WWE Money in the Bank 2011
With this year's Money in the Bank on it's way, as I usually do I'm here to cover a past PPV, this time being the 2011 edition. We all remember this one for the main event, and really it's the only thing I remember from this show. That being said, let's get to it.
Our opening video package focuses solely on the Punk/Cena rivalry, before we go to the arena. We're live from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. Michael Cole, Booker T and the King are on commentary for tonight's show, and we're kicking off with the first of two ladder matches.
Smackdown Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Sin Cara vs Wade Barrett vs Justin Gabriel vs Sheamus vs Cody Rhodes VS Heath Slater vs Daniel Bryan vs Kane
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: First MITB match for Cara, Wade, Sheamus and Gabriel. Cody is in his 2nd wearing his protective mask. Gabriel coming out to what I think is Otunga's theme, or maybe they shared this theme? I know they were tag champions at some point. There's really only two people in this match who have even the slightest chance of winning.
Ring clears out rather quickly with Wade and Shemus going after Kane, only to take a double clothesline then sent to the outside. Kane goes for a ladder only for Bryan to baseball slide it into him, then Bryan tries only for Slater and Gabriel to do a double baseball slide into the ladder, then Sin Cara tries to stop them with a baseball slide, only for them to lift the ladder and slam it into Cara to the floor.
Slater yanks Gabriel off the apron as he goes to enter, tries to set up the ladder only for Gabriel to come off the top and kick him off, then Bryan kicks him off. Cody comes in and throws Bryan into the ladder to start the climb, but Sheamus cuts him off and goes for the Celtic Cross, only for Cody to slip out and go for the Disaster Kick, nailing Heath as Sheamus ducks out of the way. Sheamus takes out Bryan before throwing a ladder into Cody, then again, leaning it in the corner. Kane catches them both and throws them out.
Wade in now with kicks in the corner and tries to whip Kane into the ladder, only to be reversed. Kane throws the ladder out onto Sheamus and Cody before Heath comes in now only to be caught for a sidewalk slam. Kane goes up top but Cara kicks him off, only for Gabriel to knock him out. Bryan in now off the ropes with a suicide dive onto Wade, then Gabriel with a tope onto Kane to the outside, then Heath with a slingshot corkscrew onto Cody, then Cara with a springboard crossbody onto Sheamus.
Back in the ring, Cara with a springboard crossbody onto Bryan, then Gabriel in for a backbody drop, only for Cara to slip out, goes off the ropes and gets launched up by Gabriel, allowing Cara to dropkick Heath. Cara sent to the ropes only to nail a back elbow and a flying headscissor. Bryan up top but Cara cuts him off, then nails a Spanish Fly.
Cara heads out and grabs a ladder now, seemingly to slide it in the ring but Wade cuts him off, who removes the cover from the announce table, laying the ladder across the apron and table. Wade lifts Cara up but he slips out, Barrett charges but hits the ringpost arm first. Cara back in the ring as Sheamus slips in from behind and nails a Brogue Kick. Sheamus rolls Cara out to the apron and follows suit, lifting Cara up and powerbombs him through the ladder, snapping the ladder in two. Doctor and officials come out to check on him as Sheamus grabs a new ladder, ramming it into Barrett and Heath before sliding it into the ring, Cara being carted out.
Kne in now with right hands, knocking Sheamus out, sliding the ladder out to and slamming it down on Sheamus. Back in the ring, Cody and Bryan now with Kane and they go right after him, kicks in the corner, then forearms back and forth before Kane takes them down with a ladder. Kane setting up a ladder and starts the climb, but Heath, Gabriel and Wade take him down, going at him in the corner while Cody starts the climb, but the trio go after him now. Bryan starts the climb and the trio go after him now.
We're already got a Punk chant as Barrett directs traffic and starts the climb, only for Heath and Gabriel to pull him down and go on the attack, tossing him out and they make the climb now, but Cody now pushes the ladder over, Heath bounces off the ropes and Cody nails Cross Rhodes. Cody now with the climb up the ladder but Wade cuts him off, only for Cody to hit Cross Rhodes.
Cody back up the ladder but Sheamus is back, pulls him down and nails the Irish Curse Backbreaker. Sheamus up the ladder now but Bryan is back and they fight halfway up the ladder. Bryan gets the upperhand momentarily until Sheamus gets him on his shoulders, Kane up top for a Doomsday Device, then Sheamus takes him down with a clothesline. Sheamus on Kane with clubbing blows now, bridging a ladder between the corner and a rung on the ladder, going fora slam on Kane only to get a big boot. Cody in now but Kane nails a chokeslam. Gabriel off the top rope for an ax handle, but Kane catches him with a chokeslam. Kane up the ladder now, but Bryan is back in, Kane goes to chokeslam him off the ladder but gets free, trying for a LeBell Lock from the ladder, but can't get it locked in, kicking Kane away before launching off. Kane catches him, only for Bryan to counter into a DDT.
Heath back in now and starts the climb but Bryan goes after him, but Heath nails a neckbreaker off the top. Heath back up now and starts his climb once more, but Wader cuts him off, going at him in the corner, but runs right into the corner. Heath goes to jump off the top, but Wade crotches him. Sheamus in now and Wade goes after him, before going out to grab a third ladder. Sheamus helps him with it and rams it into Heath's ribs, then uses the ladder to launch Slater onto Kane to the outside. Sheamus Brogue Kicks the ladder into Wade, then a Kick for Cody. Gabriel off the top rope but Sheamus dodges and takes him out Sheamus bridges a ladder across the top rope in the corner and lowers the ladder bridged into the ladder, before taking Gabriel onto his shoulders, dropping him face first into the ladder and nails a Brogue Kick.
Sheamus makes the climb now but Kane follows, right hands back and forth and knocks Kane off. Kane now tries to pull Sheamus off but kicks Kane away. Kane gets Sheamus by the throat and chokeslams Sheamus onto the ladder, sending him out of the ring. Kane back up the ladder, but Bryan, Barret and Cody pull him down, Cody with a Disaster Kick, Barrett with the Wasteland. Gabriel goes up top the bridged ladder and nails the 450 Splash to finish Kane off. Barrett sends him out of the ring with a Wasteland onto Heath on the outside, then a spinning side slam on Bryan, then a pumphandle slam on Cody. Barrett now starts the climb but Cody pulls him back down and sends him to the outside. Bryan now up the ladder but Cody's up with him, battling on the ladder, Barrett climbing from behind now. Bryan gets Cody in a guillotine, knocking him off. Barrett goes for Wasteland but Bryan nails elbow after elbow and a kick to the head. Bryan goes to the top and takes down the briefcase to win in 24:26, much to Cole's dismay. I can't complain, this match was great. Was fast paced and hard to keep up with.
Bryan gets to celebrate and take his moment in for a few minutes before we go to replays. Bryan poses atop the ladder with his new briefcase.
We go to footage from earlier in the night, where Vince and John Laurinitis arrives in a limo with a WWE attorney, in a last ditch effort to sign Punk to a contract. They're in a meeting with Punk right now.
