Week 9 (113) - Entertaining As Always

The show opens without the usual pyro display this week, instead IFW champion Kurt Angle has something to say. He heads out with his Main Event Mafia suit on, but without those stupid shades. He has the belt over his shoulder, adjusting it when it slips as he steps between the ropes.

Angle: "It seems like all I ever do these days is come down here and complain about things. Now, I know and I hope you all know that I'm not that guy. A lot of the boys in the back like to come down here and air their grievances, everyone has something to bitch about, but I don't like to do business that way. However, unfortunately some problems can't be solved with a wrestling match, and that's why I'm out here again tonight. I don't need to remind you all that the Shield has been putting themselves right in the middle of things around here, but they're not telling us why. We're all asking who is behind this, and a lot of fingers are being pointed at one man. CM Punk. Now, I can tell you all from personal experience that Punk doesn't need backup to get the job done, but then neither did I when I started working with Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin. I didn't need backup when I recruited Luther Reigns and Mark Jindrak, when I started the Angle Alliance or the Main Event Mafia. My point is, sometimes being able to handle business in the ring is only half the battle around here. Sometimes you just need someone to watch your back, to make sure the playing field is kept even, because not everyone in the wrestling business likes to do things the right way. So Punk, if you're the man behind the Shield's attacks, I don't blame you. I just want to know what we're all dealing with here. Why don't you come out and we can get to the bottom of this?"

After a couple of seconds, Punk comes out from behind the curtain. He takes a deep breath and sighs, then heads down to join Angle in the ring.

Punk: "How much clearer can I make this, Kurt? I have nothing to do with the Shield. I know how I'm seen around here, I get that Vince McMahon isn't my biggest fan and that because of him I'm not considered good enough to be IFW champion, the face of the company. That's fine, I don't need his approval, your approval or anyone else's approval. When I face you at Unbroken for that title, I will show you, Vince McMahon and anybody else who still doesn't believe in me, that I am everything I need to be."
Angle: "It's funny that you should use that word, Punk. You say that people don't believe in you. Like we're supposed to believe in the Shield, right? That's what they say?"
Punk: "You're better than this, Kurt. You don't need to stoop to making such cheap accusations."
Angle: "Then how about this? I think it is you. Cena's been saying it for weeks but I didn't want to believe it until I could be sure. But the evidence keeps mounting up. Why is it that you've never been attacked by the Shield? Why do you always seem to have the same goals as them? Why have you never stepped up to take them on?"
Punk: "I don't have to listen to this crap! You believe whatever you want to believe, accuse me all you want. It doesn't change a thing. Maybe the Shield will help me out, maybe they won't, but the fact remains that I am the number one contender, and I will beat you at Unbroken."

Punk leaves the ring, walking away back up the ramp.

Angle: "Walking away, huh? You know Punk, I really didn't believe it until now. Why would an innocent man walk away from this? A man like you, willing to argue about nothing at all, refusing to defend himself. You are behind this Punk, whether you admit it or not."

Punk stops half way up the ramp and turns back to Angle.

Punk: "You know, I was wrong. Accusing me does change something. Now you have an excuse. When I take that title from you, you can say it was the big bad Shield, that CM Punk just isn't good enough to beat you so he had to call his friends to do the job for him. Nice move, making up a cheap, feeble excuse just to set yourself up with a rematch. Intelligence, sure, but where's your integrity gone now, Kurt? Accusing an innocent man, just to cling on to this hope that you're still the man around here? Trying to politic your way into regaining that belt, before you've even lost it? Or maybe I'm wrong, maybe...maybe you have already lost it. Up here, in your head. You already know that I should have beaten you at Chaos, that you're lucky to be standing there right now still holding that belt. You know as well as I do that it's only a matter of time before the truth comes out. But not the truth about me and the Shield, no, the truth about you. You're not the best in the world anymore Kurt. I am."

Angle doesn't argue right away, Punk looks to have gotten into his head at least a little bit. The scene is broken by John Cena's music, and the man himself heading out to the ramp. Punk is still half way up the ramp, right in the middle of Angle in the ring and Cena on the stage.

