By Jon Cudo, PWTorch Specialist

C.M. Punk [artist Grant Gould (c) PWTorch]

In recent weeks C.M. Punk has pulled off one of my favorite character evolutions. He has turned from babyface to heel, all while being true to his own character. In simple terms, he's saying the same things but has effectively turned from face to heel.

Perhaps my favorite example of this character twist is Bret Hart. He managed to gain babyface momentum by earnestly proclaiming he was the best there is, best there was, and best there ever will be. Soon thereafter he was a heat magnet for boastfully taunting those same words. He managed to be true to his character while allowing the fans to see him in a contrasting light.

This shift in wrestling is somewhat rare. Wrestlers turn all the time, recently in the WWE some even turn without any clear indication of why. C.M. Punk's turn shows his commitment to his character and the depth of his convictions. It is also fresh because this is done well so infrequently.

Punk has three major benefits with his character. First, he was able to arrive on the national scene after creating and growing this character on the indy scene and in ROH. Second, there is a natural depth to the character benefiting from not being an ethnic stereotype (like Kofi, Shad, or Finlay) or an occupational riff (like Undertaker or Tyler Reks). And finally, he appears to be playing a character that is based (at least loosely) on his own personality.

Punk's turn has been built around opportunistically using the Money in the Bank stipulation to win the title. First from Edge, making him a babyface for outsmarting a heel. This year he repeated the act, but against beaten lead babyface Jeff Hardy. This well booked twist was brilliantly set-up and executed, changing the perception of Punk while he acted consistently allowing him to turn while basically staying true to his moral compass.

Now, like Bret Hart before him, Punk is saying the same things, but eliciting a very different reaction. Punk has always built his character around being "Straight Edge." (An interesting spin to suggest he is unique for not doing drugs in a company who drug tests.) He proudly stated he high came from the thrill of competition. Now he boasts the same lifestyle while taunting Jeff Hardy for not being strong enough to do the same. Leaving the distasteful flaunting of Hardy's history aside, it's an interesting and believable use of Punk's character to draw heat where he previously applied the same traits used to build his babyface credibility.

One last note on Punk's now completed turn. I found the pacing both sensible and believable. Some thought the ambiguity of his turn lessened the effectiveness. As the Extreme Rules PPV went off the air the announcers hadn't condemned Punk for pinning Hardy, letting the action fester with fans. In a rare moment of patient booking, I thought the pacing fit the story. Punk wasn't changing his ways and the event hadn't triggered a seismic shift in him. Rather, his turn would come as the fans changed their perception of his character. This is better accomplished as fans change their own minds, rather than a decisive change in Punk or how he is positioned.

Bruce Mitchell has often quoted Boris Malenko for suggesting when you are in a territory where everyone yells to speak softly for maximum impact. Now in the WWE Universe where turns happen spasticly and too often for no reason, Punk's slow reasoned turn while staying true to his inner compass is being done with maximum impact.

We suggest these recent related articles...

10/5 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Natalya vs. Paige, Owens vs. Cara, Stephanie McMahon, Sasha Banks, Xavier Woods

COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: The History of Foam Hands in Pro Wrestling

9/28 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Kane's Split Personality, Divas Revolution, Heyman & Big Show, Reigns vs. Wyatt