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It was supposed to be Sami Zayn defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes on “Monday Night Raw.”
But an attack from Gunther to start the show forced Rhodes off the card as he was left bloodied. WWE officials ruled Rhodes out. Zayn thought he was in a clear, but Raw General Manager Adam Pearce made clear to him that he would still be defending the title.
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The fans waited with bated breath to see who would walk to the ring to take on Zayn. The crowd hoping, guessing, it would be CM Punk. Lo and behold, the garage door opened up, and Punk walked through it.
It had been months since the pro wrestling world saw him. He had just lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Roman Reigns, and he reminded Rhodes to “stay ready because you never know when a championship opportunity is just gonna fall out of the sky.” The sky must have been falling in Chicago, and Punk walked in as an automatic challenger.
Punk took off his shirt and the match was on. There were questions about how Punk was going to fare against Zayn after having nearly three months off. But he took advantage of the momentum that the crowd gave him.
Zayn, however, was showing why he was a champion. Even though he was tossed out of the ring, he got back the advantage in the match with a series of stomps and a double axe handle from the top rope. Both competitors were giving it their all in the main event of the show. Zayn hit Punk with a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Punk wouldn’t stay down.
Punk came back with a bulldog and an elbow drop from the top rope. He then tried to make Zayn tap out with an Anaconda Vice in the middle of the ring. Zayn showed his ring awareness and slipped out of it. Zayn rolled up Punk and nearly pinned him clean.
Punk had Zayn on his shoulders for the Go to Sleep. However, Zayn reversed it and hit Punk with his own finisher. But Punk just wouldn’t stay down. Punk avoided a Helluva Kick and hit the exploder suplex into the corner, pulling a move out of Zayn’s playbook.
Zayn again hit a Go to Sleep and coupled it with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Still, Punk kicked out of a pin. “CM Punk” chants erupted after the latest kick-out. An exasperated Zayn told Punk he was the champion now as he continued to clobber him.
Punk, with his lip busted open, hit Zayn with the Helluva Kick and then the Go to Sleep. He pinned Zayn to become the undisputed WWE champion. Zayn’s reign lasted all of nine days.
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For now, Punk is set to walk into SummerSlam as the champion. His opponent is still yet to be determined.
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