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CM Punk returned, confronted WWE Champion John Cena
Two weeks after unleashing one of the most scathing, groundbreaking rants in WWE history, The Second City Savior returned to Raw – a return made possible thanks to an unlikely source, WWE Champion John Cena. Punk’s longtime nemesis and opponent at Sunday’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view argued with Mr. McMahon about his decision to suspend Punk for the epic tirade. The WWE Chairman grudgingly relented and agreed to reinstate the holier-than-thou Superstar … under one condition. If Punk prevails on Sunday and leaves with the WWE Title, Cena will be fired.
Punk did not return, however, to thank The Champ for laying his career on the line. Instead, he was there to renegotiate his contract – on his terms. After WWE officials contacted him, The Second City Savior insisted the negotiation happen on live TV and that he will walk if The WWE Chairman himself doesn’t beg him to stay.
Cena emerged to confront Punk, but before tensions got too strained between the two, Raw’s anonymous General Manager chimed in and arranged a 2-on-1 Handicap Match pitting the WWE Champion against WWE Tag Team Champions David Otunga & Michael McGillicutty.
Contract negotiations unraveled between CM Punk and Mr. McMahon; WWE Champion John Cena attacked Punk
CM Punk is a man with nothing to lose. And that makes him a dangerous man, indeed.
Two weeks after giving Mr. McMahon the verbal equivalent of a kick in the grapefruits, The Second City Savior returned to Raw to renegotiate his contract. This time, though, he clearly had the upper hand. Although The Chairman had agreed to all of Punk’s earlier demands in the wake of a threat by WWE Champion John Cena, the preachy Superstar still wasn’t satisfied. Punk insisted that he also receive a private jet, that WWE ice cream bars return, that he star in his own movie and that he main event at WrestleMania. Although Mr. McMahon appeared grudgingly prepared to sign, Cena brought negotiations screeching to a halt.
The WWE Champion confronted Punk and things quickly devolved. After listening to Punk deride him for becoming everything he hates, Cena clocked his Money in the Bank opponent, who wisely snatched the contract from Mr. McMahon and skirted from the ring. He fled up the entrance ramp and once again unleashed a tirade against Cena, Mr. McMahon and the whole of the WWE Universe before tearing up his unsigned contract.
WWE Champion John Cena defended CM Punk, called out WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon
John Cena might not have agreed with what CM Punk had to say about him one week prior on Monday Night Raw, but he’ll do whatever it takes to defend his right to say it. On the day the United States of America annually celebrates its freedoms, including the Freedom of Speech, The Champ vehemently criticized the WWE Chairman’s decision to suspend The Second City Savior and strip him of his scheduled WWE Title opportunity in two weeks at WWE Money in the Bank, emanating from Punk’s hometown of Chicago. After all, if Punk is unable to speak his mind, where does the censorship end?
Cena had it on good authority that Mr. McMahon would be in the building later in the night, and demanded that The Chairman meet him face-to-face to explain Punk’s exile. Also later that night, with Cena’s WWE Championship opponent on July 17 in question, Rey Mysterio, R-Truth and Alberto Del Rio would collide in a No. 1 Contender’s Match.
John Cena convinced Mr. McMahon to reinstate CM Punk
Following CM Punk’s inflammatory outburst the previous week, the WWE Universe eagerly anticipated how WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon would respond on Raw, but few could have expected Punk’s actions to spark an emotionally charged confrontation between The Chairman and WWE Champion John Cena.
The Champ lauded The Second City Savior for speaking his mind, and criticized the strong-willed CEO – who famously went toe-to-toe with Ted Turner and won – for being thin-skinned the previous week following Punk’s rant against the company. However, it’s all about “calculated risks” with Mr. McMahon, who was quick to correct The Champ. He didn’t suspend Punk for his words; he suspended him because he doesn’t think Cena can beat him. As such, The Chairman didn’t want to risk Punk leaving WWE with its grandest prize in his possession.
Questioning what the WWE Championship stands for in light of Mr. McMahon’s refusal to lift Punk’s suspension, Cena handed the title to the WWE CEO and turned his back on the boss. Irate, Mr. McMahon reluctantly agreed to reinstate The Straight Edge Superstar, under a single condition: If CM Punk leaves Chicago with the WWE Title, The Chairman will fire Cena personally in the middle of the ring.
