Winner Gets A Wrestlemania WWE Title Shot: John Cena vs. CM Punk
We get the old-school ring introductions, which tells you how big this match really is and it has a true main event feel now.
Lock-up in the center, and Punk with a headlock takeover. Cena counters out, Punk counters right back into the hold, and some quick holds are exchanged between the two as they feel one another out. Dueling headlock takeovers before Punk grounds Cena. Nice exchange between the two rivals. John back up, throws Punk off, floats over, and hits a dropkick square on Punk, who retreats to the outside as we go to break...
~Commercial Break~
Cena with the Fisherman Suplex, but misses a corner charge and falls to the mat, where Punk covers for two. Elbows by Punk to Cena's neck. Another cover by Punk gets a near fall. Punk with a modified triangle choke, but Cena simply powers out and electric chair drops Punk. Cena with a corner splash and a bulldog for two. Cena with a front facelock on Punk. Cena transitions into a nice headlock takeover for a sudden two count. They're back up, Punk pushes Cena off, floats over, and hits a calf kick for a near fall on Cena. Interestingly similar to Cena's method earlier. Cena fights out of a sleeper hold, and hits a clothesline. He goes for the shoulder block, but Punk knows it too well and ducks out of the way. Cena rolls to the outside, and Punk with a Suicide Dive to the outside! He goes to roll Cena back in as we take our final commercial!
~Commercial Break~
Punk's got an abdominal stretch on Cena, who hip tosses Punk out of the hold. We see Cena had an AA attempt during the break, only for Punk to drive him into the mat with a DDT. Cena tries his comeback, but Punk locks in the Anaconda Vice! Will Cena tap? He rolls up Punk! Two count. Punk with the swinging neckbreaker, which gets a near fall! Cena catches a kick, STF attempt, Punk pulls Cena to the ropes and hangs him up. Springboard clothesline connects! Punk contemplates, he goes for another clothesline...HE MISSES! STF by Cena! Punk's trapped...HE COUNTERS INTO THE VICE! Cena struggles...AND TURNS IT INTO A CROSSFACE! Punk fights out into a roll-up! One...two...kickout! The two exchange right hands...Punk with a kick to the stomach, but he misses the roundhouse, Cena hits the spin-out slam...PUNK KICKS HIM! GTS attempt...Cena floats out, rolls him up...No, Punk stops the roll-up, two count! Cena hits the spin slam, five-knuckle shuffle, he goes for the AA, but Punk counters into a GTS...Cena counters out! CENA HITS A BATISTA BOMB! ONE...TWO...THR-NOOO! Holy crap, I thought that was it.
Punk with a classic running knee. He perches Cena for a superplex...John fights out, he pushes Punk off...GUILLOTINE LEGDROP! One...Two...Thr-NOOO! Cena picks up Punk...roundhouse kick to Cena. He hits another running knee...BUT CENA COUNTERS INTO AN AA! One...two...PUNK KICKS OUT! Both men on the outside...PUNK RAMS CENA INTO THE RING POST! Ref's at a count of nine...CENA'S BACK IN THE RING! Punk picks up Cena...GTS! One...Two...CENA KICKS OUT! Punk tries the GTS again...CENA COUNTERS INTO THE STF! Punk's trapped, he's struggling...PUNK MAKES THE ROPES! Cena picks him up, Punk with a kick...PILEDRIVER TO CENA! That looked sick. One...Two...Thr-CENA KICKED OUT! Are you kidding me? Punk and the crowd both look lost with that kick-out. Punk tries for another running knee and connects, but Cena pushes him off...CENA WITH A FREAKIN' HURRICANRANA! ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT! ONE...TWO...THREE! Cena's going to Wrestlemania!
Don't think I need to say anything else, that match was awesome and you couldn't end the near two-year rivalry on a better note, in my honest opinion. No Taker interference, which surprised me, but in a good way. They still have over a month to build up Punk-Undertaker.
Winner: John Cena
Time: 26:41
Cena takes it all in as Cole puts it best that Cena's take care of one demon from his past, now he has one more in the Rock at Wrestlemania. On that note, good night, everybody!
End show.
Credit: Ken Hill