WWE News, Punk Out (Day 42): Cena Stands Up for Punk, McMahon Lifts Suspension

Big Nasty will be keeping a running diary of what appear to be CM Punk's final days in WWE (for now).  Reports of Punk's reticence to sign a contract extension seem to point to the fact that he is gearing up to leave the company.

CM Punk has been at the forefront of pro wrestling headlines all week following his now-iconic tirade against WWE. 

Punk was subsequently (kayfabe) suspended for his actions, creating even more intrigue for the already salivating storyline.  WWE's follow up for tonight's RAW, despite the intrigue, is not expected to draw a huge rating. 

RAW had to be pre-taped last week as WWE superstars are currently on a tour of Australia, so many curious wrestling fans have already read the spoilers online to get up-to-the-minute updates on the top storyline in wrestling right now. 

To make matters tougher for the WWE, today marks the anniversary of America's independence, and with a host of families likely out celebrating the Fourth of July, WWE's RAW rating is expected to suffer even more. 

In any event, the Fourth of July RAW should be quite interesting with Vince McMahon now implicated in CM Punk's final angle in WWE for now. 

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - July 4. The show kicked off with a video package of CM Punk's rant from last week.  Many of Punk's more poignant comments about Paul Heyman, John Laurinaitis, and Brock Lesnar were cut out, however Punk's core arguments against Vince McMahon and WWE were highlighted. 

It was announced at the top of the show that there would be a triple threat match between Alberto Del Rio, Rey Mysterio Jr., and R-Truth to name a new no. 1 contender to face Cena at WWE Money in the Bank. 

Cena himself then came out like a house afire, oddly enough in support for CM Punk.  Cena said while he did not agree with the things CM Punk said last week, he was not okay with WWE silencing Punk by suspending him for having an opinion. 

Cena spoke about American's First Amendment rights, and made mention of the fact that WWE has been known to take fans' signs away at events in a TV-PG era. 

He said how he feared for the day when the WWE brass tells him and fans how to dress and how to act at WWE events (a day that came and went well before Cena decided to cut a promo about it), and that he wanted to face CM Punk at WWE Money in the Bank.

The WWE Champion then announced that he had gone over the head of the anonymous GM, and that Vince McMahon was on his way to the arena so that John Cena and the WWE Universe can get some answers from the man himself. 

WWE needs to be careful how they continue to book this angle.  With WWE's top babyface standing up for CM Punk, Punk loses some of his heel heat with the mainstream audience, and if Cena gets Punk reinstated, much of the lucrative bitterness and animosity between the two (namely from Punk) is lost. 

It'll be interesting to see what CM Punk does in the coming days leading up to Money in the Bank to establish himself as a full-blown heel.

After Alberto Del Rio was victorious in the previously advertised triple threat match via submission over Rey Mysterio Jr., the show-long build towards Vince McMahon's arrival had finally come to fruition. 

After strutting out to the Thomas & Mack Center, McMahon got right to business.  McMahon said he suspended CM Punk because he deserved it.  He said he suspended CM Punk because it was what's right for all the fans. 

McMahon touched upon the 'personal story' that CM Punk teased last week, and said he had a personal story for Punk.  He said Punk insisted on being on the cover of magazines, limo services, and a host of premium services that "he wasn't worthy of."

McMahon said he suspended CM Punk because he was a Punk, and as he tried to wrap things up, he was abruptly cut off by Cena.  

Cena said he knows of McMahon to be a fighter.  He said he remembers when McMahon took on Turner, and was willing to fight any and all comers.  Cena then taunted McMahon by calling him "soft," saying his grapefruits had turned to "peach pits," and that maybe it's time to hang it up. 

McMahon then said the real reason he suspended Punk was because he did not want to be embarrassed by having Punk win the WWE Championship and go to another "wrestling" organization. 

Cena then did a good job running down all the reasons why fans would want to tune into Money in the Bank, from handling the hostile Chicago crowd to potentially dropping the title to "the kid who rode on the side of [his] car at WrestleMania 22."

McMahon continued to stand by his point of not wanting to be embarrassed.  Growing annoyed, he told Cena not to piss him off like Hogan.  McMahon went on to say that it was his company, and he does what's right for business. 

Cena took a stand and said that he works to the bone for McMahon and he thought the WWE Championship stood for something.  Cena then defiantly dropped the WWE Championship and walked off. 

McMahon picked up the title and chased down Cena.  He announced that CM Punk was reinstated and he got his match.  He then said that if CM Punk walks out of Chicago with the WWE Championship, he'll walk down the aisle and tell John Cena "You're FIRED!" 

This was a solid follow up to a red hot angle as it did not do too much, and gave viewers plenty more reason to tune in come July 17.  CM Punk off RAW was a nice touch, as WWE avoided the "too much of a good thing" syndrome. 

Next week's go-home RAW from Boston, a historically hot crowd, will certainly be something to behold. 

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