On yesterday's PWTorch Livecast, the no. 1 topic was the appearance of Paul Heyman with C.M. Punk. One of the more intriguing questions is whether this is the start of something bigger. The presumption is that Punk, Heyman, and Brock Lesnar will form an alliance, but will others be added?

Heyman, I would argue, has done his best work as a manager in his history. I've been watching him dating back to before his days managing The Original Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey & Randy Rose) in the AWA, feuding with The Midnight Rockers (Marty Jannetty & Shawn Michaels) in the AWA. His youthful rebellious anti-authority gimmick has been replaced, suitably, by becoming a lawsuit threatening middle aged balding (to put it kindly) lawyer-type.

The chemistry between Punk and Heyman should be good from the start for both characters, assuming it's more than a short-term loose alliance. By aligning with Heyman, it further solidifies Punk as a heel. By aligning with Punk – and the WWE Title – it gives Heyman a reason to be on TV more. With three hours to fill every Monday and a lack of weekly presence from Triple H, Chris Jericho, and Brock Lesnar, Raw could use extra personalities who can fill time in a productive, entertaining way.

Punk is such a good stand-alone heel, though, he's one of the least-in-need heels of a spokesman. So the key is for Heyman to draw an even stronger heel act out of Punk than we've seen lately without stepping on his lines or getting in his way.

Since neither Punk nor Heyman really need each other, it seems like they could be used to get one or two or three other wrestlers over. So how about a new Dangerous Alliance type of faction? I'm not sure right off who jumps out as a good fit, but I do think WWE should try to figure out who on the roster, including unknowns in developmental, would benefit from standing alongside Punk and Heyman on camera for the better part of a year or longer, just as Batista and Randy Orton were elevated by being part of Evolution with Triple H and Ric Flair, and just as Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase were elevated by the alliance with Randy Orton (although they failed to capitalize on DiBiase).

Factions are useful for getting younger talent over while giving the established main eventer(s) in the group a chance to play off of different personalities. Punk has been part of situations like that in the past in ROH and TNA, including early groupings with Raven. Eventually, once a faction is long-established, members can break apart and feud. It's one of the most effective ways to elevate a rising star.

Punk has natural leadership qualities, and watching the Heyman-Punk dynamic develop, whether Heyman is on every week or not, could be one of the more compelling stories of the rest of 2012. If they add members to the group to play off of Heyman, Punk, and Lesnar, even better.

Topic: Which wrestlers either on the main roster or in developmental do you think would most benefit from being part of a Punk-Heyman-Lesnar faction? Comment below on our website or email me at kellerwade@gmail.com.

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