Cena: "What did I tell ya, Kurt? This is all down to him, and he's deflecting attention away from himself. He's giving us this smokescreen, trying to get these people to focus on you instead of him. Well I'm not buying it."
Punk: "Listen Cena-"
Cena: "No, you listen! I don't know how you've put up with this man for this long, Kurt. You're a damn saint. I've been here for nine weeks and I'm already sick of the sight of you! There's something seriously wrong with a man who can't admit to his mistakes, stand behind his actions, own his failures and accept when he's been beat. You, Punk, aren't fooling anyone. And I don't even want to hear it anymore, you can keep denying it all you want, just don't think for one second that anybody is going to believe a word you say."
Punk: "That's the difference between you and me, John. I couldn't care less if you believe me or not. I don't do this for you. I don't do this for them. I don't prove that I'm the best in the world to make sick kids happy. Hell, if I want to make sick kids happy all I have to do is wave my hand in front of my face and allow Vince McMahon to plaster my picture on the front of cereal boxes. It's not hard to be a hero. To hell with wrestling, I'll fall back on good genetics and kiss Vince's ass until he gives me everything I ask for. I won't take time off to heal my injuries, I'll just take a handful of gimmicks and get right back out there, because God forbid we go a week without the golden boy's poop jokes to hold the ratings above a 3.0."

Cena looks pissed. He takes his t-shirt off and throws it to the fans, then slowly starts to walk towards Punk. Punk stands his ground.

Punk: "Oh no! Watch out Kurt! The t-shirt is off, he means business now. Meet serious-Cena, he only comes out when he has a big match to promote. But you and I both know that, win or lose, next week he'll be right back out here with a big smile and the same old jokes as always, because the great John Cena can't be seen to take anything seriously for too long."

Cena and Punk are face to face now, Cena is snarling with anger.

Punk: "Because if John Cena takes life seriously, he might look like a hypocrite when he tells the sick kids that everything's going to be ok."

Punk hits the floor hard as Cena delivers a stiff right hand to the jaw. Security flood down the ramp to hold Cena back while he struggles against them. Punk stays on the ground, a little blood trickling from his lip. He actually smiles as he watches Cena being dragged away, and picks up his pipe bomb.

Punk: "You know what Cena? You're right. I'm sick of this too. Let's get this over with. You and me, one on one, tonight. And for what it's worth - Shield? If you're listening, I'm ordering you not to come help me out. Happy now?"

Angle hops down to the floor and shows a lot of restraint as he tries not to punch Punk too.

Tink. Tink tink. A fingernail taps the camera lens as we cut backstage.

AJ: "Hello? Is this on?"

AJ Lee steps back a bit and it looks like we're in the interview area. She has the Nexettes with her, and is wearing the womens championship belt that is way too big for her.

AJ: "Ok, good. Where's Borash anyway? Shouldn't he be here? Doesn't matter. Hey girls! I know you're watching. I just wanted to let you all know that I've just had a match signed that you'll all be interested in. See, apparently I need to defend this belt at least once every eight weeks, and I'm not allowed to just name my own opponent. Sucks, I know. So here's what's going to happen. We'll have a fatal four way match to decide who gets the honour of facing me at Unbroken! Yay, right?! It'll be Gail Kim, versus Naomi Knight, versus Brie Bella, versus Layla! I'm sure you'll all have a super fun time deciding how to get out of this, drawing straws, maybe? If so, good luck Brie! You'll need it. If you draw the long straw, do you really think Gail will let you take the shot? Even if she does, I know Naomi too well to believe she'll just give it up. See girls, what you're looking at is a group of real friends. A group of sisters who are united for a common cause. You four, you're just the remains of a broken locker room, the last few who refuse to give up. And now you're so weak you don't even have to worry about us anymore, you have to worry about yourselves. Can you, Layla, really trust Gail? Naomi, do you really think Brie has accepted you? Well, my time here is up, so you girls have a great night because next week, the IFW divas are done. Resistance is futile."

We quickly cut to the divas locker room, where Layla, Brie and Naomi are all looking at each other with worried faces. They assure each other that they'll all stick together. Meanwhile, Gail looks on with an emotionless expression, not getting involved with either sticking with her girls or turning against them.

