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WWE Champion CM Punk vs. World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan announced
With his job in jeopardy, Interim Raw General Manager & EVP of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis started off Raw SuperShow fully confident that he would keep his job by the end of the night. Then, after calling attention to the big Raw Elimination Chamber Match on Feb. 19, the GM announced WWE Champion CM Punk and World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan would collide later tonight.
After the GM’s announcements, Punk led the WWE Universe in singing “Nah Nah Nah Hey Hey Hey Goodbye.” Next, after Punk and the GM traded verbal barbs, World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan emerged to tout his accomplishment at the 25th anniversary of Royal Rumble. Then after the two champions mixed heated words, the 2012 Royal Rumble Match winner Sheamus came out to remind them that he earned the right to be in the main event of WrestleMania, where he boldly proclaimed he will become the WWE or World Heavyweight Champion.
World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan def. WWE Champion CM Punk by Disqualification
In a highly competitive bout, two of WWE’s best went toe-to-toe in their first one-on-one match in WWE. But before either Superstar could put the other away, Chris Jericho charged in and pulled Daniel Bryan from the ring, causing the match to end in a disqualification. With Bryan down and Punk vulnerable after the hard-fought match, Jericho blasted the Straightedge Superstar with the Codebreaker.
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WWE Champion CM Punk called out Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis
One week after unloading a verbal tirade on Mr. Laurinaitis, The Voice of the Voiceless opened WWE Raw SuperShow by calling out the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, and demanding he admit that he will screw Punk at Royal Rumble. To the surprise of the WWE Universe, John Cena made his way to the ring as Mr. Laurinaitis did not. Cena took the opportunity to demand a match with Kane on Raw and to grant Zack Ryder a U.S. Title rematch.
The Interim Raw General Manager finally appeared and announced that Zack Ryder would face Kane in a Falls Count Anywhere Match tonight. He also declared that if Cena interfered, Long Island Iced-Z would never have another U.S. Title opportunity. Mr. Laurinaitis then announced that CM Punk and John Cena would battle Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler next!
By: John Clapp | January 20, 2012
By declaring outright his intentions of screwing CM Punk out of his WWE Championship at the 25th annual Royal Rumble event, John Laurinaitis revealed himself to be a man of deep resentment. That’s according to the one person who has known the Interim General Manager of Raw and EVP of Talent Relations longer than anybody else: his older brother, WWE Hall of Famer Road Warrior Animal.
In an exclusive interview, Animal told WWE.com that his brother’s vendetta against The Second City Saint is relatively easy to explain. Whereas Punk has reached the uppermost echelon in sports entertainment – the WWE Championship – Laurinaitis, an accomplished grappler in his own right, was never able to parlay his success overseas into a main event slot in the U.S.
“It’s one thing to be popular in Japan, and it’s another to make it in the U.S.,” Animal said. “That’s one thing that eats John from the inside, deep in his gut. I think he carries animosity over that, because he never got to be ‘the guy’ in the U.S. the way that CM Punk is today. I think he’s getting on Punk’s case because Punk is living the dream that John wishes he could have accomplished.”
Although the WWE Universe knows Laurinaitis primarily for his role on Raw SuperShow and, perhaps, for his time as one half of the oft-ridiculed Dynamic Dudes, less familiar to the WWE Universe is Laurinaitis’ impressive legacy inside Japanese squared circles.
By: Mitch Passero | January 20, 2012
CM Punk has faced – and overcome – many challenges during his rise to becoming WWE Champion. Not only did he fight tooth-and-nail to wrest the coveted title from John Cena – twice – he had to work just as hard to get it back from Alberto Del Rio. However, after everything that’s transpired on Raw SuperShow over the past several weeks, Punk could be up against his biggest challenge yet when he faces Dolph Ziggler at the 25th anniversary of Royal Rumble.
On Raw SuperShow, EVP of Talent Relations and Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis admitted that he’s going to try and screw Punk out of his title when he serves as the guest referee at Royal Rumble (WATCH). And if history is any indication, guest refs have been notorious for being anything but fair. Immediately after the shocking confession, Punk responded in a WWE.com Exclusive Video. (WATCH)
Finally, on top of worrying about what Laurinaitis might do, Punk will have his hands full in battling Ziggler – who has proven to be a formidable competitor for any Superstar. His resume includes Intercontinental, United States, and World Heavyweight Championship reigns.
