Brock Lesnar dominated the heavyweight division in the UFC, broke opponents' bones in WWE and, at 266 pounds, he outweighs CM Punk by nearly 50 pounds. To the casual observer, Punk doesn’t stand a chance against such a monster. But dig a little deeper and you will find there certainly are ways The Best in the World can topple The Beast at SummerSlam. Here are five of them.
1. Target Paul Heyman
Let's face it: One of Brock Lesnar's jobs is to keep an eye on his manager, Paul Heyman. Punk has already vehemently expressed his desire to kick his former best friend’s rear end. He came very close on the July 29 edition of Raw, but Heyman managed to slither away. Although Punk has stated he does not need Heyman in his corner to win, we’ve never heard the same words come out of Lesnar’s mouth. If Punk were able to take Heyman out — either before or during SummerSlam — it could be just the thing needed to rattle The Beast and get him off his game.
2. Outlast Lesnar
Having held the WWE Championship for 434 days — the longest reign of all WWE Champions in the last 25 years — CM Punk knows a thing or two about longevity. At 218 pounds, Punk could possess perhaps the ideal physique to compete in WWE. Any lighter, and he gives up too much size and strength. Any heavier, and he sacrifices quickness and agility in the ring. Watch any big Superstar compete in a long ring battle and he’s going to tire in the end. If Punk can avoid the majority of Lesnar’s lethal blows long enough, he stands a good chance to tire him down and simply outlast The Anomaly.
3. Draw energy from the WWE Universe
Ever since his blistering "Pipe Bomb" diatribe against the WWE establishment and the McMahon family in summer 2011, CM Punk has earned a legion of loyal fans who have cheered him through thick and thin. They watched him overcome every road block en route to capturing the WWE Title and holding onto it for a record reign. No matter who or what Punk has come up against, there is always a contingent that stands behind him. If the WWE Universe in attendance at the STAPLES Center gets behind Punk — and he taps into their exuberance — the match becomes a two-on-one fight instead of a one-on-one matchup.
4. Hurt Lesnar
It is usually Lesnar who brings the pain. With his devastating Kimura Lock, he broke the arms of Triple H and Shawn Michaels, as well as injured John Cena’s arm. There’s no doubt Punk is up against one of the most dangerous Superstars ever. But what if The Second City Saint beats Lesnar at his own game and manages to hurt him early in the bout? Lesnar would expect a large Superstar like Triple H or Cena to deliver a debilitating blow, but not Punk. If The Straight Edge Superstar manages to strike early with the GTS, it could put Lesnar in a position he’s not accustomed to — the defensive.
5. Live up to his name
Punk has steadfastly claimed to be The Best in the World. His recent record WWE Title reign certainly proved what he is capable of. Now, with no title around his waist, Punk is hungry to get back on top. What better way to do it than beating The Beast at one of the biggest pay-per-views of the year? If Punk can avoid injury and hang with Lesnar, he certainly possesses the skills and tenacity to win. A victory over Lesnar would mean instant bragging rights for a long time to come for Punk. And that could be all the motivation the outspoken Superstar needs to win.