Time for your bathroom break match.
Divas Championship: Brie Bella (w/ Nikki Bella) vs Kelly Kelly (c) (w/ Eve Torres)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Brie getting her rematch for the title tonight.
They nearly botch a spinning headscissor from Kelly before Brie slips out to talk to Nikki, Kelly off the apron onto both. Back in the ring, Kelly with a hanging neckscissor over the ropes, only for Brie to push Kelly to the floor. Nikki gets a kick in behind the ref's back.
Back in the ring, Brie hooks the leg for a near fall. Body scissor on Kelly but Kelly fights out. Dropkick to the midsection by Brie before choking Kelly across the middle rope, then hanging Kelly's arm over it. Hook of the leg and another near fall.
Forearms from Kelly, only to be taken down by the hair. Hook of the leg and a near fall. An ab stretch from Brie, horribly applied too before Kelly fights out with a jawbreaker, slamming Brie's face into the mat. Hair biel and a running clothesline from Kelly, ducks a clothesline into a neckbreaker. Kelly hooks the leg for a near fall.
Forearms and a kick, Kelly goes for something, they fight for a backslide, then Kelly goes for a bulldog only for Brie to botch it, hook of the leg by Kelly and a near fall.
Brie with a leg DDT now then a cover for a near fall. Brie sent off the ropes, then Kelly catches her with her leg drop for the win in 4:47. Yeah, this was bad.
Bellas make an exit as they argue, Nikki pointing out at Kelly "doesn't even eat", asking how Brie couldn't beat that. Fantastic stuff.
We get an ad for the The Very Best of WCW Monday Nitro DVD set, before we get a video package for our next match. We see some of Mark Henry's attack on Show at Capitol Punishment, sending Show through a cage wall as well as general destruction. Show knocked out Henry in the middle of the ring to start this rivalry for.... some reason.
Mark Henry vs The Big Show
Clubbing blows and chops before Show is sent off the ropes, hitting Henry with a shoulder tackle. Cole spouts off some stats between the two as things go to the outside, taking Henry down. Show goes for a chokeslam through the announce table, then Henry for the Slam, but Show sends him into and over the steps. Show rolls in and out to restart the count. Henry dropkicks the steps into Show's knee before Show rolls back in.
Henry in from behind with a chop block then a boot to the head, then a couple more, a cover and a near fall. Henry goes to work on the knee now, even applies a single leg crab, but Show drags himself to the ropes and forces the break. Henry goes for the leg but Show kicks him off, pulls himself up in the corner, Henry hits the running splash. Henry goes again but Show gets the boot up, goes to the second top and hits a shoulder block, but lands on the bad knee. Show calls for the chokeslam but Henry kicks him in the bad leg and nails the World's Strongest Slam, only for Show to kick out.
Henry picks Show back and nails the Slam again, followed by a splash off the ropes, and a second, hooks the leg and gets the win in 5:58. Nothing too exciting here, but it wasn't overly terrible.
Henry drags Show closer to the corner before going out and grabbing a chair by the timekeeper's area, wedges Show's leg inside, launches off the second rope and splashes down on the chair. Doctor rushes the ring as Show screams in pain, yells at the ref and doc to get off him as Henry leaves. Show gets carted out while we get some replays of the attack. Crowd chants for Punk some more, they clearly don't want to wait.
We cut to Vince and Johnny Ace in the back, and someone screwed up because we can't hear what Vince is saying. We do hear Vince talking about negotiating before Josh Matthews comes in, asking if Vince re-signed Punk to which he says no. He calls Punk the biggest ingrate he's ever dealt with, he offered Punk the most lucrative contract he's ever offered anyone, and still turned it down. Vince tells Punk fans not to blame him for Punk's departure. Josh asks what Punk said, and says Punk pointed to the door and told Vince and co to get out. Josh brings up Cena, and Vince says he's the reason they have this problem in the first place, insisting that this is what the fans wanted. He says that if by some chance, Punk leaves the building with the title, may God have mercy on Cena's soul.
Raw Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Alberto Del Rio vs Kofi Kingston vs Jack Swagger vs Evan Bourne vs R-Truth vs Alex Riley vs The Miz vs Rey Mysterio
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Del Rio out with a nice looking Lamborghini sans Ricardo. Del Rio had won a #1 contender's match to earn a WWE Title match following Punk's suspension, but with his reinstatement, Del Rio got the consolation prize of being in this match. Kofi already grabs a ladder on the way and Del Rio's grabbed one for himself as well. Bourne grabs a ladder too, a very tiny one. Truth is in his silent ring entrance phase and grabs a Hornswoggle ladder, because he's afraid of heights. Alex Riley actually gets a decent pop here, which is kind of surprising. Did he just recently turn on Miz? Miz of course won this briefcase at last year's event and went on to with the WWE Championship. Rey in all green for money, according to Cole. Everyone's armed themselves with a ladder as the bell is rung.
Del Rio gets stuck in the middle as everyone rams their ladders into him, sending him out before they go after each other. Swagger sends a ladder into Swagger, then everyone starts throwing ladders out onto him. Miz slides Rey under the ropes who lands out on top of the ladders and Del Rio. Riley throws a ladder at Swagger and knocks him off the apron.
Truth and Miz start dueling with ladders before Swagger rams a ladder into them. Swagger sets up a tiny ladder, Kofi and Bourne climb up then down, then use it on Swagger, Truththen Rey launches off it with a headscissor on Swagger. Riley with a dropkick on Truth. They keep setting up this tiny ladder that won't get anyone the briefcase and they keep climbing it, making everyone look like an idiot.
Everyone sprawled out on the outside as Evan climbs a ladder in the aisle way and nails a Shooting Star Splash off the ladder onto everyone. Evan now with a ladder in the ring, finally one that's actually big enough and makes the climb to the top, but Miz is already there, right hands back and forth. Bourne gets a kick in byt Miz with right hands. Del Rio knocks over the ladder and on replay, Miz landed bad on his knee as he was hanging onto the briefcase, and once he's rolled out, his knee is visibly out of place. Fuck.
Del Rio and Rey now at it, Del Rio up the ladder but Truth cuts him off, taking him down. Truth now starts to climb, then Del Rio, trading right hands. Bourne and Rey now climbing over Del Rio and Truth, but they get pulled off, only to hit Truth and Alberto with hurricanranas. Swagger takes them out with clotheslines but Kofi launches over Swagger off the ropes onto the ladder. Swagger applies the ankle lock as Kofi slides down. Riley now witht he climb but Swagger releases Kofi, they go up the ladder but Truth pushes the ladder over.
Truth bridges a ladder across the middle rope in the corner before Rey comes in, whipped near the ladder but slides under, only for Truth to sandwich him. Truth sent face first into the ladder, but Kofi sends Rey face first into the ladder, Kofi nails the Boom Drop off the bridged ladder. Kofi rolls Truth out and set a ladder up near the ropes for some spots, Kofi uses the ladder to hit a 619 as Kofi stands between the rungs. Truth catapults a ladder into Swagger's face as he comes in, then Rey nails a 619.
