Wrestlemania 29 Preview: The Undertaker vs. CM Punk

CM Punk already lays claim to the longest WWE Championship reign of the modern era, and at The Showcase of the Immortals, the irreverent Superstar will try to make history again by doing what no man before him has been able to accomplish: snap The Undertaker’s WrestleMania Streak.

At a perfect 20-0, The Deadman’s record at The Grandest Stage of Them All is arguably the most revered feat in all of sports-entertainment, so it is only fitting that a Superstar who insists he is The Best in the World has now chosen to take aim at it so vehemently.

The Straight Edge Savior fought his way into the coveted position by triumphing over former World Champions Randy Orton, Sheamus and Big Show in a Fatal 4-Way Match arranged by Managing Supervisor Vickie Guerrero on the March 4 Raw. Now, the Superstar who is known for holding absolutely nothing sacred seeks to blemish the mightiest of records.

Obstructing Punk’s quest for immortality, however, is WWE’s one and only Phenom. Footage of The Undertaker at a WWE Live Event surfaced in late February, and The Deadman materialized for Punk and the entire WWE Universe to see on the March 4 edition of Raw. Although The Undertaker’s in-ring appearances have been few and far between since last year’s WrestleMania, ring rust is unlikely to be a factor for the legendary Demon of Death Valley, who has repeatedly proven to be all but unbeatable the one day of the year when it matters most.

Still, there is little reason to believe the fearless Punk — who already holds a rare and controversial submission victory over The Phenom — will be intimidated when he enters MetLife Stadium. Punk apologists and neutralists alike concede that the tattooed proprietor of the “pipe bomb” has been stellar in recent years, accumulating high-stakes victories over John Cena and even “unofficially” pinning The Rock at two consecutive pay-per-views.

Perpetually believing himself snubbed by WWE upper management, Punk decries the fact he’s never headlined The Show of Shows. Yet, in challenging The Undertaker’s Streak head-on, The Straight Edge Savior arguably finds himself involved in the one WrestleMania contest possible of overshadowing even the World Championship matches.

CM Punk contends he transcends the WWE Title, WrestleMania and WWE all wrapped into one — a lofty claim that others have assigned to The Undertaker and his Streak. The outspoken Superstar has even gone so far as to call himself “God,” but for the defiant ex-champion to attain unimpeachable greatness, he must first pass through WrestleMania’s ultimate gatekeeper on April 7. (HOW TO WATCH)

SmackDown Five-Point Preview: Jan. 25, 2013 - What will happen when The Rock and CM Punk address The Shield?

1. What will happen when The Rock and CM Punk address The Shield?

Just two days before their WWE Championship Match at Royal Rumble, The Rock and WWE Champion CM Punk have each made it clear that they will journey to SmackDown tonight at 8/7 CT on Syfy. The Straight Edge Superstar has stated that he will call out The Shield on the blue brand, while The People’s Champion will address being attacked by Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns on Monday’s Raw.

After being brutalized by Ambrose, Rollins and Reigns on Raw Monday, The Great One will no doubt have strong words for the triple-powerbombing trio.

But what about Punk? The Straight Edge Champion — who is a staggering 432 days into his WWE Championship reign — was informed on Raw by WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon that he will be stripped of his precious title if The Shield interfere Sunday. While he has repeatedly declared that he has no connection to the dangerous faction, will that latest stipulation change Punk’s tune? Or is he simply setting himself up to suffer a three-on-one assault, just two days before one of the biggest battles of his life?

Royal Rumble 2013 Preview: WWE Champion CM Punk vs. The Rock

Attitude Era original Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will compete in his first World Title match in more than a decade when he challenges WWE Champion CM Punk, the longest-reigning WWE Title holder of the past quarter-century, at Royal Rumble on Jan. 27.

The WWE Universe has anxiously awaited The Great One’s return to the WWE Title picture since he announced his championship opportunity on Raw 1,000 last July. (WATCH) Though there was no guarantee at the time whom The Rock’s opponent would be, the always-confident Punk fired an opening salvo that night, cutting down The Rock with a clothesline before knocking him out with a picture-perfect Go to Sleep. The following week, The Voice of the Voiceless defended his actions by suggesting The Great One, having been “gifted” a WWE Title match, viewed victory at the Royal Rumble as a foregone conclusion.

Whether a real or perceived slight, the implication that The Rock places himself on a higher plane than the current WWE Champion was seemingly all the motivation Punk needed to make sure he would still have the title on Jan. 27.

