WWE SummerSlam 2012: WWE Title Match Impresses Despite Not Headlining Card

For the past several months in CM Punk's reign as WWE Champion, the title has not been the headline match on the pay-per-view cards, but yet again that match impressed the WWE Universe.

Punk, John Cena and Big Show are not three guys that would seemingly compliment each other in a triple-threat match, but they defied the odds and put together one heck of a bout.

The Chicago-native superstar came to the ring in pink and black gear a lot like Hall of Famer Bret "The Hitman" Hart's old tights for the event; though Punk ended up resembling him in more ways than one on Aug. 19.

One of great things about Hart during his days in the ring was his ability to wrestle big guys like Yokozuna and Diesel, give a quality match and then do the same the next time out against smaller wrestlers like Shawn Michaels or Razor Ramon.

That's a quality that Punk has shown during his title reign. A quality he showed at SummerSlam against someone as large as Yokozuna in the Big Show and someone in between the size of Michaels and Diesel in John Cena.

Punk is not the only reason this match was enjoyable however, as Cena and Show added some great moments to the bout as well. When those two guys are in the ring together, they simply make one another better and that statement is coming from someone who usually yawns during both wrestlers' respective matches.

Their chemistry together started all the way back in 2004 at WrestleMania XX when Cena defeated Big Show for the United States Championship. Since then they've continued to do great work when put in storylines together.

Usually the parts of Big Show's matches where he dominates can feel a tad boring if he's paired with the wrong person, but Punk and Cena know how to sell for him and that was evident during much of this matchup.

Punk's efforts to knock Show off his feet were done well and the ending itself was perfect for what continues to look like a rather big effort on WWE's part to make the champion a heel once more.

The endings of triple threat in recent history have not seen as many instances where someone has capitalized on one of their opponent's finishing maneuvers so that was an interesting way to end things.

Overall, I continue to scratch my head as to why WWE doesn't go back to the old ways of ending pay-per-views with the company's marquee championship; especially when matches like the SummerSlam bout have become the norm during Punk's title reign. Regardless, yet another pay-per-view and yet another impressive bout in the WWE title match.