WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk said he thinks a wrestling angle similar to the premise of Heated Rivalry could work well in WWE.
For those not aware of the cultural phenomenon that is Heated Rivalry, the Canadian show (available on HBO Max in the U.S.) centers on two male hockey players who are fierce rivals on the ice while hiding their secret, passionate romance.
During an exchange with SiriusXM Radio, Punk was asked if a similar premise could work in the wrestling world.
“I feel like there’s
a huge untapped market. There’s fan fiction out there, ladies and gentlemen. I’m in a lot of it,” he replied. “I think it’s an untapped market.”
Punk continued and dropped the names of two if his biggest rivals in WWE.
“I think Heated Rivalry did so well, and it kind of touched on maybe taboo subjects,” he said. “I think we could run that in WWE. I mean, look at all the guys that are in love with me: Seth [Rollins], Roman [Reigns], it’s kind of endless.”
On the heels of his victory in the men’s Royal Rumble, Reigns on Monday announced he would challenge Punk for his championship at WrestleMania 42 in a culmination of a feud that began building behind-the-scenes years ago.
The issues between Punk and Rollins have been well-documented, with the two frequently taking shots at each other in the press while also engaging in high-profile matches. It’s unclear where the currently injured Rollins stands with Punk now after The Architect was taken out of action by his own stablemates in The Vision.
Meanwhile, WWE’s past representations of homosexual relationships have not always been progressive. While members of the LGBTQ+ community like Darren Young and Sonya Deville have enjoyed prominent spots on the roster, WWE drew condemnation from GLAAD for the early 2000’s storyline of Billy & Chuck. The tag team was presented as a same-sex couple, though critics felt it was done for derision, before the team later said at their televised wedding ceremony that it had all been a ruse for publicity.
Could a more tastefully done angle involving a same-sex couple go over well in WWE? Let us know what you think in the comments.