Rey sets up a second ladder now and makes the climb, Riley follows on the other side. Bourne uses the other ladder to join them but gets knocked off. Swagger with a third ladder and Del Rio with a forth setting them up now. Everyone goes for the briefcase in a cluster atop the four ladders. Del Rio gets sent off and lands face first on the bridged ladder from earlier, Swagger is sent off, Bourne is sent backwards to the floor. Riley goes next, then Truth then Rey. Kofi is by himself, but Swagger comes back in to stop him and the ladder falls over in another nasty landing.
God knows how, but Miz limps his way back out to a pretty decent pop all things considered and tries to climb, this crowd is now fully behind a crippled Miz, but Rey sends his knee into the ladder, then takes him down with a sunset flip to boos. Rey now up the ladder and nearly gets it but Del Rio cuts him off, Rey kicks him off, Del Rio up the other side now. Rey slams the briefcase into Del Rio's head a few times, but Del Rio rips off the mask, and Rey's ladder falls over, sending Del Rio tumbling over now. Del Rio sets the ladder back up, makes the climb and takes down the briefcase to win in 15:51. That match was a fucking car wreck, in both good and bad ways. Props to Miz for going back out to do his one spot.
Crowd gives Del Rio a decent pop, which I feel is an oddity. Was he this over at the time? We go to replays of this car crash match, and that landing from Miz still looks fucking nasty.
Up next, we have the WHC Title match. Christian won the title back at Extreme Rules, after best friend Edge was forced into retirement. Christian would defend the title against Orton on Smackdown and lost the title in no time. At Capitol Punishment, despite his foot being under the rope, Orton retained the championship, and Christian demanded another shot at the title from Smackdown GM Teddy Long. Christian had a clause added that if Orton get's disqualified, or if the referee screws up again, Christian walks out the champion.We see Orton clocking Christian with the title after their Capitol Punishment match, Christian with sneak attacks.
Before that though, Josh is with Del Rio, who says he shouldn't have been in the match in the first place, seeing as he earned a title shot a few weeks back, but he proved tonight how great he is. Del Rio talks about his destiny, that the briefcase is just a formality to becoming WWE Champion, before walking off.
World Heavyweight Championship: Christian vs Randy Orton (c)
Christian leaves the ring immediately and grabs a chair by the announce desk, sliding it to Orton, trying to goad him. Orton picks up the chair but tosses it out of the ring. Christian shoves Orton who drops him with a right hand, more in the corner before whipping Christian into the opposite, following with a back body drop. Christian fights back with right hands in the corner now before whipping Orton into the opposite, only to be nailed with a clothesline. Christian tosses Orton out and goes for a crossbody, only for Orton to roll back in, Christian hitting the floor.
Orton back out now, whipping Christian into the steps and tumbling over them, then rolls Christian back in. Orton gets Christian between the ropes and goes for a running knee only for Christian to dodge, getting him with a reverse hangman over the ropes. Christian up top now with a spinning elbow, hook of the leg and a near fall.
Christian stomping away at Orton, choking him with his boot. Now in the corner, Chrsitan with a right hand, sends Orton off the ropes with a back elbow, hook of the leg and a near fall. Christian on top with some right hands, but Orton fight back with right hands of his own, Christian with some more and gets Orton draped over the middle rope, choking him following with another right hand from the outside. Christian hooks the leg for another near fall.
Christian wrenching on the neck, Orton fights out but Christian gets a kick in to the midsection, sending Orton to the corner. Christian charges after but Orton rolls over into a roll up, but Christian kicks out. Orton off the ropes and Christian hits a spinebuster, cover and a near fall. Christian calls for the Killswitch but Orton slips out, tries for a back suplex, but Christian slips out, only to be sent over the ropes with a clothesline to the floor, Orton going with him.
Back in the ring, Christian goes up top but Orton moves, goes for the RKO, but Christian slips out into the opposite corner. Orton charges but Christian gets the boots up, onto the second rope for a dropkick but Orton catches the leg, gets the jacknife cover but Christian kicks out. Right hand by Christian off the ropes but Orton catches him with a Thesz Press and some right hands before Christian rolls out to the apron. Orton pounces for his draping DDT but Christian pulls himself back in, only to be pushed into the corner by Orton. Christian goes off the middle rope but Orton catches him with a dropkick, hooks the leg for a near fall.
Christian back on the apron and lures Orton in for a hangman, goes back up top but Orton cuts him off, more right hands as Orton climbs up, trying for a superplex but Christian pushes him off to the mat, nails a diving headbutt and hooks the leg, but Orton kicks out.
Back on their feet, both dazed, Orton tries for an RKO, but Christian tries to turn it into a Killswitch, but Orton slips out, nails a few clotheslines, goes for an uppercut but Christian just narrowly avoids it. Orton goes for another RKO, but Christian turns and nails the Killswitch, hooks the leg but Orton kicks out. Christian showing frustration as he calls for the spear in the corner, but Orton leapfrogs over, pulls Christian up into a gutwrench and turns it into a neckbreaker, cover and a near fall.
Orton now goes for a punt, Christian avoids it but Orton catches him in a powerslam. Christian rolls to the apron, Orton pounces and nails his draping DDT. Orton calls for the RKO, but Christian crawls to the corner in fear, Orton follows and Christian spits in his face. Christian tries to retreat but Orton pulls him back and wails away with lefts and rights, ref trying to warn him, and he finally lets off. Christian gets back to his feet and Orton nails a blatant low blow for the disqualification, making Christian the new champion in 12:19. Run time is a bit short, but the match felt like it went as long as it should have. Plus, I kinda like how the DQ title loss stip actually led to something for once. Chicago is fully behind Christian here.
Christian poses at ringside as his music hits and we go to replays, only briefly as it's cut off, we see Orton attacking Christian behind the announce desk. Orton takes apart the Spanish announce table, nailing Christian square in the face with it. Teddy Long is out trying to calm Orton down, but Orton nails an RKO onto the table, Christian bouncing off to the floor. We go to replays of the closing moments and the attack as Orton storms off pissed. Orton decides to go back for seconds, pulls Christian onto the table again and nails a second RKO, and again it doesn't break, sending Christian to the floor again. Crowd is eating it up despite their reaction earlier. Orton storms off again as the crowd ask him to do it again. Officials check on Christian who can barely stand and we get more replays. Christian gets helped to the back, title in hand.
Fans are chanting for Punk as we head into our main event. The story here shouldn't need much of an explanation. Punk won a Triple Threat match to earn a shot at the WWE Championship at Money in the Bank. Following his win, he'd announce that the night of the PPV, his contract would be up, and he'd be leaving the company with the championship. Vince would do anything he could to keep the title there, and almost had his way, after Punk went off in his infamous pipe bomb, leading to his suspension, but Cena convinced Vince to reinstate him and give his title match back, on the condition that if Cena failed to keep the title, he'd be fired. Punk and Vince would have an in-ring contract negotiation, Punk demanding everything from a private jet to those ice cream bars, but after a confrontation with Cena, he'd rip up the contract, leading us to tonight's match.
WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs CM Punk
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Thunderous CM Punk chants as the promo package finishes up and Punk makes his way out. Punk listed as being with the Nexus in his name plate, even though I feel like Nexus were non-existent by this point. Punk riles the fans up some more as he hits the ring. Punk riles the fan up some more, hands his shirt to someone in the front row, while we wait a long ass time for Cena to come out. Oh, those thunderous boos for Cena are fantastic. Cena doesn't do his usual stupid entrance, he just heads to the ring with title in hand, raising it over his head as he enters the ring, Punk even gives him a golf clap.
Punk and Cena start with some chain wrestling, back and forth, rest holds, each getting the upper hand. Commentary try to paint Punk as the bad guy. Booker seems to be the only one who's sorta behind Punk. Cole also tries to rewrite history with the Montreal Screwjob. Cena and Punk each go for a GTS and an AA but it's obviously still too early.
Things pick up as Punk gets a kick to the ribs, following with right hands and stomps in the corner, only to be whipped into the opposite, Cena follows with a bulldog and a cover for a near fall. Cena with a grounded headlock until Punk fights back, Cena nailing a vicious clothesline as Punk comes off the ropes for another near fall. Cena with another headlock, trying to keep Punk grounded but he fights back up and nails a back suplex, hooks the leg for a near fall.
Cena whipped chest first into the corner, Punk hooks the leg again but Cena kicks out. Cena gets Punk in the corner with some right hands and whips him into the opposite, follows with a fisherman suplex and another near fall. Cena goes for an AA but Punk slips out and plants him with a DDT. Punk hooks the leg for another near fall, before trapping Cena in a neck scissor. Cena fights to his feet with Punk on his shoulders but Punk slips off, tossing Cena to the outside.
Punk joins Cena on the floor, sending him face first off the apron before draping him over it, going up to the second rope and drops a knee across the back of Cena's neck. Back in the ring, Punk hooks the leg but Cena kicks out. Punk with knees to the midsection into the corner, Cena whipped to the opposite corner and Punk charges after, but goes shoulder first into the ring post as Cena moves out of the way. Cena pulls him from the corner and goes for the STF, but Punk pushes out and nails a clothesline, hooks the leg for a near fall.
Punk with a snapmare and another headlock, Cena powers back to his feet with some right hands, whipping Punk into the corner, Punk catches him with the elbow, off the middle rope and tries for a crossbody, but Cena isn't standing close enough so Punk connects with his knees instead, hooks the leg and Cena kicks out. Cena rolls out to the apron holding his knee, Punk follows and goes to suplex him back into the ring, but Cena turns it into a suplex to the floor. Ouch.
Back in the ring, Cena hooks the leg for a near fall. Back to their feet, Cena hits another fisherman, goes off the ropes with an elbow, now either no selling the leg or it's feeling better, I don't know what it is, but goes for the cover for another near fall. Cena goes for a powerslam but Punk slips out, pushing Cena away but he pick's Punk back up and nails it, goes for the cover but Punk kicks out.
Cena with punches, Punk fights back with some of his own, sent off the ropes and Cena catches him in an ab stretch. Punk fights out with a hip toss before they knock each other down with a clothesline.
Back to their feet by 7, Cena goes for his shoulder tackles, but Punk slips out of Cena side slam into a roll up, but Cena kicks out. Cena whipped into the corner and Punk misses his running knee, Cena catches him and nails his side slam, calls for Five Knuckle Shuffle but Punk kicks him in the head before he gets the chance. Punk off the ropes, sending Cena to the outside with a knee to the back, followed by a suicide dive.
Back in the ring, Punk goes for the springboard crossbody but Cena moves out of the way. Again, Cena calls for the Shuffle and hits it this time, gets Punk up and delivers the AA, only for Punk to (kinda) land on his feet, follow with some kicks and sweeps the legs, hooks the leg but Cena kicks out. Punk gets Cena up for the GTS but Cena slips out and hits the gutwrench, hooks the leg and Punk kicks out.
Cena gets Punk up again but pushes Cena to the ropes, hits a running knee, then another followed by a bulldog. Punk out to the apron in the corner, successfully hits the springboard and makes the cover, but Cena kicks out. Punk with some kicks to the chest then goes for one to the head, but Cena ducks and locks in the STF, but Punk makes it to the ropes.
Punk holds onto the ropes as Cena tries to pull him off, nailing a kick to the side of the head, covers Cena for a near fall. Punk up top now and hits a crossbody, only for Cena to catch and roll through, going for the AA only for Punk to slip out, get Cena on his shoulders and nearly hit the GTS, but Cena catches the knee on the way down and trips him up, applying the STF for a second time. Punk almost gets to the ropes, but Cena drags him back to the center of the ring. Punk manages to slip free and turn it into the Anaconda Vice... well kinda, it looks more like a headlock to me. Cena fights back to his feet, gets Punk up and nails the AA. Cena hooks the leg but Punk kicks out.
Cena now up top for his leg drop, but Punk counters into a powerbomb, hooks the leg for a near fall. Punk goes for the GTS again but Cena hangs onto the top rope, hangs Punk over the ropes and goes back up top, nails the leg drop across the back of the neck, goes for the cover but Punk kicks out again. Cena hits the AA a second time, but once again Punk kicks out.
Cena practically drags Punk to the corner and sits him on the top rope, preparing for an AA, but Punk elbows his way out, taking Cena out with a hurricanrana off the top, Cena rolls to the opposite corner. Punk nails his running knee, then follows with a GTS, but hits Cena in the ribs instead, sending Cena to the outside. Punk outside now and rolls a limp Cena back in, as Vince and Johnny Ace make their way out.
Punk is momentarily distracted allowing Cena to apply the STF a third time, and Vince sends Ace down to call for the bell prematurely. Cena releases the hold and slides out, knocking Ace on his ass, yelling at Vince that he's not gonna win this way. Cena slides back in, Punk nails the GTS and wins the championship in 33:42. God damn, that pop.
Punk celebrates and poses with the championship as Vince looks on in shock and horror. He rushes down to commentary and grabs Lawler's headset, yelling to cut the music and get Del Rio out to cash in his briefcase, in a last ditch effort to keep his title. Alberto runs out but Punk catches him with a kick to the side of the head before anything can happen. Punk slides out and hops atop the barricade, blows a kiss to Vince and heads through the crowd. We get one last shot of Punk standing tall, title over his head as he makes his exit, and fade out.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Show started out hot, died very quickly with the Divas Title match, slowly picked back up and had a fantastic finish, so I'd say a great show overall. With a run time of 2:47:38, the show had a total of 1:37:03 of bell to bell wrestling.
Of course, within two weeks, they managed to bungle this whole thing. Vince would be removed from power, with a returning HHH taking over as COO. Cena would win the WWE Title back the week after, with Punk returning to set up a match at Summerslam, where Punk would retain, Nash attack, and Del Rio cash in. Punk wouldn't get the title back until November at Survivor Series, setting off his 434 day title reign. Bryan would cash in his briefcase at TLC, following Big Show's win over Mark Henry for the title. He'd hold until Wrestlemania, where they had him lose to Sheamus in 18 seconds.
