On June 27, 2011, CM Punk turned the entire sports entertainment world on its head, when he promised not only to leave the WWE with its most prestigious prize, but lambasted many WWE higher-ups including: WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, Triple H, John Laurenitis, and of course the WWE Champion John Cena. It would be the first of many pipe-bombs that CM Punk would drop over the coming months. At Money in the Bank, in front of his hometown crowd, CM Punk defeated John Cena (albeit controversy) to win the WWE Championship and Punk held true to his word and left the WWE with the championship. Punk leaving the company resulted in the termination of the man who took the WWE to the top of the sports entertainment business, Vince McMahon. His replacement? His son-in-law, Triple H. It didn’t take long for the new Chief Operating Officer to make his presence felt, giving John Cena a title shot at newly crowned interim WWE Champion Rey Mysterio, the same night he won the title. Cena was able to defeat Mysterio to win the title, however as he was celebrating, CM Punk made his returned and laid claim to being the REAL WWE Champion.
This led COO Triple H to make a WWE Championship
unification match at Summerslam between John Cena and CM Punk. Suffice to say, Triple H’s new position of power did little to tame the acid-tonged Punk, who continued to verbally attack both Triple H and John Cena. Punk claimed that both men were in cahoots together. Suspicions rose even further when Triple H declared himself the special guest referee of the big title match. At Summerslam, after a very back and forth encounter, Triple H counted Punk’s shoulders down to the mat for three despite the fact that Punk clearly kicked out at two. As Cena was rewarded the championship Triple H then hastily exited the ring and left the arena in a limo prepared for him by executive vice president of talent relations John Laurenitis, leaving the fans, Punk, and allegedly even Cena, shocked, angered, and confused.
Over the next few weeks, Punk would go to drastic measures to not only learn the reasons behind Triple H’s actions, but to earn another shot at Cena and the WWE Championship. Punk got unusual support not only from Cena, but from, of all people, The Miz. Miz claimed that Cena was in on the controversial finish to Summerslam and had been using his "political pull" to hold back any viable threats to his championship. Triple H, meanwhile, was uncharacteristically dodgy when the motives behind his actions were questioned, choosing to often let John Laurenitis represent him. Triple H did however continually decline CM Punk a chance at a rematch with Cena. Punk took it in his own hands to guarantee that he would get the title match, including concussing then- Number One Contender Alberto Del Rio. Despite this, Triple H stood headstrong in his refusal. Then after CM Punk threatened to rip the WWE apart, who should reward Punk with his requested rematch with Cena but Stephanie McMahon. This shocked everyone, including CM Punk, as not only "The Voice of the Voiceless" called Stephanie "idiotic" in the past, but the "Billion Dollar Princess" directly undercut her husband’s edict. Since the event, neither Triple H nor Stephanie have been seen or heard from, further stirring speculation.
Nonetheless, with the match set, this past Monday on Raw the WWE Board of Directors organized an uncensored in-ring confrontation between John Cena and CM Punk. To say that Punk took advantage of this opportunity would be the biggest of understatements. Punk pulled no punches in his taboo-laden verbal attack on Cena, which frankly left the champion bewildered. Punk called Cena a liar, a parasite, and a sell-out during his tirade and accused the leader of the Cenation working with Triple H to ensure that he keeps the WWE Championship. The personal attack became so brutal that the normally cool-headed Cena lost his temper and attacked CM Punk. One thing is very clear: this rivalry has reached its boiling point. Despite the fact that both men as are different from each other on the social and political spectrum as two men can be, they both have two very important similarities in common: their desire to protect the business they love from what they feel is threatening it and their desire to be the very best in the world.
This match is the story of four men who are very different, but all have the same goal: to be the World Heavyweight Champion.
For Christian, he wants to prove that he is a true World Champion. For the past few months, Christian has been whining, complaining, and doing anything he could to take back the World Heavyweight Championship he lost to Randy Orton. Finally, at Money in the Bank he was able to backdoor his way into becoming the World Heavyweight Champion. This set up a No Holds Barred rematch between Orton and Christian at Summerslam where Christian brought his former partner and friend Edge in as backup. Edge however, refused to help Christian and told him in no uncertain terms that Christian may have won the World Championship but lost everyone’s respect in the process. The words obviously hurt, but it was exactly what Christian needed to hear. To the shock of many, Christian was able to defeat Randy Orton to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. Since then, Christian has turned over a new leaf and vowed to earn back the respect of not only the WWE Universe, but his fellow superstars as well. Christian is determined to keep his title to prove that not only has he earned it, but because he deserves it.
