No Way Out 2012 Preview
A deranged monster’s dark fury has added even more fuel to one of WWE’s most explosive rivalries.
Executive Vice President of Talent Relations and General Manager of Raw and SmackDown John Laurinaitis dropped a bombshell on the June 1 episode of SmackDown: WWE Champion CM Punk will defend his title at No Way Out in a Triple Threat Match against both Daniel Bryan and Kane.
The impetus behind this shocking announcement can be traced directly back to the nefarious actions of Bryan, himself. In recent weeks, WWE’s “Yes” man attempted to use Kane as a pawn in his ongoing conflict with the WWE Champion. The Big Red Monster is hardly the type to be exploited, however, and it wasn’t long before his fiery presence would intensify what was already an open – and volatile – hostility between Punk and Bryan.
In a battle between fierce competitors who have known each other for nearly 10 years, Punk barely fended off Bryan at WWE Over the Limit last month – getting the pinfall nanoseconds before tapping out to the excruciating pain of the “Yes!” Lock. Bryan’s near-victory against the long-tenured champion made it all but inevitable that he would get another opportunity at the greatest prize in WWE.
In his struggle to gain even the smallest advantage over The Best in the World, blinded by his desire for championship gold, Bryan sold his soul to the devil – actually, The Devil’s Favorite Demon. Tricking Kane to turn the monster’s fury against Punk, Bryan meddled with a force he couldn’t possibly control. On the May 18 episode of SmackDown, he repeatedly hammered Kane in the back with a steel chair before fleeing and leaving the WWE Champion to take the blame. The ploy worked in the short-term, as Punk sustained a brutal beating at Kane’s hands, but Bryan must now face the music for his machinations.
The Big Red Monster refuses to bend to the will of any Superstar, and his fiery rage may consume both Punk and Bryan. The masked force of nature brings brutality, cold-bloodedness and raw power to a rivalry that, thus far, has been defined primarily by agility, technique and heart.
As if the terrorizing presence of Kane and the innate chaos of a Triple Threat Match weren’t challenging enough, Punk’s No Way Out title defense is exacerbated by a fourth individual, someone who likely won’t even be competing that night. AJ – the not-so-secret admirer of Punk and the unbalanced ex-girlfriend of Bryan – is a wild card in an already unpredictable situation. Will her infatuation with the champion or her abhorrence of the submission specialist come into play at the explosive pay-per-view? Maybe Punk’s greatest threat isn’t a “Yes!” Lock or a chokeslam, but a woman scorned.
As WWE Champion CM Punk’s reign nears 200 days, will it come crashing down in flames, or can The Second City Savior defend his title against two very different – yet equally dangerous – opponents?
6/2/12 Power 25
This Week: 6
Movement: ^
Last Week: 7
The Big Red Monster — intentionally or not — is now mired in the WWE Championship hunt and bumps up one spot on the rankings as his rivalry with both CM Punk and Daniel Bryan intensifies.
6/1/12 Friday Night Smackdown Results
WWE Champion CM Punk vs. Kane’s WWE TItle Match ended in a No Contest
After embarrassing General Manager John Laurinaitis on Monday’s Raw SuperShow four days earlier, CM Punk would have to put his WWE Championship on the line against Kane — in the first WWE Title Match on SmackDown in four years!
Prior to the match, Punk predicted that The Best in the World would make The Devil’s Favorite Demon Go to Sleep. In the heated showdown that followed, however, things would not prove that cut and dry. Although Kane had not held WWE’s top prize in 14 years, his true priority from the word go was the same as it always was – inflicting pain and anguish on anyone who dared to step in his path.
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5/28/12 Monday Night RAW Results
Daniel Bryan def. WWE Champion CM Punk in a Non-Title Match
Things are really starting to get interesting between CM Punk and Daniel Bryan, and we’re not even talking about the stellar action in the ring. Punk and Bryan hammered away at each other in this back-and-forth contest with kicks, submissions and high-risk maneuvers. Midway through the match, though, Bryan’s ex-girlfriend AJ came out to the ring wearing Punk’s official T-shirt and began to cheer on The Straight Edge Superstar.
After Bryan took advantage by wrenching Punk’s left arm repeatedly, Punk found a second wind and mounted a rally, but the submission specialist seized the momentum again by nailing a punishing superplex. Bryan then took one of the turnbuckle covers off and AJ scrambled to tell the referee that Bryan was trying to cheat. As The Second City Savior shot AJ a disapproving glare, Bryan used the extra time to recover, planted Punk into the exposed turnbuckle and pinned the WWE Champion in the Non-Title Match.
After the exhausting battle, Kane drove a steel chair into Bryan’s back and chokeslammed him onto it, getting payback for Bryan’s assault on last week’s SmackDown. Kane prepared to go after Punk next, but AJ came to The Straight Edge Superstar’s rescue and slid him a steel chair so he could defend himself. Punk laid into The Big Red Machine with blow after blow of the steel chair as AJ watched and smiled.
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5/26/12 Power 25
This Week: 8
Movement: -
Last Week: 8
Despite a commanding win over Zack Ryder at WWE Over the Limit, Kane could not find a way to get the win in a Triple Threat No. 1 Contender’s Match on SmackDown.
5/25/12 Friday Night Smackdown Results
Eve made a Triple Threat World Title No. 1 Contender’s Match
In a fast-paced Triple Threat main event, the resourceful Alberto Del Rio stole the right to challenge World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus at No Way Out. Meanwhile, Daniel Bryan delivered an earth-shattering onslaught to The Big Red Monster Kane.