Our opening video package focuses solely on the Punk/Cena rivalry, before we go to the arena. We're live from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. Michael Cole, Booker T and the King are on commentary for tonight's show, and we're kicking off with the first of two ladder matches.
Smackdown Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Sin Cara vs Wade Barrett vs Justin Gabriel vs Sheamus vs Cody Rhodes VS Heath Slater vs Daniel Bryan vs Kane
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: First MITB match for Cara, Wade, Sheamus and Gabriel. Cody is in his 2nd wearing his protective mask. Gabriel coming out to what I think is Otunga's theme, or maybe they shared this theme? I know they were tag champions at some point. There's really only two people in this match who have even the slightest chance of winning.
Ring clears out rather quickly with Wade and Shemus going after Kane, only to take a double clothesline then sent to the outside. Kane goes for a ladder only for Bryan to baseball slide it into him, then Bryan tries only for Slater and Gabriel to do a double baseball slide into the ladder, then Sin Cara tries to stop them with a baseball slide, only for them to lift the ladder and slam it into Cara to the floor.
Slater yanks Gabriel off the apron as he goes to enter, tries to set up the ladder only for Gabriel to come off the top and kick him off, then Bryan kicks him off. Cody comes in and throws Bryan into the ladder to start the climb, but Sheamus cuts him off and goes for the Celtic Cross, only for Cody to slip out and go for the Disaster Kick, nailing Heath as Sheamus ducks out of the way. Sheamus takes out Bryan before throwing a ladder into Cody, then again, leaning it in the corner. Kane catches them both and throws them out.
Wade in now with kicks in the corner and tries to whip Kane into the ladder, only to be reversed. Kane throws the ladder out onto Sheamus and Cody before Heath comes in now only to be caught for a sidewalk slam. Kane goes up top but Cara kicks him off, only for Gabriel to knock him out. Bryan in now off the ropes with a suicide dive onto Wade, then Gabriel with a tope onto Kane to the outside, then Heath with a slingshot corkscrew onto Cody, then Cara with a springboard crossbody onto Sheamus.
Back in the ring, Cara with a springboard crossbody onto Bryan, then Gabriel in for a backbody drop, only for Cara to slip out, goes off the ropes and gets launched up by Gabriel, allowing Cara to dropkick Heath. Cara sent to the ropes only to nail a back elbow and a flying headscissor. Bryan up top but Cara cuts him off, then nails a Spanish Fly.
Cara heads out and grabs a ladder now, seemingly to slide it in the ring but Wade cuts him off, who removes the cover from the announce table, laying the ladder across the apron and table. Wade lifts Cara up but he slips out, Barrett charges but hits the ringpost arm first. Cara back in the ring as Sheamus slips in from behind and nails a Brogue Kick. Sheamus rolls Cara out to the apron and follows suit, lifting Cara up and powerbombs him through the ladder, snapping the ladder in two. Doctor and officials come out to check on him as Sheamus grabs a new ladder, ramming it into Barrett and Heath before sliding it into the ring, Cara being carted out.
Kne in now with right hands, knocking Sheamus out, sliding the ladder out to and slamming it down on Sheamus. Back in the ring, Cody and Bryan now with Kane and they go right after him, kicks in the corner, then forearms back and forth before Kane takes them down with a ladder. Kane setting up a ladder and starts the climb, but Heath, Gabriel and Wade take him down, going at him in the corner while Cody starts the climb, but the trio go after him now. Bryan starts the climb and the trio go after him now.
We're already got a Punk chant as Barrett directs traffic and starts the climb, only for Heath and Gabriel to pull him down and go on the attack, tossing him out and they make the climb now, but Cody now pushes the ladder over, Heath bounces off the ropes and Cody nails Cross Rhodes. Cody now with the climb up the ladder but Wade cuts him off, only for Cody to hit Cross Rhodes.
Cody back up the ladder but Sheamus is back, pulls him down and nails the Irish Curse Backbreaker. Sheamus up the ladder now but Bryan is back and they fight halfway up the ladder. Bryan gets the upperhand momentarily until Sheamus gets him on his shoulders, Kane up top for a Doomsday Device, then Sheamus takes him down with a clothesline. Sheamus on Kane with clubbing blows now, bridging a ladder between the corner and a rung on the ladder, going fora slam on Kane only to get a big boot. Cody in now but Kane nails a chokeslam. Gabriel off the top rope for an ax handle, but Kane catches him with a chokeslam. Kane up the ladder now, but Bryan is back in, Kane goes to chokeslam him off the ladder but gets free, trying for a LeBell Lock from the ladder, but can't get it locked in, kicking Kane away before launching off. Kane catches him, only for Bryan to counter into a DDT.
Heath back in now and starts the climb but Bryan goes after him, but Heath nails a neckbreaker off the top. Heath back up now and starts his climb once more, but Wader cuts him off, going at him in the corner, but runs right into the corner. Heath goes to jump off the top, but Wade crotches him. Sheamus in now and Wade goes after him, before going out to grab a third ladder. Sheamus helps him with it and rams it into Heath's ribs, then uses the ladder to launch Slater onto Kane to the outside. Sheamus Brogue Kicks the ladder into Wade, then a Kick for Cody. Gabriel off the top rope but Sheamus dodges and takes him out Sheamus bridges a ladder across the top rope in the corner and lowers the ladder bridged into the ladder, before taking Gabriel onto his shoulders, dropping him face first into the ladder and nails a Brogue Kick.
Sheamus makes the climb now but Kane follows, right hands back and forth and knocks Kane off. Kane now tries to pull Sheamus off but kicks Kane away. Kane gets Sheamus by the throat and chokeslams Sheamus onto the ladder, sending him out of the ring. Kane back up the ladder, but Bryan, Barret and Cody pull him down, Cody with a Disaster Kick, Barrett with the Wasteland. Gabriel goes up top the bridged ladder and nails the 450 Splash to finish Kane off. Barrett sends him out of the ring with a Wasteland onto Heath on the outside, then a spinning side slam on Bryan, then a pumphandle slam on Cody. Barrett now starts the climb but Cody pulls him back down and sends him to the outside. Bryan now up the ladder but Cody's up with him, battling on the ladder, Barrett climbing from behind now. Bryan gets Cody in a guillotine, knocking him off. Barrett goes for Wasteland but Bryan nails elbow after elbow and a kick to the head. Bryan goes to the top and takes down the briefcase to win in 24:26, much to Cole's dismay. I can't complain, this match was great. Was fast paced and hard to keep up with.
Bryan gets to celebrate and take his moment in for a few minutes before we go to replays. Bryan poses atop the ladder with his new briefcase.
We go to footage from earlier in the night, where Vince and John Laurinitis arrives in a limo with a WWE attorney, in a last ditch effort to sign Punk to a contract. They're in a meeting with Punk right now.
Time for your bathroom break match.
Divas Championship: Brie Bella (w/ Nikki Bella) vs Kelly Kelly (c) (w/ Eve Torres)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Brie getting her rematch for the title tonight.