Ok, after all that, it's time for the first match of the night. And what a match it is! Randy Orton is out first and is soon joined by John Morrison. We're shown that Kurt Angle is back out to join JR and Taz on commentary.

JR: "We have a special guest for this next match, IFW champion Kurt Angle."
Taz: "Kurt, my man!"
Angle: "How are you, gentlemen?"
JR: "What brings you out back out here so soon?"
Angle: "I've got a lot of people gunning for my title Jim. Right now I can leave Cena to handle Punk, but I can't turn my back on Mister Money In The Bank."
Taz: "Listen, champ. Between you and me, what are you thinking about what Punk said earlier?"
Angle: "I can't focus on that right now Taz. I got Morrison out here, and...right on cue, here's the Shield."

Ambrose, Rollins and Reigns emerge through the audience, surrounding the ring. Orton lunges at Ambrose, who jumps back down allowing Rollins and Reigns to attack from behind.

Match 1 - The Shield (w/ Dean Ambrose) v Randy Orton & John Morrison
- Orton takes the first beating, but it doesn't last too long before he makes a short comeback and tags Morrison. Morrison hits a few flashy moves to Rollins, who bumps huge for him. Reigns tags in and soon enough Morrison is on the defensive, bumping and selling hard for the Shield as they tag in and out. Orton is growing more and more impatient on the apron, willing Morrison to make the hot tag, but the Shield are doing a great job of keeping him isolated. After an extended period of beating Morrison down, Reigns sends him into the ropes and lifts for a sidewalk slam on the return, which Morrison counters by flipping right up onto Reigns' shoulder and spinning into a DDT. Rollins storms the ring to prevent the tag from being made, but Morrison catches him with a superkick and dives to tag in Orton.
The Viper explodes into the ring, nailing both Shield members with clotheslines and then connects with a headlock backbreaker to Reigns. Rollins throws a lariat but Orton ducks and catches him with a snap powerslam on the return, then falls to the canvas to signal for the end. Orton leaps up to hit Reigns, but Reigns shoves him away in mid-air and Orton somehow ends up catching Rollins with the RKO instead. Ambrose has seen enough and decides it's time to get involved. He hops up to the apron, distracting the referee but also catching the attention of the IFW champion. Angle leaves the announce table and pulls Ambrose down, trading blows with him on the floor. Ambrose reverses an Irish whip, sending Angle into the ring steps.
Orton ducks a big boot from Reigns which hangs the big man up on the top rope. Orton shoves him down to the apron and pulls him through into his elevated DDT. Orton stalks for the RKO again, but Morrison is back up and he wants to tag back in. Orton reluctantly makes the tag, but suddenly goes for the RKO anyway. Reigns shoves him away a second time as Morrison springboards into the ring with a crossbody. He follows up with a big running knee to the head and his flare leg drop. Reigns pushes to his knees and Morrison takes him out with the moonlight drive, then heads to the corner for starship pain. He leaps high, but the move doesn't connect as Rollins is back and holds Morrison's legs from the outside, hanging him up in a tree of woe. Reigns clotheslines Orton to the outside, then gives Morrison a charging knee strike in the corner, pulling him up and lifting him onto his shoulders. Reigns tags Rollins in with Morrison still up, and Rollins hits a springboard knee strike to Morrison's head, dropping him to the canvas for the one, two, three.
Winners: The Shield

Ambrose lays the last couple of boots to Angle before rolling into the ring to celebrate with his boys. Orton is back up and wants to attack, but he knows what the result will be and has to back away for now.

We head backstage to Borash's interview area now, the man himself is standing by.