Thus far, Christian has one back the admiration of most of the fans and superstars except for one glaring exception: Randy Orton. The "Apex Predator" remains unconvinced that Christian has truly changed his stripes, and is determined to prove it. This had led to the feud between the two to reach all new levels, as both men refuse to back down to one another. Despite Orton’s claims of Christian’s cowardice, Christian has not fled from any challenge fallen before him. Orton and Christian had one more match to gain the upper hand before Night of Champions, this past Tuesday on Super Smackdown. Christian proved to Orton that he does have what it takes to be World Champion when he not only gave "The Viper" the match of his life, but kicked out of the RKO. This led Orton to eventually utilize a distraction from Mark Henry to finally defeat "Captain Charisma". The big story, however, is after the match, when Randy Orton simply walked away as Mark Henry brutally assaulted Christian.
One year ago at Night of Champions, Sheamus was the WWE Champion however, by the end of the night he had lost the title (ironically, to Randy Orton). Now, Sheamus is trying to rekindle the fire that propelled him to WWE breakout superstar of the year honors and two reigns as WWE Champion. Sheamus, despite being driven through the crowd barrier just 5 days earlier at Summerslam, was able to defeat Wade Barrett to qualify for the World Heavyweight Championship Scramble match. Can Sheamus regain his spot atop the sports entertainment world?
Perhaps no one is a bigger favorite in this match then the World’s Strongest Man, Mark Henry. Despite the fact he is the only man in the match never to be a World Champion; Mark Henry has become the pick of the majority to win this match. Henry has been on one of the biggest rolls in WWE history since June, taking out Great Khali, Kane, and most notably Big Show. Over the past few weeks Henry has been on a rampage attacking his fellow participants in the Championship Scramble and even defeating both Sheamus and Randy Orton in singles competition. Can anybody stop the "World’s Strongest Man"? Or will Mark Henry win the first World Championship in his nearly two-decade career?
No champion in the WWE has held their title longer than Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler has held the United States Championship since June, and has thus far defeated all comers (though notably not Zack Ryder). Now Morrison is hoping to end Ziggler’s reign and win his first United States Championship. Morrison comes in with quite a lot of momentum of his own. To earn this title shot, John Morrison won a mini-tournament defeating both Alex Riley and his arch-rival R-Truth (who advanced after Ziggler cost Zack Ryder his match). This past Monday on Raw, Morrison and Ryder were able to defeat Ziggler and Truth, (when Truth strangely walked out instead of facing off with Morrison) in tag team action. Can Morrison dethrone the champion or will Ziggler continue his dominant reign?
Perhaps no WWE superstar is rising through the ranks faster than Cape Town’s own Justin Gabriel. After taking Randy Orton to the limit a few weeks ago, Gabriel won a fatal-4 way match to earn a WWE Intercontinental Championship match. Champion Cody Rhodes has since claimed that Gabriel would be no challenge to his title reign. When the "Cape Town Werewolf" defeated Cody’s "protégé" Ted DiBiase, Rhodes attacked Gabriel from behind during a post-match interview. This past Tuesday on Super Smackdown, Gabriel was forced to face both Rhodes and DiBiase in a handicap match when Gabriel’s partner Sin Cara was mysteriously taken out. Gabriel, however, continued to shock the world when he was able to roll up and pin the Intercontinental Champion. As Gabriel celebrated up the ramp, Cody Rhodes realized what most of the WWE Universe has known for some time: Justin Gabriel is the real deal.
At Summerslam, Beth Phoenix not only defeated Kelly Kelly to win the WWE Diva’s Championship, but she dominated the "Blonde Bomber". Since then Beth and Natalya have declared that they are not divas but women, signifying this change by throwing the Diva’s title in the trash and bringing back the WWE Women’s Championship. Over the past few weeks, Beth and Natalya have taken out their frustration on a Diva they can get their hands on injuring Alicia Fox and Kelly’s best friend Eve. Kelly has been granted a rematch and has guaranteed Beth that even not matter what, she will not lose this match. Kelly is not just fighting for herself, but the entire Diva’s division. It won’t be easy for the former champion as she walks into enemy territory in Beth’s hometown of Buffalo. Can Kelly somehow win back the title or will Beth and Natalya continue to dominate the female landscape of the WWE?
Ever since losing the tag team championships to the newly formed team of Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne, David Otunga and Michael McGuillicutty just haven’t been able to get back on track. Although they’ve been granted a rematch for the WWE Tag Team Championship, both men’s egos continue to get in the way and have thus far prevented the former Nexus members from gaining any kind of leeway over the new Tag Team Champions. After arguing for the majority of Raw this past Monday with his partner, David Otunga was given a business proposal (behind closed doors) by, of all people, John Laurenitis. Can Otunga and McGuillicutty stayed focused long enough to win back the Tag Team titles? Will Laurenitis mysterious deal with David Otunga come into play?
---------------------
Bonus Questions
1. How many (if any) championships will change hands?
2. What will the match order be?
3. Who will be pinned in the Tag Team Title match?
4. What will the entry order be for the World Heavyweight Championship Scramble?
5. How many different fall holders will there be in the Scramble match?
6. Will anybody make an unscheduled appearance (If so, who)?
Not sure what I’ll give the winner yet, any suggestions would be appreciated.