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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 def. Dolph Ziggler (Special Guest Referee John Laurinaitis)
ST. LOUIS – Whether Interim Raw General Manager and Executive Vice President of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis intended it or not – CM Punk stood tall over Dolph Ziggler in the WWE Championship Match at Royal Rumble, proudly showing off the most coveted prize in WWE.
Rather than risk seeming biased in light of his upcoming performance appraisal by WWE COO Triple H, Mr. Laurinaitis excused himself from officiating duties in the WWE Championship Match. This ultimately allowed Punk and Ziggler to do what they do best in an evenly- officiated contest.
The sold-out WWE Universe inside St. Louis’ Scottrade Center witnessed the two Superstars lay everything on the line, highlighting the importance of the WWE Championship and The Grandest Stage of Them All waiting on the horizon in Miami.
The contest began with each Superstar trying to get a feel for each other’s in-ring abilities. Momentum swings were fairly even, both ring warriors trading blows and trying to make each other tap out. There were unforgettable moments and near-pinfalls that could have crowned a new champion, but ultimately these did not seal the deal for either competitor. At one point, Ziggler lined up Punk for his signature face-crusher, but Punk countered with a sit-down powerbomb. Although CM Punk had Ziggler defeated on a few separate occasions, the referee was knocked out for two of those moments and Mr. Laurinaitis was checking on the officials condition, leaving no one call the match. Finally, The Voice of the Voiceless took control of the match, hoisted the Dolph Ziggler over his shoulders and put him to sleep. As the referee made the count, Mr. Laurinaitis slipped inside the ring and joined in on the three-count.
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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!
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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.
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Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis set a Gauntlet Match for WWE Champion CM Punk
The Chicago crowd hoping to give their hometown hero a rousing ovation was disappointed when Raw kicked off with Interim General Manager John Laurinaitis mocking CM Punk’s signature entrance. With the WWE Champion’s T-shirt pulled over his suit jacket, the executive proceeded to give himself credit for the exciting changes in sports-entertainment.
That was all it took to bring out a livid Second City Savior. Explaining that Raw’s revolution is due to Punk being “the best wrestler in the world,” the WWE Champion looked ready to hit the EVP with a GTS. That’s when Laurinaitis announced his idea for the evening — Punk will face three opponents in a Gauntlet Match and if any of those competitors beat the champion, they will receive a WWE Title Match next week on the first Raw of the New Year!
The Straight Edge Superstar was game, but he wanted to up the ante. If the tattooed Superstar beat all three Superstars, he proposed that he get a fourth match with none other than John Laurinaitis himself.
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Six-Man Tag Team Match set for main event
The trio of WWE Champion CM Punk, World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan and United States Champion Zack Ryder had reason to celebrate. Lifelong sports-entertainment fans, the three Superstars overcame some serious odds to walk away from WWE TLC with their respective titles in hand. But the mutual admiration society didn’t have much time to pat each other on the back in Philadelphia. Soon besieged by the tyrannical trio of The Miz, Alberto Del Rio and Dolph Ziggler, the three champions fought off their attackers before receiving word from Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis that they will face those three Superstars in tonight’s main event.
WWE Champion CM Punk, World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan & United States Champion Zack Ryder def. The Miz, Alberto Del Rio & Dolph Ziggler
It looks like the change The Straight Edge Superstar promised is finally coming to fruition. Entering the ring through a raucous Philly crowd, WWE Champion CM Punk, World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan & United States Champion Zack Ryder showed how they were leading WWE into 2012 by blasting their way through a veritable rogues’ gallery with blunt force. The exciting young Superstars each got their fill of action before Bryan made Del Rio tap out to The LeBell Lock.
If it wasn’t clear at WWE TLC, it should be after this bout — the future is now.
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WWE Champion CM Punk def. The Miz and Alberto Del Rio in a Triple Threat TLC Match
BALTIMORE — If the WWE Universe didn’t think CM Punk was a superhero already, they will after witnessing his daring performance in a Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match at WWE TLC.
Up against the rogues’ gallery of the treacherous Miz and the underhanded Alberto Del Rio, The Straight Edge Superstar miraculously broke free of handcuffs after being latched to the ropes by The Awesome One. The WWE Champion then fought his way to the top of a ladder and snatched his title before celebrating high above the carnage he’d just created.
It was the kind of fearless, in-your-face showing that has defined The Straight Edge Superstar’s run since he resigned with WWE in the late summer. Outspoken about his frustrations with the sports-entertainment empire in the past, Punk chose to be an agent of change instead of sitting around and waiting for one to appear. The “Voice of the Voiceless” wanted to see a more entertaining WWE Champion? At WWE TLC, he became it.
No stranger to Tables, Ladders & Chairs Matches, Punk defeated Jeff Hardy in this dangerous environment to win the World Heavyweight Title at SummerSlam in 2009. But where Hardy was an honorable, if not reckless, competitor, the champion’s opponents in the 1st Mariner Arena were a breed of Superstar who would step over their own mothers to claim victory.
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John Cena, Big Show & WWE Champion CM Punk def. Alberto Del Rio, The Miz & World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry
Champions and WWE’s biggest titans faced off in a main event truly worthy of Fort Bragg. Teamwork reigned supreme as WWE Champions CM Punk and Big Show cleared The Miz and Del Rio from the ring and The World’s Largest Athlete punched World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry right into an Attitude Adjustment from John Cena for the pinfall. The Cenation leader then took thanked the troops for their service and sacrifice.