They nearly botch a spinning headscissor from Kelly before Brie slips out to talk to Nikki, Kelly off the apron onto both. Back in the ring, Kelly with a hanging neckscissor over the ropes, only for Brie to push Kelly to the floor. Nikki gets a kick in behind the ref's back.
Back in the ring, Brie hooks the leg for a near fall. Body scissor on Kelly but Kelly fights out. Dropkick to the midsection by Brie before choking Kelly across the middle rope, then hanging Kelly's arm over it. Hook of the leg and another near fall.
Forearms from Kelly, only to be taken down by the hair. Hook of the leg and a near fall. An ab stretch from Brie, horribly applied too before Kelly fights out with a jawbreaker, slamming Brie's face into the mat. Hair biel and a running clothesline from Kelly, ducks a clothesline into a neckbreaker. Kelly hooks the leg for a near fall.
Forearms and a kick, Kelly goes for something, they fight for a backslide, then Kelly goes for a bulldog only for Brie to botch it, hook of the leg by Kelly and a near fall.
Brie with a leg DDT now then a cover for a near fall. Brie sent off the ropes, then Kelly catches her with her leg drop for the win in 4:47. Yeah, this was bad.
Bellas make an exit as they argue, Nikki pointing out at Kelly "doesn't even eat", asking how Brie couldn't beat that. Fantastic stuff.
We get an ad for the The Very Best of WCW Monday Nitro DVD set, before we get a video package for our next match. We see some of Mark Henry's attack on Show at Capitol Punishment, sending Show through a cage wall as well as general destruction. Show knocked out Henry in the middle of the ring to start this rivalry for.... some reason.
Mark Henry vs The Big Show
Clubbing blows and chops before Show is sent off the ropes, hitting Henry with a shoulder tackle. Cole spouts off some stats between the two as things go to the outside, taking Henry down. Show goes for a chokeslam through the announce table, then Henry for the Slam, but Show sends him into and over the steps. Show rolls in and out to restart the count. Henry dropkicks the steps into Show's knee before Show rolls back in.
Henry in from behind with a chop block then a boot to the head, then a couple more, a cover and a near fall. Henry goes to work on the knee now, even applies a single leg crab, but Show drags himself to the ropes and forces the break. Henry goes for the leg but Show kicks him off, pulls himself up in the corner, Henry hits the running splash. Henry goes again but Show gets the boot up, goes to the second top and hits a shoulder block, but lands on the bad knee. Show calls for the chokeslam but Henry kicks him in the bad leg and nails the World's Strongest Slam, only for Show to kick out.
Henry picks Show back and nails the Slam again, followed by a splash off the ropes, and a second, hooks the leg and gets the win in 5:58. Nothing too exciting here, but it wasn't overly terrible.
Henry drags Show closer to the corner before going out and grabbing a chair by the timekeeper's area, wedges Show's leg inside, launches off the second rope and splashes down on the chair. Doctor rushes the ring as Show screams in pain, yells at the ref and doc to get off him as Henry leaves. Show gets carted out while we get some replays of the attack. Crowd chants for Punk some more, they clearly don't want to wait.
We cut to Vince and Johnny Ace in the back, and someone screwed up because we can't hear what Vince is saying. We do hear Vince talking about negotiating before Josh Matthews comes in, asking if Vince re-signed Punk to which he says no. He calls Punk the biggest ingrate he's ever dealt with, he offered Punk the most lucrative contract he's ever offered anyone, and still turned it down. Vince tells Punk fans not to blame him for Punk's departure. Josh asks what Punk said, and says Punk pointed to the door and told Vince and co to get out. Josh brings up Cena, and Vince says he's the reason they have this problem in the first place, insisting that this is what the fans wanted. He says that if by some chance, Punk leaves the building with the title, may God have mercy on Cena's soul.
Raw Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Alberto Del Rio vs Kofi Kingston vs Jack Swagger vs Evan Bourne vs R-Truth vs Alex Riley vs The Miz vs Rey Mysterio
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Del Rio out with a nice looking Lamborghini sans Ricardo. Del Rio had won a #1 contender's match to earn a WWE Title match following Punk's suspension, but with his reinstatement, Del Rio got the consolation prize of being in this match. Kofi already grabs a ladder on the way and Del Rio's grabbed one for himself as well. Bourne grabs a ladder too, a very tiny one. Truth is in his silent ring entrance phase and grabs a Hornswoggle ladder, because he's afraid of heights. Alex Riley actually gets a decent pop here, which is kind of surprising. Did he just recently turn on Miz? Miz of course won this briefcase at last year's event and went on to with the WWE Championship. Rey in all green for money, according to Cole. Everyone's armed themselves with a ladder as the bell is rung.
Del Rio gets stuck in the middle as everyone rams their ladders into him, sending him out before they go after each other. Swagger sends a ladder into Swagger, then everyone starts throwing ladders out onto him. Miz slides Rey under the ropes who lands out on top of the ladders and Del Rio. Riley throws a ladder at Swagger and knocks him off the apron.
Truth and Miz start dueling with ladders before Swagger rams a ladder into them. Swagger sets up a tiny ladder, Kofi and Bourne climb up then down, then use it on Swagger, Truththen Rey launches off it with a headscissor on Swagger. Riley with a dropkick on Truth. They keep setting up this tiny ladder that won't get anyone the briefcase and they keep climbing it, making everyone look like an idiot.
Everyone sprawled out on the outside as Evan climbs a ladder in the aisle way and nails a Shooting Star Splash off the ladder onto everyone. Evan now with a ladder in the ring, finally one that's actually big enough and makes the climb to the top, but Miz is already there, right hands back and forth. Bourne gets a kick in byt Miz with right hands. Del Rio knocks over the ladder and on replay, Miz landed bad on his knee as he was hanging onto the briefcase, and once he's rolled out, his knee is visibly out of place. Fuck.
Del Rio and Rey now at it, Del Rio up the ladder but Truth cuts him off, taking him down. Truth now starts to climb, then Del Rio, trading right hands. Bourne and Rey now climbing over Del Rio and Truth, but they get pulled off, only to hit Truth and Alberto with hurricanranas. Swagger takes them out with clotheslines but Kofi launches over Swagger off the ropes onto the ladder. Swagger applies the ankle lock as Kofi slides down. Riley now witht he climb but Swagger releases Kofi, they go up the ladder but Truth pushes the ladder over.
Truth bridges a ladder across the middle rope in the corner before Rey comes in, whipped near the ladder but slides under, only for Truth to sandwich him. Truth sent face first into the ladder, but Kofi sends Rey face first into the ladder, Kofi nails the Boom Drop off the bridged ladder. Kofi rolls Truth out and set a ladder up near the ropes for some spots, Kofi uses the ladder to hit a 619 as Kofi stands between the rungs. Truth catapults a ladder into Swagger's face as he comes in, then Rey nails a 619.