In the half-year since Raw 1,000, The Second City Saint stunned WWE fans by aligning with Paul Heyman and ratcheting up the vitriol of his speech. More important than either of those details, he has — by hook or by crook — maintained possession of the championship gold. Having turned back challenges by John Cena and Ryback in recent months, The Best in the World now looks ahead to testing himself against the seven-time former WWE Champion who vowed in 2012 to regain the title.

For The Rock, an A-list Hollywood action star and third-generation Superstar who has sports-entertainment coursing through his veins, the Royal Rumble title match represents the start of a potential career renaissance inside the ring. Since March 2004, The Most Electrifying Man in All of Entertainment has competed in only two sanctioned WWE matches, teaming with John Cena to shred The Awesome Truth (The Miz & R-Truth) at Survivor Series 2011 and overcoming the Cenation leader at WrestleMania XXVIII.

But by vying for the most treasured prize in sports-entertainment, The Rock is committing to more than another appearance as a “special attraction.” Rather, he is setting his eyes on again becoming WWE’s gold standard.

Hell-bent though The Rock may be on introducing a new generation of WWE fans to The People’s Champion, there is no discounting Punk’s deftness once the bell rings. Controversial endings to several high-profile title defenses may have tarnished The Second City Saint’s reputation in the eyes of some critics, but they have done nothing to change the fact the WWE Championship still sits around his waist. Before his seedier side came into focus in late summer, Punk spent much of 2012 disposing of WWE’s best and brightest, ranging from Chris Jericho and Daniel Bryan to Dolph Ziggler and Kane. How will the WWE Champion match up against one of the pillars of The Attitude Era?

As the WWE Universe excitedly counts down the days until Jan. 27, the back-and-forth between two of WWE’s most compelling talkers is bound to pick up steam. It will not be until the Royal Rumble, however, that the trash talk gives way to the gravity of a game-changing WWE Championship bout, the likes of which hasn’t seen in years. Will Royal Rumble mark the rebirth of a championship Brahma Bull, or will it only underscore what Punk has claimed all along, that he is untouchable and in a class by himself? (HOW TO WATCH)

TLC 2012 Preview: WWE Champion CM Punk vs. Ryback (Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match)

On two consecutive pay-per-views, Ryback was prevented from feasting on WWE Champion CM Punk, but at WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, the brawny challenger will get another chance to devour the main course he’s long salivated for.

And this time, some of the ring’s most dangerous implements will be available for use, as the championship battle will be contested as a Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match.

The juggernaut owes his Dec. 16 bout against The Second City Saint, as well as its TLC stipulation, to Raw Managing Supervisor Vickie Guerrero. The Queen Diva announced the match on Nov. 26 in an attempt to quell Ryback and regain control of WWE’s flagship program.

But how will the new dynamic of legal weaponry affect the title bout — Ryback’s third WWE Title match in as many months? Though the stipulation appears to benefit the challenger and his smash-mouth style, the truth is that the added insanity of tables, ladders and chairs might not lend a clear-cut advantage one way or the other.

Logic dictates Ryback will only be empowered by having such tools of destruction at his disposal. The nearly unstoppable Superstar has shown a knack for upping the intensity of his already-vicious offense when the occasion calls for it. (See the destruction of Brad Maddox, for example.) Add in the obvious hostility he harbors toward Punk, and it would seem the WWE Champion is in for a long night of being smashed through tables, cracked with steel chairs and launched off ladders on Dec. 16.

Yet, Ryback must not neglect Punk’s vicious skill in specialty matches, or his perfect 2-0 record in TLC Matches. The Second City Saint’s debut in the match format, against Jeff Hardy at SummerSlam 2009, ended with him winning his third World Heavyweight Championship. Punk’s more recent TLC Match, against Alberto Del Rio at last year’s WWE TLC, also ended in victory for the tattooed titleholder.

Both of those matches came long before Punk brought master strategist Paul Heyman into the fold, never mind the controversial outcomes of Punk’s two title defenses involving his ultra-intense No. 1 contender.

It was during a critical moment in October’s Hell in a Cell title match between Punk and Ryback that rogue referee Brad Maddox famously low-blowed Ryback and fast-counted his shoulders to the mat. Maddox received his receipt weeks later on Raw, when the bald bruiser bounced the wannabe Superstar’s skull off every conceivable surface ringside before sending him off in an ambulance. (WATCH)

Ryback was also on the verge of winning the WWE Title Triple Threat Match against Punk and John Cena at Survivor Series when the little-known trio of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns mysteriously struck, planting Ryback through a table and ruining his chance at victory.  

Punk and Heyman insist they’re blameless, and they portray the actions taken by Maddox and the NXT triumvirate as autonomous. Whether the outcomes of those title bouts were caused by unwanted intrusions, as the champion proclaims, or attacks orchestrated by Punk and Heyman, is still unclear. But with round three of his conflict with Ryback just around the corner, it’s safe to assume the champion isn’t simply coasting to Dec. 16 without a care in the world.

