WWE SummerSlam 2012: CM Punk Can't Afford Title Loss at Huge PPV

It has been a long time since a CM Punk WWE Championship Match actually felt like a big deal. SummerSlam might not have featured the perfect build for a title match, but since John Cena is involved, it is going to get a lot of attention. 

Still, for all the talk from fans about what might happen with Cena winning the title, why are we so sure that is an inevitability?

Everyone knows that Cena is the No. 1 star in WWE today. He is Vince McMahon's hero and the one who will always be given the push when the company has no idea what to do with itself. 

That said, Punk has clearly made some headway with the people in charge. Think back a few weeks ago to Raw 1,000, when Punk was defending the WWE championship against John Cena. 

Big Show interfered to continue his feud with Cena, but Punk was sitting there able to help Cena and decided against it. Then, Rock came out to help Cena, after Punk walked out of the ring with Cena getting knocked around by Big Show. 

Next thing you know, Punk is in the ring giving Rock the GTS. All of a sudden, Punk looked like he might be the one in the title match with Rock at the Royal Rumble, which is not something anyone would have thought a year ago. 

But SummerSlam is the first step on Punk's journey toward the Rumble. He needs to build up a lot more credibility in the eyes of the fans to look like a star at the Rock's level. Part of the reason the Survivor Series buy rate bombed last year is because no one took Miz and R-Truth seriously. 

Punk is certainly a bigger deal than Miz or Truth, but how much bigger? WWE can't leave behind any doubt about who they are. 

Cena will still be there for Rock at WrestleMania, and he doesn't need the rub in a match like this. Plus, adding Big Show to the match gives WWE an out if Cena doesn't win, because he can lose without being pinned. 

Punk has to win as many big matches as he can over the next four months, if he is, in fact, the opponent WWE has in mind for Rock at the Rumble. SummerSlam has to be his night to shine, even if it means Cena doesn't win the title. 

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