Royal Rumble 2012: 5 Things Learned from CM Punk's Win over Ziggler

While it's arguably the second biggest pay-per-view of the year, the Royal Rumble 2012 was quite underwhelming.

The best match on the card had to be CM Punk vs. Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Title.

It was hard to envision Punk and Ziggler not delivering a really good match as they are two of the better wrestlers in the company.

The company did a good job building the match and it was a mystery if Ziggler would walk out of the PPV with the title.

That didn't happen, and it was especially interesting that John Laurinaitis made sure to get in the ring and make the three count despite the presence of another official.

After a night as big as the Royal Rumble, there were certainly some talking points to take out of last night's title match.

Laurinaitis Probably Won't Be Fired

The biggest storyline heading into the match was whether or not Raw GM John Laurinaitis was going to deny CM Punk the title.

Laurinaitis said on an earlier Raw that he would attempt just that as special guest referee. In response, Triple H to appeared, saying that Laurinaitis's job was under review. The board would rule on Raw to see if Laurinaitis would keep his job.

With that in mind, he did very little to try actually effect the match. Granted, Laurinaitis did delay a three count on a few occasions as he was helping to revive an official on the outside.

Still, it was Laurinaitis who made sure to count to three, no doubt knowing that his supervisors were watching.

WWE Must Not Have Complete Confidence in Dolph Ziggler

It was this time last year that Ziggler faced off with Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship.

The results were the same, but he looked much better in last year's title match than in this one.

That is quite surprising because Ziggler has really improved, especially on the mic. He seems to be at the point where he can carry the company.

WWE must not agree.

It wasn't so much that he lost the match as how he lost it. Punk arguably had him beat on four different occasions.

That doesn't exactly make Ziggler look like the stiffest of competition for Punk.

It doesn't look like these two will continue this program, either, so Ziggler is looking at a move down the card.

Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk at WrestleMania Is Still a Go

In the final Raw before the Royal Rumble, Chris Jericho said it would be the end of the world as we knew it.

Surely that meant he would be winning the Rumble, right?

Not necessarily, as Sheamus dumped him out with the Brogue Kick to win and surprising most everyone who was watching.

Still, this shouldn't throw a monkey wrench into something that has been much rumored even before Chris Jericho's return: a match between CM Punk and Chris Jericho at WrestleMania 28.

Sheamus is a SmackDown superstar and has had a feud with Daniel Bryan in the past, so he could challenge for the World Heavyweight Title over the WWE Title.

Plus, WWE has to know that a Punk-Jericho match would probably have a much better draw than a Punk-Sheamus match.

John Laurinaitis and CM Punk Aren't Done Yet

Laurinaitis's demeanor plays a perfect foil for CM Punk. Where Punk is brash, arrogant and talented, Laurinaitis is insecure and resents Punk for having everything he never did.

It all makes perfect sense, really.

He has done a good job of becoming the heel authority figure, so fans don't want to see this program with CM Punk end.

And it probably won't, but it will be interesting to see how they use him toward WrestleMania, especially if Chris Jericho will be challenging Punk.

Dolph Ziggler Is Ready to Be WWE Champion

Ziggler has definitely come a long way since his days in the Spirit Squad.

He could be as good as Mr. Perfect one day. Of course, Mr. Perfect is arguably one of the best wrestlers to have never won the WWE Title.

Ziggler might join Perfect in that respect.

But one has to wonder why he has never gotten a run as champion.

He really has the total package: looks, ability and charisma. While he did kind of need the rub from Vickie Guerrero to get him heat, Ziggler is definitely past that point.

Even in the rumble match, Ziggler had a good interaction with Kharma and really sold her implant buster well.

How much longer must Dolph Ziggler wait before he gets the proper recognition from WWE?