Now that he has shown his true colors, will Laurinaitis get what he wants? Or will the WWE’s Second City Saint find a way to leave Royal Rumble with his title intact?
Source: wwe.com
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Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis denied Mick Foley’s request to be in the Royal Rumble Match
After Mick Foley kicked off Raw SuperShow by expressing his desire to be in the 2012 Royal Rumble Match – so that his two kids could see him compete – he was quickly criticized for such a lofty dream by former United States Champion Dolph Ziggler. Foley clarified that his goal was to be in the Royal Rumble Match to win it. After more harsh words for the WWE Legend, Ziggler told Foley to “just go away.”
Next, Ziggler’s Royal Rumble opponent, WWE Champion CM Punk, came out to greet his fellow “unconventional” Superstar, pointing out that neither hide behind a woman. The WWE Champion also called Ziggler out for having the GM in his back pocket for their match at Royal Rumble.
As tensions grew in the ring, Laurinaitis emerged and said although he considered Foley’s request to be in the Royal Rumble Match, his answer was “no”! After the blunt answer, Vickie cackled in Foley’s face.
The Interim Raw GM Laurinaitis changed the main event
The night’s main event was changed by the GM to: Chris Jericho, WWE Champion CM Punk & World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan vs. Mark Henry, Dolph Ziggler & David Otunga.
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WWE Champion CM Punk def. Jack Swagger
In two weeks, CM Punk will defend the WWE Championship against Dolph Ziggler with Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis as the Special Guest Referee. On WWE Raw SuperShow, “The Voice of the Voiceless” faced off against another of Vickie Guerrero’s prize Superstars, Jack Swagger. However, in an effort to show his impartiality toward the WWE Champion at Royal Rumble, the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations Mr. Laurinaitis told Punk that if he defeated Swagger, The All-American American and Vickie Guerrero would be banned from ringside at Royal Rumble.
With this extra bit of motivation, the WWE Champion battled the former World Heavyweight Champion with increased vigor. However, Jack Swagger is a formidable competitor and used his amateur background to try and maintain an advantage over “The Voice of the Voiceless.” However, following a flying elbow drop, the referee made an errant three-count that allowed CM Punk to secure the victory. Regardless of the call, Jack Swagger and Vickie Guerrero are banned from ringside of the WWE Title Match at Royal Rumble.
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Dolph Ziggler def. WWE Champion CM Punk by Count-Out
CM Punk lost his bout against No. 1 contender Dolph Ziggler, but retained the WWE Championship when the match ended in a count-out thanks to a distraction by Interim Raw GM John Laurinaitis. The EVP of Talent Relations ran down to the ring to advise the WWE official about the exposed turnbuckle. Meanwhile, The Straight Edge Savior nearly hit his opponent with the GTS, then locked him in the Anaconda Vise, but the official never saw Ziggler tap because he was talking to Laurinaitis. Punk ended up outside the ring, thanks to Laurinaitis, who pulled down the ropes, allowing him to slide out. Punk couldn’t get back onto the mat before the 10-count, giving his opponent the victory. While the cocky Ziggler didn’t win the title, he left proudly holding Punk’s WWE Championship knowing he’s defeated him for two straight weeks.
I know I’m like 9 months late with this update, but I was going through my memory card and came across these candids I took of Punk from the March 28th edition of RAW, I thought I had already added them into the gallery, however I was wrong! All the photos I took of Punk from that day have been added to the gallery!
Related Links:
Fan Candids > Thahani’s Candids- Rosemont, IL 3/28/2011
I took this video of Cena introducing CM Punk before his match against the Miz, in Chicago on 12/26/2011
Watch exclusive comments from WWE Champion CM Punk as he talks about his return home to Chicago for the first time since his history-making win at Money in the Bank.
Related Links:
WWE.com Exclusive: CM Punk returns to Chicago for the first time since Money in the Bank