Will Punk, the longest reigning WWE Champion in years, be able to outperform Ryback decisively and free of outside influence — finally validating Punk’s argument that he is fearless and “The Best in the World”? Might the sage veteran’s experience in the TLC match type mean all the difference between a win and a loss, and if not, will Punk’s resourcefulness be his saving grace?

Or, could WWE TLC mark the end of the Punk era and the beginning of Ryback’s time atop the mountain? And if Ryback is successful in his quest to win the WWE Championship, what is the likelihood the polarizing Punk will escape WWE TLC with his body intact?

Be it a feeding frenzy for Ryback or a convincing title defense for Punk, the WWE Championship TLC Match on pay-per-view Dec. 16 will be must-see viewing for the WWE Universe. (HOW TO WATCH)

Survivor Series 2012 Preview: WWE Champion CM Punk vs. John Cena vs. Ryback

And to think, CM Punk was almost out of the woods.

The Second City Saint had carved himself a nice little out for Survivor Series following his controversial defeat of Ryback at Hell in a Cell: a Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team Match in which he was the captain, his title was not up for grabs and he had eight Superstars to separate him from Ryback. The end result was almost guaranteed that Punk would saunter out of the fall classic with the WWE Title in his clutches and, potentially, spare himself from further physical harm at the hands of the beast.

But that, as they say, was then.

Now, Punk faces his most significant test since going into business for himself as WWE Champion: The Voice of the Voiceless has been ousted from the 10-Man Elimination Tag Team Match and thrust into a proverbial lion’s den of a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship against both Ryback and John Cena.

The match, mandated by Mr. McMahon after he deemed Punk’s participation in a Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team Match unsatisfactory, seems tailor-made to relieve The Second City Saint of his precious title. (WATCH) Unlike the Triple Threat with Cena and Big Show at SummerSlam, opponents Ryback and Cena have no outstanding beef with each other to distract them from destroying Punk. Rather, both men will be focused squarely on The Voice of the Voiceless and his WWE Championship. And while Punk owns a handsome win-loss record over Cena, his defeat of Ryback at Hell in a Cell was largely the result of referee Brad Maddox’s interference in the contest.

But counting the champion out at this point would be both premature and naïve for a WWE Universe that has been proven wrong, time and time and time again, by the resilience and instinct of The Second City Saint. Punk is among the shrewdest of champions, an expert at either manipulating a scenario to suit his needs or taking advantage of a turn of events in the name of preserving his stay atop the mountain. (Would it really surprise anyone if Ryback and Cena turned on each other in an attempt to score the championship fall, only for Punk to pick the bones by pinning one of them?)

The elusive one-year mark looms closer than ever; if Punk escapes Survivor Series as champion, he’ll likely notch one turn around the sun with the WWE Title. The validation Punk seeks in his own mind is closer than ever before, and despite this last hurdle placed in his way by WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon, it’s safe to say Punk will do whatever it takes to persevere.

In other words, to say that CM Punk has nowhere to hide in this match is a small exaggeration, if it is one at all. But he’s survived such odds before.

Raw Five-Point Preview: Nov. 12, 2012 - Now hear this! Cena battles new evidence and CM Punk

The hits just keep on coming for John Cena, who finds himself further embroiled in the “AJ scandal” with each passing week. This time out, Raw Managing Supervisor Vickie Guerrero purports to have obtained further evidence supporting the Cenation leader’s supposed indiscretions with former Raw General Manager AJ Lee, tweeting that she can’t wait for the WWE Universe to hear what she’s got in store. Will this be the smoking gun that validates Vickie’s crusade against AJ? Or is it just another elaborate ploy to drag her predecessor’s name through the mud?

Cena will need to put Vickie’s incessant distractions aside on Raw, however. As first reported by WWE’s Breaking News mobile alert service, the Cenation leader will face WWE Champion CM Punk on Raw. How will Cena fare against The Second City Savior just six days before Survivor Series, where the Cenation leader faces both Punk and the imposing Ryback in a Triple Threat WWE Championship Match?

Do the odds favor CM Punk at Survivor Series? (WWE.Com)

The rule of thumb regarding predictions for Triple Threat Matches with championship gold on the line is that the odds always favor the challengers. With two competitors simultaneously facing one titleholder, there are more ways for a contender to capitalize than there are for the reigning champion to come away with a victory.

Yet if recent history is any guide, WWE Champion CM Punk may not hesitate to test those odds.