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WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels spent his entire in-ring career in the hunt – whether it be for thrills, competition or championship glory. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that the retired HBK is spending a great deal of his spare time proving his mettle against some of the most cunning game imaginable in the great outdoors, a pastime Michaels was eager to share with the WWE Universe as he kicked off a special Raw Roulette edition of Monday night’s hottest show.
Whenever The Big Red Machine hits the ring, betting on red seems like a no-brainer. Knowing that his days in WWE are numbered, and that any injury could stack the odds against him in his WWE Title encounter with John Cena at WWE Money in the Bank, CM Punk escaped Kane’s fiery onslaught by exiting the ring and intentionally getting himself counted out.
Millions of visitors “hit the tables” each year when they journey to Las Vegas, but typically not like this. In the final Raw Roulette bout of the evening, R-Truth faced WWE Champion John Cena in an emotionally charged Tables Match. All too eager to silence “Little Jimmys” around the globe by sending their hero crashing through the hardwood, Truth brought the fight to The Champ early on, but it was ultimately CM Punk who would decide the match’s outcome when he saved Truth from an Attitude Adjustment through the pine. Then, while Cena was distracted by The Second City Savior, Truth drove The Champ through a table propped up in the corner of the ring.
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Go ahead, Punk, keeping digging yourself deeper. The Second City Savior not only insulted the WWE Universe by flat-out telling them their choices during the night’s Raw: Power to the People would be horrible, he also insulted the anonymous Raw GM by insisting he get an opportunity to face WWE Champion John Cena for the title at Money in the Bank in Chicago next month, he continued to interrupt the GM’s decisions. All this led the GM to force Punk to face both Alberto Del Rio and Rey Mysterio in a Triple Threat Match to determine the No. 1 contender for the WWE Title later tonight.
CM Punk doesn’t play small ball. He proved it once again when he defeated both Alberto Del Rio and Rey Mysterio in a Triple Threat Match to determine the No. 1 contender for the WWE Championship. Per the WWE Universe, the three Superstars competed in a Falls Count Anywhere Match, which garnered 66% of the vote as opposed to 23% for a No Disqualifications Match and 11% for a Submission Match.
As if his victory weren’t enough of a laurel to rest upon, The Second City Savior went on to explain that his WWE contract expires the day of Money in the Bank, taking place in his hometown of Chicago. Punk then informed the WWE Universe that he not only intends to win the WWE Championship from John Cena, he intends to take the title with him when he exits WWE.
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CM Punk d. Rey Mysterio
Even without the flanking of his New Nexus rebels at Capitol Punishment, CM Punk eked out a sound victory over longtime enemy Rey Mysterio, closing the latest chapter on their storied rivalry and positioning Punk to next “do the most honest thing the WWE Universe has even seen.”
While his cryptic message begs for clarity in the wake of Capitol Punishment, the one certainty to be extracted is that – as attested by The Straight Edge Superstar’s staidness to his unique lifestyle – Punk takes personal vows most seriously. It’s a matter of time before the New Nexus leader’s actions make an indelible impact on the WWE Universe – not too dissimilar to that left on The Master of the 619 in Washington D.C., on pay-per-view.
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Rey Mysterio def. Christian by Disqualification
Really, CM Punk? You and your cowardly New Nexus cohorts are going to ambush Rey Mysterio as he fights off Christian? Weak.
Unfortunately for Rey, that’s precisely how things went down as the high-flyer battled Christian, even after the match had ended. When Captain Charisma was disqualified for refusing to abide the referee, he continued to punish Rey. The Master of the 619, however, fought back until Punk and his disciples ambushed him. Christian then had the audacity to hit the Killswitch on Rey, regardless. Double weak.
CM Punk def. WWE Champion John Cena in a Non-Title Match
R-Truth is crazy like a fox. As the No. 1 contender for the WWE Title, Truth plotted to improve his odds going into this Sunday’s Capitol Punishment, when he will face off against WWE Champion John Cena. As The Champ competed against CM Punk, he proved unrelenting in his attack. Never one to give up, Cena fought through The Second City Savior’s assault.
