CM Punk

CM Punk: Best in the World [DVD]Best in the World [DVD] (2012)
WWE Home Video

Reviewer Rating: 4

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Contributed by: JeloneJelone
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Published on October 12th 2012Professional wrestler CM Punk might be the most important figure in straight edge since Ian MacKaye. Hyperbolic as that sounds, Punk, who also describes himself as a vegetarian and a feminist, has taken edge all the way to World Wrestling Entertainment, a place not especially known for those values..

Professional wrestler CM Punk might be the most important figure in straight edge since Ian MacKaye. Hyperbolic as that sounds, Punk, who also describes himself as a vegetarian and a feminist, has taken edge all the way to World Wrestling Entertainment, a place not especially known for those values. That he takes these punk sensibilities and makes them part of his wrestling gimmick is commendable.

Yeah, wresting is fake. Yeah, hardcore wrestling fans don't like the WWE. But what makes Punk compelling, and indeed even relevant to punk with a lowercase "p," is the way he's taken the underground to the mainstream. His new documentary/highlight reel, Best in the World, a three-disc DVD/Blu-ray set, explores his history and successes. And he certainly faced a lot of adversity rising through the ranks, from promoters not understanding his tattoos to fans not understanding his style. But he's risen up as an antihero, succeeding despite conventional wisdom saying he shouldn't.

That Punk would question the status quo isn't necessarily new for WWE wrestlers (sorry, "superstars"), but how he does it is different. Antiheroes like Stone Cold Steve Austin and D-Generation X had plenty of contempt for the establishment, but they expressed it through debauchery and nihilism. They didn't care. Punk is the opposite. He cares more than anyone else. That's why he's straight edge (among other reasons): He doesn't want to dull his view and ambition. Oddly enough, for all his tattoos and anger, he's still arguably a better role model for kids than most wrestlers.

The matches covered on the second and third discs are pretty good, but the documentary is essential viewing. Punk and his friends from Chicago lay out exactly what straight edge means, and how abstaining from drugs has helped them in their lives. Another wrestler, Joey Mercury, even credits Punk with helping him beat drug addiction. If this set teaches impressionable young wrestling fans something about punk culture and straight edge discipline, then I'm for it. This is the new gateway punk.

You want punk credentials? The set features music from Against Me! and the Bouncing Souls. Punk quotes H2O and rocks one of their hoodies. He's also buddies with Rancid, who appear in the documentary portion. Lars Frederiksen even provides an interview. WWE is fake; Punk is real.

Best in the World is one of the strongest documentaries WWE has put out in a while. Punk, always strong on the mic, makes for a good interview subject, spinning story after interesting story. Hopefully, he teaches kids a thing or two along the way.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

conebone69 (October 15, 2012)

I want a review of the Bobby Heenan DVD next

ozmanx (October 15, 2012)

Got the BluRay last week and have gone through the documentary and lil extras on the first disc...holy shit is this awesome. Haven't even gotten to the matches or other special features and could already say it's worth it for just the doc.

VinceMcMahon (October 12, 2012)

whynotquebec (3 hours ago)

What does Vince McMahon think?

The people don't want to see this tatooed buffoon in my ring; the people want John Cena! They want RYBACK, dammit!

Patcrets (October 12, 2012)

For the record, wrestling isn't fake, it's fixed. With that said, CM Punk made the WWE some what relavant again after that awesome shoot he did last year. That shoot was one of the best ever, up there with Stone Cold's King Of The Ring shoot. Punk is great at what he does and you can tell that he lives for profesional wrestling. This DVD is top notch and even non wrestling fans can enjoy it.

brokendogleg (October 12, 2012)

Someone should review a Jake The Snake DVD, considering his influence on the street punk scene.

elliot (October 12, 2012)

I love wrestling, love CM Punk. If I could post a stupid "HATERS GON HATE" meme here, I totally would.

whynotquebec (October 12, 2012)

What does Vince McMahon think?

coolhand (October 12, 2012)

I don't know, MrPistachio. I think pro wrestling is pretty low on the list considering we have to answer for things like torture, nationalism, corporate greed, the Tea Party and Carly Rae Jepsen.

MrPistachio (October 12, 2012)

America has a lot to be embarrassed about but 'Professional Wrestling' has to be near the top of the embarrassment pile.

still_ill (October 12, 2012)

Is this the guy with the Pepsi logo tattoo?

slamthisdown (October 12, 2012)

I don't think you understand how excited I am that a WWE DVD is being reviewed this week.

kickaha (October 12, 2012)

"Punk"news.org... Wait, what the...? ...crap....

cameronfits (October 12, 2012)

Eff all this punk crap Punk is a titty baby. So what...he's straight edge and likes h20. Hornswaggle has an op ivy tattoo. Give him some respect to then. Has punk paid his dues. Far from it. He needs memorable matches and he has none. But my cries will go unanswered.

Michael_Berryman (October 12, 2012)

i like how they airbrushed the "drug" out from his "drug free" knuckle tattoos on the dvd packaging.

anyway, i just watched this yesterday and it was so good. been working my way through the matches on the second two discs all day.

renaldo69 (October 12, 2012)

Christian could have been just as big a name..but Vince hates him. Punk's done really well...I wish they'd see he can wrestle and is versatile...and make him the talisman ahead of that idiotic Cena but Cena is a babyface and will always sell more. It's nice to see even with Punk turning heel, hating on fans, calling out Austin (I hope that fight happens)...he's still getting crowd pops. I mean...no disrespect...but Punk can do anything, short of pissing on the US flag, and the fans will still love him! lol.
he's really the Austin post-attitude era. Good DVD...he's paid his dues. Kudos to him...and I end with...whose dick did Ryback suck to get this Sheamus-like push?