That’s because The Straight Edge Superstar, who now must defend the WWE Title in a Triple Threat Match at Survivor Series 2012 against John Cena and Ryback (MATCH PREVIEW), can call upon his successful experiences in three-sided bouts throughout the past year. Since claiming the championship at last year’s edition of Survivor Series, CM Punk has stepped into the ring for a Triple Threat Match at three different pay-per-views — WWE: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2011, No Way Out 2012 and The 25th Anniversary of SummerSlam — and ultimately left all three victorious.

Does that triumphant trend boost the WWE Champion’s chances of winning at Survivor Series as well? While the probable outcomes of a Triple Threat Match continue to put the challengers at an advantage, CM Punk’s track record certainly implies that he can handle himself when facing two Superstars at the same time.

At WWE: TLC 2011, the two-time WWE Champion escaped being handcuffed to a ring post and managed to put both Alberto Del Rio and The Miz away in his first pay-per-view title defense. (PHOTOS) He later directed the numbers in his favor at No Way Out 2012 by neutralizing one opponent, Daniel Bryan, with a chin-crunching Go to Sleep and later sealing the win by outlasting Kane. (PHOTOS)

The most valuable evidence of Punk’s resiliency resides in his most recent Triple Threat Match at SummerSlam, however. Moments after John Cena knocked out Big Show with a monumental Attitude Adjustment, Punk pushed Cena out of the ring and claimed the easy pinfall for himself. In mere moments, the Chicago-born competitor went from being the odd man out in the match to the one being declared the winner before a raucous STAPLES Center crowd. (WATCH)

One of Punk’s adversaries in that bout, John Cena, will hope for a different outcome at the upcoming pay-per-view in Indianapolis. Of course, the Cenation leader has not minced words in the past when describing the unpredictability of the three-sided clash’s outcome and the frustration it can create for the competitors.

“I hate any match that isn’t a traditional tag team match or a traditional singles match because anything can happen,” Cena said in a 2011 interview with WWE.com. “It’s truly one of those deals where it’s all about being in the right place at the right time.” (MORE)

Will Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis prove to be the right place for Cena to reclaim the WWE Championship? Is the main event at Survivor Series the right time for Ryback’s rise to the top of WWE? Or can CM Punk come away with his record-setting WWE Title reign intact?

If neither Cena nor Ryback learn from CM Punk’s recent history with the Triple Threat Match, then the challengers may be doomed to see The Straight Edge Superstar repeat his results in the championship clash this Sunday.

Survivor Series 2012 Preview: WWE Champion CM Punk vs. John Cena vs. Ryback

And to think, CM Punk was almost out of the woods.

The Second City Saint had carved himself a nice little out for Survivor Series following his controversial defeat of Ryback at Hell in a Cell: a Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team Match in which he was the captain, his title was not up for grabs and he had eight Superstars to separate him from Ryback. The end result was almost guaranteed that Punk would saunter out of the fall classic with the WWE Title in his clutches and, potentially, spare himself from further physical harm at the hands of the beast.

But that, as they say, was then.

Now, Punk faces his most significant test since going into business for himself as WWE Champion: The Voice of the Voiceless has been ousted from the 10-Man Elimination Tag Team Match and thrust into a proverbial lion’s den of a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship against both Ryback and John Cena.

The match, mandated by Mr. McMahon after he deemed Punk’s participation in a Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team Match unsatisfactory, seems tailor-made to relieve The Second City Saint of his precious title. (WATCH) Unlike the Triple Threat with Cena and Big Show at SummerSlam, opponents Ryback and Cena have no outstanding beef with each other to distract them from destroying Punk. Rather, both men will be focused squarely on The Voice of the Voiceless and his WWE Championship. And while Punk owns a handsome win-loss record over Cena, his defeat of Ryback at Hell in a Cell was largely the result of referee Brad Maddox’s interference in the contest.

But counting the champion out at this point would be both premature and naïve for a WWE Universe that has been proven wrong, time and time and time again, by the resilience and instinct of The Second City Saint. Punk is among the shrewdest of champions, an expert at either manipulating a scenario to suit his needs or taking advantage of a turn of events in the name of preserving his stay atop the mountain. (Would it really surprise anyone if Ryback and Cena turned on each other in an attempt to score the championship fall, only for Punk to pick the bones by pinning one of them?)

The elusive one-year mark looms closer than ever; if Punk escapes Survivor Series as champion, he’ll likely notch one turn around the sun with the WWE Title. The validation Punk seeks in his own mind is closer than ever before, and despite this last hurdle placed in his way by WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon, it’s safe to say Punk will do whatever it takes to persevere.

In other words, to say that CM Punk has nowhere to hide in this match is a small exaggeration, if it is one at all. But he’s survived such odds before.