WWE SummerSlam 2012 Results: CM Punk's Sly Win Perfect Setup for John Cena Feud

It took a few weeks before CM Punk decided to go full-heel, but now that he is there, nothing can stop him from becoming the best villain in the WWE today.

However, before we move too far ahead, it is important to look at the single biggest moment that led us down this path.

SummerSlam. 

Despite Punk retaining his title in the triple-threat match against Big Show and John Cena, it was clear that Cena was the one who was there to win the match and the WWE championship. 

What Punk did—and the creative team deserves credit for this—is create a way for the main feud that will carry the company through the remainder of the year to continue without just deciding to put two wrestlers in a match.

After all, this happens a lot in the WWE. 

By having Cena hit the Attitude Adjustment on Big Show, and having Punk dump Cena out of the ring before getting the cover on Show, you set the Cena-Punk rivalry up beautifully. 

Punk was able to come out the next night on Raw and demand that Cena, and everyone else in WWE, start to show him some respect. He did, after all, retain the championship in a match that was designed to put him at a disadvantage. 

It was the 10th straight pay-per-view event at which Punk has walked out as champion. Why wouldn't he want some respect?

When Cena refused to call Punk the best in the world, Punk went after Jerry Lawler, who also refused to say the words. 

Punk is now the heel everyone knew he was going to become after attacking the Rock on the 1,000th episode of Raw. However, it was the way the turn was executed that gives hope for this feud with Cena. 

Punk will now (likely) have to prove himself in a one-on-one match with Cena, who has actually lost the last two pay-per-view singles matches he has had with Punk. 

Punk can rightfully tell the world that he is better than Cena, because he has proven it time and again. Meanwhile, Cena can claim to be the rightful champion, even though Punk took advantage of a situation in the match to retain the belt. 

The execution of the finish of that match was exactly what the WWE needed to properly build the singles feud between Punk and Cena. Hopefully the execution of the angle matches the promise it has right now. 

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