JB: "Ladies and gentlemen, my guest at this time is the Pope, D'Angelo Dinero. Pope, a few weeks ago at Chaos you came up short in a silver title match against the undefeated Ezekiel Jackson. With that behind you, what are your plans for the future?"
Dinero: "JB, I'd be lying if I said I knew, daddy. The Pope takes each day and each opportunity as it comes. But I can tell you one thing, the Pope ain't gonna be sitting back. Nah. Big Zeke is bad, but he ain't the Pope. Streaks were made to be broken JB."
JB: "You're planning to take on Jackson again?"
Dinero: "Nah, nah, I didn't say that now did I? All Pope is sayin', and listen up here, is that next time around, things ain't gonna be the same. I'm going up, and sooner or later I'm gonna have to pass some road blocks, nah mean? I have no doubt, Pope will run into Jackson again. Pope will run into Angle. Pope will run into the IFW elite, daddy, and Pope will pimp slap each and every one of them."
JB: "So you're putting the entire locker room on notice, Pope is taking on all comers?"
Dinero: "Now you're getting it JB. Pope don't call out nobody, suckas call out the Pope."
JB: "Well, there you have it. JR, Taz, back to-"
Dinero: "Woah woah woah! What you doin'? I ain't done."
JB: "Oh. I'm sorry, go ahead."
Dinero: "Now what's that tone for? You think Pope is being unreasonable? Huh? You think you're better than the Pope?"
JB: "That's not...I didn't..."
Dinero: "'Uh, tha-tha-tha-that's not' - Shut your mouth, cracka! You wanna disrespect the Pope, huh? You wanna disrespect me?"

Pope raises his hand to Borash, threatening to give him a backhand pimp slap. Making the save is, surprisingly, JTG, who slowly walks up to them and puts his arm over JB's shoulders.

JTG: "Problem?"
Dinero: "Problem? You asking the Pope if there's a problem?"
JTG: "You heard."
Dinero: "Oh. Oh. I don't think you know who you're talking to, boy!"
JTG: "Actually, daddy, I know exactly - what - I'm talking to."

Dinero's eyes grow wide in disbelief that someone would dare stand up to him. JTG is super calm though, letting Pope rage himself out.

Dinero: "You want to do this, huh? You're gonna do this?"
JTG: "Pope, you do what you gotta do. I'm just here to talk to my boy JB. You wanna make this a thing, we'll make it a thing."
Dinero: "You got nerve, boy. You ain't heard the last of this."

Dinero backs away, leaving JTG with Borash.

JB: "Thanks, J."
JTG: "Ain't nothin'. Look, I know you don't have much time so I'll make this short. Last week Vinny Mac told me that I have to start making my own breaks around here. Man's right. So here's the deal. You keep watching this man, and this man will keep giving you something to watch. Chyea!"

JTG bounces.

Back to the ring, Los Colóns are at ringside while Carlito is in the ring waiting for his opponent. It's Big E Langston, who claps his hands together and makes a huge chalk cloud.

Match 2 - Big E Langston v Carlito Colón (w/ Los Colóns)
- Langston makes short work of Carlito, who only manages a little token offence before being flattened with the big ending.
Winner: Big E Langston

Langston holds for another few seconds after the fall is counted, then stands up and has his hand raised. Simple as that.

Silver champion Ezekiel Jackson is in his dressing room packing up his stuff. No idea why, he hasn't done anything tonight. There's a knock on the open door, where Brian Kendrick is standing.

Jackson: "'Sup?"
Kendrick: "Oh, nothing. Nothing much."
Jackson: "What is it?"
Kendrick: "It's just last week, all that with Heath Slater. He's gone but Jinder and David are still here."
Jackson: "So?"
Kendrick: "You think it's over?"
Jackson: "Don't care. If they want more, I'll handle it."
Kendrick: "Sure. Sure..."
Jackson: "Ok, what is it?"
Kendrick: "Nothing. It's nothing."
Jackson: "Brian. Say it."
Kendrick: "Ok, look. I helped you fight those guys off last week, and I'd do it again! I just...it's that title."
Jackson: "What about it?"
Kendrick: "You've gotta defend it at Unbroken, right? And if Otunga gets the shot and I'm not there to help out..."
Jackson: "And why wouldn't you be there?"
Kendrick: "No reason. No reason. Just, you know, it could happen."
Jackson: "What's your point?"
Kendrick: "Just saying, man. You could always...nah, don't worry about it."
Jackson: "You want the shot?"
Kendrick: "Aww, you'd do that for me? Thanks man. This match should be great."
Jackson: "Hey, I wasn't offering."
Kendrick: "Oh. You weren't? I mean, I just thought, because I saved you last week and everything..."
Jackson: "Fine. You want the shot? You can have it."

