WWE Royal Rumble 2012: Can CM Punk and Dolph Ziggler Recreate Magic?

Two matches have been set so far for the Royal Rumble on January 26th: a WWE Championship match pitting champion CM Punk against challenger Dolph Ziggler with John Laurinaitis as the special guest referee, and, of course, the traditional 30-man Royal Rumble match.

With those being the only matches being announced thus far, let us examine the only title bout we have to look forward to right now.

It's something that has been known as the most prestigious prize in all of sports entertainment.  A quick look at the history of this championship will certify that very statement. 

Some of the greatest athletes in history have held that title.  From Hulk Hogan to Shawn Michaels, and now, CM Punk, who is arguably one of the best pure wrestlers in the WWE. 

Dolph Ziggler is no slouch in the ring himself.  With an amateur background from Kent State, Ziggler puts his body on the line to sell moves and can dish out some amazing spots of his own.

Punk and Ziggler are no strangers to each other. 

On an episode of Raw this past November, Punk and Ziggler were matched up against one another in a champion vs. champion match. 

Consensus dictates that, at the time, Ziggler was only matched up against Punk so he didn't have to defend his United States Championship against Zack Ryder that night.

In hindsight, that match was Ziggler's audition for a push into the main event picture.  Presumably, if Ziggler showed he could put on a great match with one of the top faces of the company, he would be elevated to the top of the Raw card each and every week. If he failed, no harm no foul.

Luckily, Ziggler and Punk put on, quite possibly, the best televised match ever. 

Two great wrestlers made magic on one special Monday night.  There was a story told in 14 minutes.  If you blinked, you may have missed something great. 

This was one of those nights that you're glad you decided to stay in, blow off your friends and watch professional wrestling. 

For the past two weeks, we have once again been granted contests between these two great talents.  Unfortunately, neither of those matches have had the chance to match up with the original. 

Now, we get one more match.  It will be the second time in four contests since Thanksgiving week that the WWE Championship will be on the line.  Ziggler is looking to capture his first real taste of world title gold. 

Punk, however, has a lot more on his mind than just going against Ziggler.

For one, Vickie Guerrero is always a nuisance whenever she is around ringside for any match.  She has the uncanny ability to chime in at the right time in order to save her client, Ziggler, from defeat. 

Two, Punk also has to deal with the man he feels has been trying to hold him back since the minute he became a public face on Raw, John Laurinaitis.

Johnny has become a huge thorn in the side of Punk as of late.  He cost him his WWE title match this past week—although Punk still retained because he lost by count out—and also cost him the match that forced him to battle Ziggler for the title in the first place.

Ironically, Laurinaitis was technically trying to help Punk in both situations.

In the first one, the one that forced Punk to defend this past week, Johnny came out to try to inform the referee of Vickie's interference that the official wasn't able to see. 

Last week, once again, Johnny came out to try and inform the ref about another interference from Vickie.  He was then knocked out onto the top rope. 

Ziggler then shoved Punk to that rope where as soon as Punk reached it, Johnny fell and happened to be holding onto the rope, sending Punk crashing to the floor outside of the ring, leading to the count out.

Much to nobody's surprise, Punk has been none too pleased about Johnny screwing him out of two matches. 

Now, with John as the special guest referee, it seems plausible that Punk will be more focused on his actions in the match rather than Ziggler's.

As much as I hate to say it, given Punk and Laurinaitis' history together, this match could quite possibly be a disappointment.

Laurinaitis being involved with the match might push a side story forward, it could take away from the great wrestling match we all know Punk and Ziggler can create together. 

It's one of those things that we don't want to see happen, but in all likelihood, will happen.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst as I always say.

That's what I'll be doing during this WWE title match.