John Laurinaitis’ Executive Administrator Eve opened SmackDown, reiterating the point that – after “cementing his physical superiority” by pinning John Cena at WWE Over the Limit – “Mr. Excitement” is still the General Manager of Raw and SmackDown. Revealing that an international WWE business trip would keep the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations from being on SmackDown, she reassured one and all that she had been left in charge of the action.
While informing the WWE Universe that “Big Johnny” would deal will Cena on Monday night’s Raw SuperShow, the Diva-in-charge announced that World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus would be giving a public apology later in the show for shoving his injured boss four days earlier.
However, before Eve could continue, Del Rio, Randy Orton and Kane all interrupted, each giving a very compelling argument as to why they should be the next Superstar to face The Great White for his illustrious championship gold. In response, the Executive Administrator announced a Triple Threat World Title main event between them to determine Sheamus’ new No. 1 contender.
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5/21/12 Monday Night RAW Results
Kane def. Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan is not a happy camper. The irate submission specialist showed the crowd photos of his WWE Over the Limit match against CM Punk, alleging that the WWE Champion tapped out to the “Yes!” Lock before Punk notched the pinfall. The Straight Edge Superstar retorted that the count of 1-2-3 obviously happened first, which makes any submission afterward irrelevant. To be fair, as announcer Michael Cole pointed out, Bryan still proved to the WWE Universe that he could make the WWE Champion tap out.
The Second City Savior then revealed that Bryan’s next opponent would be none other than Kane! With Punk dishing out some running commentary, Bryan did his best to wear down The Big Red Monster. But as Punk toyed with Bryan on the outside, Kane used the extra time to recover, then drove the former World Heavyweight Champ into the mat with a massive chokeslam for the victory. Following the match, Punk added insult to injury by locking Bryan in an excruciating Anaconda Vise.
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Over The Limit Pre-Show Results
Kane def. Zack Ryder
Zack Ryder had a perfect opportunity to find retribution for Kane’s devastating attack earlier this year after The Big Red Monster nearly ended Long Island Iced-Z’s career. However, on the WWE Over the Limit YouTube Pre-Show, Ryder failed to overcome the odds and was subsequently decimated at the hands of The Devil’s Favorite Demon.
The bout wasn’t completely one sided, though. Broskis inside Raleigh’s PNC Arena fist pumped in support of the self-proclaimed Internet Champion as he tried to build momentum against The Big Red Monster. Early on, Ryder did his best to stay aggressive, but even with the WWE Universe and the YouTube faithful in his corner, Zack Ryder had one clear disadvantage against Kane– experience.
A 15-year veteran inside a WWE ring, Kane has locked up with Legends and WWE Hall of Famers every bit as fast, agile and popular as Long Island Iced-Z. After numerous battles against everyone from Rey Mysterio to Mark Henry, Kane remains unfazed by just about every WWE Superstars he faces.
The Big Red Monster came to Raleigh, N.C. with one goal in mind – ruin Ryder’s night. From the moment the opening bell sounded, this rivalry was reignited after months of Ryder’s recovery and subsequent battles to build his confidence to the point where he was ready for Kane.
Long Island Iced-Z proved that he was back at full strength and ready for a battle. Throughout the contest, he managed to keep momentum shifts even, a daunting task for anyone challenging The Big Red Monster. However, with momentum seemingly in his corner, Ryder’s efforts were for naught as a powerful chokeslam served as a painful reminder of the torment he suffered at the hands of Kane earlier this year.
Ever since that agonizing Monday night in February when Kane sent a wheelchair-bound Ryder off the entrance stage, Long Island Iced-Z has not been the same. Much of his trouble has stemmed from Eve, whose new position with Raw and SmackDown General Manager John Laurinaitis could only make his life worse.
Although Kane claimed victory at WWE Over the Limit, Zack Ryder’s impressive effort against The Big Red Monster certainly proved that he is serious, bro.
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5/19/12 Power 25
This Week: 8
Movement: ^
Last Week: 9
The Big Red Monster benefits from the Raw and SmackDown fallout after collecting a victory over the fired Big Show on the former and another win via disqualification against CM Punk on the latter.
5/18/12 Friday Night Smackdown Results
Kane def. WWE Champion CM Punk in a Non-title Match by Disqualification
In a match ordered by General Manager John Laurinaitis at the opening of SmackDown, CM Punk took on the ruthless Devil’s Favorite Demon Kane – with Daniel Bryan joining the SmackDown announce team to scout out his WWE Over the Limit adversary.
In a completely brutal back-and-forth onslaught that saw The Big Red Monster punish Punk’s ribs throughout, the resilient Straight Edge Superstar fought back with unyielding determination – using his “educated feet” to strike at the heart of his horrific foe.
When the action spilled outside the ring, however, the “observing” Bryan picked up a steel chair. But instead of striking the champion, the crafty Superstar smashed Kane across the back, assuring that Punk would lose by disqualification before hightailing it up the ramp.
Recovering in time to see Punk holding the chair in question, Kane used the weapon to unleash an onslaught of absolute mayhem on The Second City Saint, capped off by two earth-shattering chokeslams.
Will the beating Punk endured give Bryan the advantage heading into his WWE Title Match this Sunday?
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