OFF-SCREEN TOO! WHAT KIND OF MAN ARE YOU?!
He sneers, looking directly into the camera.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX I forgive my Dad. You.... You will remain unforgiven for your decadence and debauchery till the day you die! And y'know what Sandman? THAT DAY IS TODAY! BECAUSE I AM STRAIGHT EDGE! AND I AM BETTER THAN YOU!!
Punk drops the mic, immediately rushing back over to his Dad and cradling him, breaking down and sobbing.
Xx Straight Edge - CM Punk xX I'm sorry.... I'm so sorry Dad... Please forgive me....
He cries as paramedics make their way down to the ring and we go to commercial.