And since The New Nexus was banned from ringside, The Champ probably thought he was in for a fair fight. Alas, Truth wasn’t about to let that happen, not with a mere six days until their title match at Capitol Punishment. The “Jimmy” hating jerk distracted Cena, handing Punk the opportunity he needed to overcome The Champ. Truth then snatched the WWE Title, clobbered Cena in the face with it and taunted his incapacitated adversary.
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Rey Mysterio def. CM Punk
Consider the score evened. After losing to CM Punk last week, Rey Mysterio requested a rematch. In a renewal of their deeply personal rivalry – that had seen Punk torment Rey’s family – The Master of the 619 wasn’t about to let The Second City Savior get two over on him. Instead, the high-flyer overcame his disappointment and refused to give up, earning an especially satisfying victory.
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CM Punk def. Rey Mysterio
Rey Mysterio scored the victory over CM Punk last Monday night in a tag team match, but this week, The Second City Savior found salvation. The leader of The New Nexus, accompanied by powerhouse Mason Ryan, relished exacting revenge on his longtime rival. He avoided the high altitude assault let loose by The Master of the 619 and dropped his nemesis with a jaw-rattling kick to the head.
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Main event match arranged with Bret Hart as special referee
Raw’s anonymous General Manager arranged the night’s main event, a tag team bout pitting Cena & Rey Mysterio against Truth & CM Punk with Hart acting as special guest referee.
David Otunga & Michael McGillicutty def. WWE Tag Team Champions Big Show & Kane
Look out below! WWE’s towering terrors have fallen. Thanks to shifty interference by New Nexus leader CM Punk, WWE Tag Team Champions Big Show & Kane dropped the titles to David Otunga & Michael McGillicutty.
Their title reign kicks off just one night after Punk & Mason Ryan failed to capture the titles themselves at WWE Over the Limit. Prior to that bout, Big Show & Kane staged a preemptive strike on the New Nexus, leveling Otunga and McGillicutty in the locker room. In retaliation, Ryan distracted the referee while The Second City Savior, who had been on commentary, kicked Big Show in the back of the head to fell the two redwoods and help his disciples capture the prestigious titles.
WWE Champion John Cena & Rey Mysterio def. CM Punk & R-Truth
WWE Champion John Cena was clearly pained a night after suffering one of the worst pummelings of his career. Fresh off an “I Quit” Match against The Miz at WWE Over the Limit, The Champ was tapped to join Rey Mysterio in a tag team match against CM Punk & R-Truth with Bret Hart acting as special guest referee.
Despite a hard-charging effort by both Truth and his pious partner, Cena refused to let his battered and bruised body lie still. The Champ kicked out of pins and fought back with determination. But even Cena’s body has its limits. It would be up to WWE’s Littlest Big Man to carry the day for his team – a tall order he would fill with Herculian effort.
Rey capitalized on his elusive build and high-flying frame to hobble both Truth & Punk. He then nailed Punk with a 619, but Hart wasn’t about to let him have all the fun. The WWE Hall of Famer, fed up with Punk’s in-ring antics, belted The Second City Savior across the jaw. The blow laid Punk out cold and allowed Rey to pin his shoulders for the victory.
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WWE Tag Team Champions Big Show & Kane def. CM Punk & Mason Ryan
SEATTLE – WWE Tag Team Champions Big Show & Kane once again proved what happens when the irresistible force and the immovable object are combined. The larger-than-life duo were too much for former World Champion CM Punk and his New Nexus cohort, Mason Ryan, to handle as the Tag Team Champions double chokeslammed Ryan to retain their titles and continue their dominant reign.
Undoubtedly, it was Big Show & Kane’s strategy that ultimately got the better of The New Nexus. Though two of the largest Superstars in WWE history, Kane & Big Show are only a pair, whereas the four men of The New Nexus display strength in numbers. However, the tag team champions were out to dominate in Seattle’s KeyArena and did so both physically and psychologically.
Earlier in the evening, CM Punk and Mason Ryan entered their locker room to find compatriots Michael McGillicutty and David Otunga laid out on the floor. The duo seemed to immediately know that it was their opponents behind the attack, and Punk quickly convinced Ryan that it was an act of desperation by the champions, afraid to lose their titles.