Kendrick looks happy, big smile and punching the air. Jackson grabs his bag, throws it over his shoulder and heads out. He stops as he passes Kendrick.

Jackson: "I just thought you were better than this."

The champ leaves. Kendrick looks contemplative for a second, but as soon as Zeke has gone he's right back to being super excited about the match.

Back to the ring now, Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin are in the ring with the tag belts and microphones.

Haas: "I'm gonna keep this short. Bubba, Devon, get your fat asses out here."

Soon enough, the red pyro shoots from the lighting rig and the Dudleyz wander out.

Haas: "I don't--"
Bully: "Do you know who I am?"
Haas: "I don't know if-"
Bully: "I said do you know who I am?"
Haas: "Shut up! I don't-"
Bully: "No! No! No! You shut up! You shut up and listen to us!"

As usual, Bubba shouts over everyone else until he gets his way.

Bully: "Do you know who we are? We're the freakin' Dudley Boyz! You don't call us out, we call you out!"
Haas: "I couldn't have put it better myself. If you hadn't noticed, we're the tag team champions right now. It's you that wants to get where we are right now."
Bully: "Are you serious? Devon, is he serious? You think we wanna be you? That's the single most stupid thing I ever heard."
Benjamin: "Why's that? Look at us! We're the most successful tag team champions this company has ever seen. Longest reigning, most defences, we're the best damn tag team in the world today!"
Bully: "That's exactly it. You're the best in this company. You're the best today. We're the best there has ever been! The best in any company in the world, the greatest of all time! 23 time tag team champions, you know what that means? It means you're about 18 short. You think we wanna be where you are? Nu-uh. You wanna be where we are."
Haas: "You can dig up history all you want Bubba. I'm not taking anything away from all you've accomplished, I wouldn't want to. I want the world to know how great Team 3D is, because-"
Bully: "Oh, so you can look even better when you beat us? Newsflash, moron! You can't beat us! It ain't gonna happen!"
Benjamin: "We don't need you to believe it right now, you'll see soon enough. You'll see just how good we are. You'll see how a real tag team operates. You'll see first hand how to be the world's greatest tag team, and not have to use - single - table."
Haas: "I don't know if you realise where you are right now boys. This isn't ECW. This isn't TNA. You see John Cena walking around backstage - John freakin' Cena! - not being given anything just because of who he is. This tag division, our tag division, is no different. This ring doesn't care about your 23 tag titles, putting people through tables doesn't fly around here."
Bully: "You know what will fly? Your mouth, when I come down there and slap it off your face. You think we need tables to beat you? We don't. We don't put people through tables because we have to, we do it because we like it. You wanna show us how a real tag team operates? You go right ahead. We've taken on a hundred tag teams like you before, just two guys who think holding belts makes you the best. You know what happened? Every single time, we left them laying. You think you're gonna show us something we haven't seen before? Allow me to repay the favour. Look, up there."

Bubba points up to the lighting rig above the ring.

Bully: "Get used to 'em boys, you'll be seeing them again real soon."
Devon: "Oh mah brother, testify!"

Team 3D leaves, laughing to themselves at the champs trying to reprimand them for using tables. Idiots. Haas and Benjamin know they're about to face the biggest challenge of their title reign so far, but are ready for it.

Vince McMahon is in his office, doing some paperwork with his reading glasses on. Suddenly the door swings open and standing there with his arms stretched out wide is the Nature Boy, Ric Flair.

