The Orlando Magic WrestleMania

Tracy McGrady is CM Punk

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Tracy McGrady was always a bit of a renegade. In some ways, he had to be carrying an often-injured and underperforming Orlando Magic team. McGrady was the only one keeping them alive and so he had to play with an “F* you” edge about him.

It was horrifying to defenses in many, many ways. They had no answer for him as he put an assault on his opponents.

CM Punk was very much the same way.

He wrestled with an edge, coming up through the hardcore ECW brand. CM Punk was an anti-hero to the prim and proper caricature of a WWE superstar. He was smaller, more death-defying and had a grittier look to him. He was not the chiseled all-American boy.

McGrady did not quite share the same body type, but he could still do it all despite his slight frame. He could do it all though, he just needed the chance.

Constantly things were put in his way. Punk was never the apple of anyone’s eye. And neither was McGrady. he could never get out of the first round and experience Playoff success.

Punk was much the same way. He did not fit the ideal for the company as its top star and he had to fight for every scrap he got.

Until, like McGrady with then-general manager Jon Weisbrod, he had enough. Punk cut a legendary promo where he broke the fourth wall and criticized WWE, with his mic cutting out at various points. Eventually, he left on bad terms and is probably never coming back despite his clear talent in the ring.

The deterioration of McGrady’s relationship with the Magic is still pretty well documented. He was frustrated with the lack of help he received from teammates and his lack of Playoff success.

The change in management and philosophy bristled with McGrady’s personality. McGrady demanded a trade to escape from this toxic relationship.

Unlike Punk, McGrady definitely is willing to come back.