Rey sets up a second ladder now and makes the climb, Riley follows on the other side. Bourne uses the other ladder to join them but gets knocked off. Swagger with a third ladder and Del Rio with a forth setting them up now. Everyone goes for the briefcase in a cluster atop the four ladders. Del Rio gets sent off and lands face first on the bridged ladder from earlier, Swagger is sent off, Bourne is sent backwards to the floor. Riley goes next, then Truth then Rey. Kofi is by himself, but Swagger comes back in to stop him and the ladder falls over in another nasty landing.
God knows how, but Miz limps his way back out to a pretty decent pop all things considered and tries to climb, this crowd is now fully behind a crippled Miz, but Rey sends his knee into the ladder, then takes him down with a sunset flip to boos. Rey now up the ladder and nearly gets it but Del Rio cuts him off, Rey kicks him off, Del Rio up the other side now. Rey slams the briefcase into Del Rio's head a few times, but Del Rio rips off the mask, and Rey's ladder falls over, sending Del Rio tumbling over now. Del Rio sets the ladder back up, makes the climb and takes down the briefcase to win in 15:51. That match was a fucking car wreck, in both good and bad ways. Props to Miz for going back out to do his one spot.
Crowd gives Del Rio a decent pop, which I feel is an oddity. Was he this over at the time? We go to replays of this car crash match, and that landing from Miz still looks fucking nasty.
Up next, we have the WHC Title match. Christian won the title back at Extreme Rules, after best friend Edge was forced into retirement. Christian would defend the title against Orton on Smackdown and lost the title in no time. At Capitol Punishment, despite his foot being under the rope, Orton retained the championship, and Christian demanded another shot at the title from Smackdown GM Teddy Long. Christian had a clause added that if Orton get's disqualified, or if the referee screws up again, Christian walks out the champion.We see Orton clocking Christian with the title after their Capitol Punishment match, Christian with sneak attacks.
Before that though, Josh is with Del Rio, who says he shouldn't have been in the match in the first place, seeing as he earned a title shot a few weeks back, but he proved tonight how great he is. Del Rio talks about his destiny, that the briefcase is just a formality to becoming WWE Champion, before walking off.
World Heavyweight Championship: Christian vs Randy Orton (c)
Christian leaves the ring immediately and grabs a chair by the announce desk, sliding it to Orton, trying to goad him. Orton picks up the chair but tosses it out of the ring. Christian shoves Orton who drops him with a right hand, more in the corner before whipping Christian into the opposite, following with a back body drop. Christian fights back with right hands in the corner now before whipping Orton into the opposite, only to be nailed with a clothesline. Christian tosses Orton out and goes for a crossbody, only for Orton to roll back in, Christian hitting the floor.
Orton back out now, whipping Christian into the steps and tumbling over them, then rolls Christian back in. Orton gets Christian between the ropes and goes for a running knee only for Christian to dodge, getting him with a reverse hangman over the ropes. Christian up top now with a spinning elbow, hook of the leg and a near fall.
Christian stomping away at Orton, choking him with his boot. Now in the corner, Chrsitan with a right hand, sends Orton off the ropes with a back elbow, hook of the leg and a near fall. Christian on top with some right hands, but Orton fight back with right hands of his own, Christian with some more and gets Orton draped over the middle rope, choking him following with another right hand from the outside. Christian hooks the leg for another near fall.
Christian wrenching on the neck, Orton fights out but Christian gets a kick in to the midsection, sending Orton to the corner. Christian charges after but Orton rolls over into a roll up, but Christian kicks out. Orton off the ropes and Christian hits a spinebuster, cover and a near fall. Christian calls for the Killswitch but Orton slips out, tries for a back suplex, but Christian slips out, only to be sent over the ropes with a clothesline to the floor, Orton going with him.
Back in the ring, Christian goes up top but Orton moves, goes for the RKO, but Christian slips out into the opposite corner. Orton charges but Christian gets the boots up, onto the second rope for a dropkick but Orton catches the leg, gets the jacknife cover but Christian kicks out. Right hand by Christian off the ropes but Orton catches him with a Thesz Press and some right hands before Christian rolls out to the apron. Orton pounces for his draping DDT but Christian pulls himself back in, only to be pushed into the corner by Orton. Christian goes off the middle rope but Orton catches him with a dropkick, hooks the leg for a near fall.
Christian back on the apron and lures Orton in for a hangman, goes back up top but Orton cuts him off, more right hands as Orton climbs up, trying for a superplex but Christian pushes him off to the mat, nails a diving headbutt and hooks the leg, but Orton kicks out.
Back on their feet, both dazed, Orton tries for an RKO, but Christian tries to turn it into a Killswitch, but Orton slips out, nails a few clotheslines, goes for an uppercut but Christian just narrowly avoids it. Orton goes for another RKO, but Christian turns and nails the Killswitch, hooks the leg but Orton kicks out. Christian showing frustration as he calls for the spear in the corner, but Orton leapfrogs over, pulls Christian up into a gutwrench and turns it into a neckbreaker, cover and a near fall.
Orton now goes for a punt, Christian avoids it but Orton catches him in a powerslam. Christian rolls to the apron, Orton pounces and nails his draping DDT. Orton calls for the RKO, but Christian crawls to the corner in fear, Orton follows and Christian spits in his face. Christian tries to retreat but Orton pulls him back and wails away with lefts and rights, ref trying to warn him, and he finally lets off. Christian gets back to his feet and Orton nails a blatant low blow for the disqualification, making Christian the new champion in 12:19. Run time is a bit short, but the match felt like it went as long as it should have. Plus, I kinda like how the DQ title loss stip actually led to something for once. Chicago is fully behind Christian here.
Christian poses at ringside as his music hits and we go to replays, only briefly as it's cut off, we see Orton attacking Christian behind the announce desk. Orton takes apart the Spanish announce table, nailing Christian square in the face with it. Teddy Long is out trying to calm Orton down, but Orton nails an RKO onto the table, Christian bouncing off to the floor. We go to replays of the closing moments and the attack as Orton storms off pissed. Orton decides to go back for seconds, pulls Christian onto the table again and nails a second RKO, and again it doesn't break, sending Christian to the floor again. Crowd is eating it up despite their reaction earlier. Orton storms off again as the crowd ask him to do it again. Officials check on Christian who can barely stand and we get more replays. Christian gets helped to the back, title in hand.
Fans are chanting for Punk as we head into our main event. The story here shouldn't need much of an explanation. Punk won a Triple Threat match to earn a shot at the WWE Championship at Money in the Bank. Following his win, he'd announce that the night of the PPV, his contract would be up, and he'd be leaving the company with the championship. Vince would do anything he could to keep the title there, and almost had his way, after Punk went off in his infamous pipe bomb, leading to his suspension, but Cena convinced Vince to reinstate him and give his title match back, on the condition that if Cena failed to keep the title, he'd be fired. Punk and Vince would have an in-ring contract negotiation, Punk demanding everything from a private jet to those ice cream bars, but after a confrontation with Cena, he'd rip up the contract, leading us to tonight's match.
WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs CM Punk
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Thunderous CM Punk chants as the promo package finishes up and Punk makes his way out. Punk listed as being with the Nexus in his name plate, even though I feel like Nexus were non-existent by this point. Punk riles the fans up some more as he hits the ring. Punk riles the fan up some more, hands his shirt to someone in the front row, while we wait a long ass time for Cena to come out. Oh, those thunderous boos for Cena are fantastic. Cena doesn't do his usual stupid entrance, he just heads to the ring with title in hand, raising it over his head as he enters the ring, Punk even gives him a golf clap.
Punk and Cena start with some chain wrestling, back and forth, rest holds, each getting the upper hand. Commentary try to paint Punk as the bad guy. Booker seems to be the only one who's sorta behind Punk. Cole also tries to rewrite history with the Montreal Screwjob. Cena and Punk each go for a GTS and an AA but it's obviously still too early.
Things pick up as Punk gets a kick to the ribs, following with right hands and stomps in the corner, only to be whipped into the opposite, Cena follows with a bulldog and a cover for a near fall. Cena with a grounded headlock until Punk fights back, Cena nailing a vicious clothesline as Punk comes off the ropes for another near fall. Cena with another headlock, trying to keep Punk grounded but he fights back up and nails a back suplex, hooks the leg for a near fall.
Cena whipped chest first into the corner, Punk hooks the leg again but Cena kicks out. Cena gets Punk in the corner with some right hands and whips him into the opposite, follows with a fisherman suplex and another near fall. Cena goes for an AA but Punk slips out and plants him with a DDT. Punk hooks the leg for another near fall, before trapping Cena in a neck scissor. Cena fights to his feet with Punk on his shoulders but Punk slips off, tossing Cena to the outside.
Punk joins Cena on the floor, sending him face first off the apron before draping him over it, going up to the second rope and drops a knee across the back of Cena's neck. Back in the ring, Punk hooks the leg but Cena kicks out. Punk with knees to the midsection into the corner, Cena whipped to the opposite corner and Punk charges after, but goes shoulder first into the ring post as Cena moves out of the way. Cena pulls him from the corner and goes for the STF, but Punk pushes out and nails a clothesline, hooks the leg for a near fall.
Punk with a snapmare and another headlock, Cena powers back to his feet with some right hands, whipping Punk into the corner, Punk catches him with the elbow, off the middle rope and tries for a crossbody, but Cena isn't standing close enough so Punk connects with his knees instead, hooks the leg and Cena kicks out. Cena rolls out to the apron holding his knee, Punk follows and goes to suplex him back into the ring, but Cena turns it into a suplex to the floor. Ouch.
Back in the ring, Cena hooks the leg for a near fall. Back to their feet, Cena hits another fisherman, goes off the ropes with an elbow, now either no selling the leg or it's feeling better, I don't know what it is, but goes for the cover for another near fall. Cena goes for a powerslam but Punk slips out, pushing Cena away but he pick's Punk back up and nails it, goes for the cover but Punk kicks out.
Cena with punches, Punk fights back with some of his own, sent off the ropes and Cena catches him in an ab stretch. Punk fights out with a hip toss before they knock each other down with a clothesline.
Back to their feet by 7, Cena goes for his shoulder tackles, but Punk slips out of Cena side slam into a roll up, but Cena kicks out. Cena whipped into the corner and Punk misses his running knee, Cena catches him and nails his side slam, calls for Five Knuckle Shuffle but Punk kicks him in the head before he gets the chance. Punk off the ropes, sending Cena to the outside with a knee to the back, followed by a suicide dive.
Back in the ring, Punk goes for the springboard crossbody but Cena moves out of the way. Again, Cena calls for the Shuffle and hits it this time, gets Punk up and delivers the AA, only for Punk to (kinda) land on his feet, follow with some kicks and sweeps the legs, hooks the leg but Cena kicks out. Punk gets Cena up for the GTS but Cena slips out and hits the gutwrench, hooks the leg and Punk kicks out.
Cena gets Punk up again but pushes Cena to the ropes, hits a running knee, then another followed by a bulldog. Punk out to the apron in the corner, successfully hits the springboard and makes the cover, but Cena kicks out. Punk with some kicks to the chest then goes for one to the head, but Cena ducks and locks in the STF, but Punk makes it to the ropes.
Punk holds onto the ropes as Cena tries to pull him off, nailing a kick to the side of the head, covers Cena for a near fall. Punk up top now and hits a crossbody, only for Cena to catch and roll through, going for the AA only for Punk to slip out, get Cena on his shoulders and nearly hit the GTS, but Cena catches the knee on the way down and trips him up, applying the STF for a second time. Punk almost gets to the ropes, but Cena drags him back to the center of the ring. Punk manages to slip free and turn it into the Anaconda Vice... well kinda, it looks more like a headlock to me. Cena fights back to his feet, gets Punk up and nails the AA. Cena hooks the leg but Punk kicks out.
Cena now up top for his leg drop, but Punk counters into a powerbomb, hooks the leg for a near fall. Punk goes for the GTS again but Cena hangs onto the top rope, hangs Punk over the ropes and goes back up top, nails the leg drop across the back of the neck, goes for the cover but Punk kicks out again. Cena hits the AA a second time, but once again Punk kicks out.
Cena practically drags Punk to the corner and sits him on the top rope, preparing for an AA, but Punk elbows his way out, taking Cena out with a hurricanrana off the top, Cena rolls to the opposite corner. Punk nails his running knee, then follows with a GTS, but hits Cena in the ribs instead, sending Cena to the outside. Punk outside now and rolls a limp Cena back in, as Vince and Johnny Ace make their way out.
Punk is momentarily distracted allowing Cena to apply the STF a third time, and Vince sends Ace down to call for the bell prematurely. Cena releases the hold and slides out, knocking Ace on his ass, yelling at Vince that he's not gonna win this way. Cena slides back in, Punk nails the GTS and wins the championship in 33:42. God damn, that pop.
Punk celebrates and poses with the championship as Vince looks on in shock and horror. He rushes down to commentary and grabs Lawler's headset, yelling to cut the music and get Del Rio out to cash in his briefcase, in a last ditch effort to keep his title. Alberto runs out but Punk catches him with a kick to the side of the head before anything can happen. Punk slides out and hops atop the barricade, blows a kiss to Vince and heads through the crowd. We get one last shot of Punk standing tall, title over his head as he makes his exit, and fade out.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Show started out hot, died very quickly with the Divas Title match, slowly picked back up and had a fantastic finish, so I'd say a great show overall. With a run time of 2:47:38, the show had a total of 1:37:03 of bell to bell wrestling.
Of course, within two weeks, they managed to bungle this whole thing. Vince would be removed from power, with a returning HHH taking over as COO. Cena would win the WWE Title back the week after, with Punk returning to set up a match at Summerslam, where Punk would retain, Nash attack, and Del Rio cash in. Punk wouldn't get the title back until November at Survivor Series, setting off his 434 day title reign. Bryan would cash in his briefcase at TLC, following Big Show's win over Mark Henry for the title. He'd hold until Wrestlemania, where they had him lose to Sheamus in 18 seconds.
Comments
Post a Comment