Flair: "Vinnie! It's been too long, brother!"
McMahon: "Ric! I wasn't expecting you. How are you?"
Flair: "Don't you worry about me, the Nature Boy always bounces back."
McMahon: "Trust me Ric, I know that. So what are you doing here?"
Flair: "What am I doing? I work here! And Vinnie, I got you one hell of a main event tonight, brother."
McMahon: "Ric, I've already booked a main event for tonight. John Cena is taking on CM Punk."
Flair: "Ok, how about a tag match? I gotta say, I'm a big fan of those Heatseekers."
McMahon: "They're out of action, the Dudley Boyz put them through tables last week. But I do have a tag match up next, Jinder Mahal and David Otunga are debuting against the Dudebusters."
Flair: "Well, uh...it sounds like you've got everything covered!"
McMahon: "I do, Ric."
Flair: "So...what do I do?"
McMahon: "Take the night off. Go enjoy yourself like only the Nature Boy can."
Flair: "I...I can do that. Ok, sure. Deal. I'll see you next week Vince."
McMahon: "Actually Ric, maybe you should take next week off too. I have a lot set up."
Flair: "S...sure. Ok. I, I get it. I'll, um, I'll just wait for your call. Thanks Vince."

Flair leaves the room looking dejected. Vince sighs. There's no nice way to tell someone they're not needed.

Back to the ring now, and Trent Barreta and Caylen Croft are posing on the turnbuckles. Mahal and Otunga come out next, wearing matching gear like an actual tag team.

Match 3 - Dudebusters v David Otunga & Jinder Mahal
- The Dudebusters start out pretty strong, clearly the experience edge is working for them. They get some highspots in on Mahal and look to be the better team, but Mahal cuts Barreta off with a thumb to the eye and tags Mahal in. They work over Barreta for a little while, until he finally makes the hot tag to Croft but Otunga kicks the middle rope as Croft steps through, crotching Croft and leaving him open to a small package for the quick win.
Winners: David Otunga & Jinder Mahal

The jobber tag team actually got a win here. Nice!

We're in catering now, where there are a series of tables with various crew and on-air talent eating things. Austin Aries is sitting opposite Summer Rae, they both have some kind of salad.

Aries: "So I told him I'd think about it. Then I came out later, pretended I'd help out but kicked him in the balls instead. Cost him the match. It made sense, because he had more points than the others."

Aries trails off when he realises Summer isn't listening. She's twirling her hair between her fingers while gazing off into the distance. Aries looks over his shoulder to find out what Summer is staring at. It's Paul London, who is on the table behind Aries. He sighs.

Aries: "Right."

Aries stands up, turns around and sits opposite London.

Aries: "Paul."
London: "Austin."
Aries: "I don't know if you realise this, but we're trying to have a moment here."
London: "That's good. I hope it goes well."
Aries: "I know what you're doing."
London: "I know you do. I'm eating. We're in catering, it's no secret."
Aries: "Look, whatever happened between you two before is over. She's with me now."
London: "Congratulations. Now can I get back to my food?"
Aries: "I'll make this clear to you. I want you to leave."
London: "You want me to leave?"
Aries: "Yes."
London: "Like, just get up and go?"
Aries: "Yes."
London: "In the middle of my meal?"
Aries: "Take it with you, I don't care."
London: "Ok."

London stands up, picks up his plate and walks away. Aries sighs a second time, slowly standing up and turning to find...Paul London sitting in his seat opposite Summer Rae. They're talking quietly to each other, Summer looks happy. Aries clenches his teeth and sits back down, giving up for now.

Hunico and Camacho have their first TV time in ages as they're walking backstage. They pass Curt Hawkins and Lance Archer, who are sitting on some storage crates. Hawkins is eating a bag of cherries. Why not? Hawkins says something to Archer as Hunico and Camacho pass by, and they laugh a bit. Hunico grabs Camacho's arm to stop him, and they both turn to confront the Heatseekers.

Hunico: "Somethin' funny, esé?"
Hawkins: "Oh, don't mind us, esé."
Hunico: "Esé? You callin' me esé, esé?"
Hawkins: "I wasn't talking about writing an essay, esé."
Archer: "He wasn't talking about the rattlesnake, SCSA, esé."
Hawkins: "If you've got a problem, you bes' say, esé."
Hunico: "You boys got jokes, huh? You think it's funny, vato?"
Hawkins: "Little bit, esé."
Hunico: "Let's see how funny you think it is when I break that face."
Hawkins: "Are you kidding me? That would be hysterical."
Hunico: "You loco, esé?"
Hawkins: "No esé. I just find it funny that you're making threats like that when you can't even beat Primo Colón."

