WrestleMania 28 Predictions: CM Punk Has Earned Right to Defeat Chris Jericho

Since WrestleMania XXVII ended last year, no one wrestler has been as important to the WWE as CM Punk, and it hasn't been close. As a result, he deserves to get the win at the greatest showcase in the business this year, going over Chris Jericho for the WWE Title at WrestleMania XXVIII. 

It's not exactly hard to figure out that the WWE is at its best after the New Year. That is when the Monday Night Football schedule ends, and it's also the build to the biggest time of the year, with the Royal Rumble coming in late January and WrestleMania in late March/early April. 

But after WrestleMania, the company is nowhere near as strong. The writing isn't good, the storylines aren't solid, it just seems as though they're stuck in place. That didn't happen this year, at least over the summer. The reason for that is CM Punk, who had the WWE Universe absolutely captivated. 

This moment was the reason for that. 

Yes, John Cena was a nice figurehead for Punk to speak out against and the WWE gave him the freedom to be controversial, but he took advantage of it. 

It seems like a lifetime ago, but that really carried the company through what's normally a lull. He took shots at The Rock, Cena, Stephanie McMahon, Triple H and the WWE brass backstage, and the fans bought completely in to it. 

It didn't stop there. The intrigue lasted all throughout the summer. Punk, of course, beat John Cena at the Money in the Bank PPV, left, came back and then defeated Cena at SummerSlam before eventually falling. At that point, a lot of the magic was gone, but that's a solid two months where Punk dominated the scene, and didn't bore anyone. 

That is something that nobody else can claim over the last year. This isn't to say that they all deserve to be fired or embarrassed, but Punk deserves to be rewarded. There is no greater reward than to have him beat the man who's very similar to him (Jericho) at the company's greatest showcase. 

If they want to try to figure out a way to get the title off of him, do it at Extreme Rules. Heck, do it the next night on RAW. Punk deserves this "WrestleMania moment," which means that his hand should be raised with the WWE Title. 

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