Hunico lunges at Hawkins but Camacho holds him back. Hawkins munches another cherry, and spits the stone at Hunico. Hunico struggles against Camacho's grip, but Archer steps forward to defend Hawkins. It Camacho lets Hunico go and stands up to Archer himself.

Hunico: "Let's go esé! Let's do this!"

Hawkins casually drops off the crate onto his feet and pats Archer on the shoulder as a signal to leave.

Hawkins: "Calm down, your hair will fall out."
Archer: "No need to get so stress-ay, esé."

Camacho holds Hunico back again as the Heatseekers leave.

Back to the arena for the final time, here's the main event! And we have loads of time left, so you know this is going long. First out is CM Punk, who looks to be all business here. He rubs his chin a little, still selling the big right hand from Cena earlier tonight. He does his poses on the turnbuckle and then drops to ringside as Cena does his sprint and poses. Oh, but he says something stupid about a barbecue party to the stage cameraman before he does. Punk gets back into the ring and Cena switches to serious mode. They trash talk to each other a bit as the bell rings.

Match 4 - John Cena v CM Punk
- The match starts off as a brawl, both guys clearly hate each other and have something to prove with a victory here. Cena overpowers Punk and gets the early offence. Punk grabs a rear waistlock which Cena counters into one of his own. Punk backs Cena up into a corner and throws a few blind elbows, then connects with his running step-up knee lift and bulldog. The momentum has swung, and Punk plays the heel as he gets his heat on Cena. A few minutes pass with Cena only getting a right hand here and there as Punk dominates. Punk nails Cena with the PUNK rush, hitting the ropes and looking for a big busaiku knee kick, but Cena takes him out with a diving shoulder block. Cena hits the ropes for a second, then again for a third but Punk drops down and sends Cena flailing to the canvas. Punk stomps Cena a few times and drags his head out under the bottom rope onto the apron. He clubs his upper back and shoulder a few times, then backs up to deliver a running knee lift to the face. Cena rolls back in and tries to stand, only to be taken out with Punk's springboard clothesline.
Punk gestures that it's time to go to sleep, but Cena shuffles out of the firemans carry and kicks Punk in the midsection to bend him over. Cena hits the ropes and connects with the throwback, then begins his comeback routine. Punk swings a wild right hand for Cena to duck and counter into the spinning back suplex slam thing, then his five knuckle shuffle. Punk rolls away from the fist drop and staggers to his feet, but turns to be flattened with a big haymaker and then takes the fist drop anyway. Cena is on fire here and is stalking Punk as he uses the ropes to stand. Punk is on the ramp side of the ring, so he sees the Shield coming out to help and waves them off, telling them to back away. They reluctantly obey, heading to the back through the side entrance. Punk groggily turns around and Cena hoists him up into the firemans carry, but Punk escapes and hits the big roundhouse kick.
Both men are down for an eight count, when they both just about find a vertical base. They trade weak punches back and forth, until Punk ducks one and fires a kick to the abdomen, and another, and then a third. Punk pulls Cena in for a double underhook backbreaker, the 'welcome to Chicago,' which he hasn't used in years. He then drags himself to the corner where he slowly climbs, points to the sky and then gets cut off by Cena as he lunges into the ropes to cut Punk off. Cena pulls Punk off the top into the firemans carry and nails the AA. He falls into the cover for one...two...but where's three? Punk doesn't kick out, but the referee isn't there anymore. He's in a heap on the outside, and when Cena looks between the ropes to check on him an intruder hits the ring. It's JTG. Cena turns around and is taken out by JTG's shout out, better known as Tanahashi's sling blade. JTG makes some gun gesture as a taunt and quickly bounces before a second referee can come out to call for a DQ, getting out just in time as the replacement arrives. Punk crawls and flops into a cover for the stolen victory.
Winner: CM Punk

Punk has his hand raised despite having a hard time standing up straight as his ribs are hurting, but he's going to celebrate this win like he earned it anyway. He poses on the turnbuckles while Cena rolls out of the ring and recovers enough to work out what happened. He's disappointed, but notably not all that angry because he's John Cena. The show fades out with CM Punk, our number one contender, standing victorious.