WWE: Why CM Punk Will Defeat the Rock at the Royal Rumble PPV

The wait for the much-anticipated WWE Championship match between The Rock and CM Punk is less than three weeks away, and the Jan. 7 edition of Monday Night Raw saw two of the greatest talkers on the WWE microphone at their best.

Now the question arises as to whether we will see the end of Punk's long championship reign. There is also some speculation regarding a John Cena vs. The Rock rematch for the WWE Championship.

But there are a lot of reasons why I feel that CM Punk will continue his championship reign en route to WrestleMania at MetLife Stadium.

The biggest reason is that The Rock has not really been on television for months. I have a hard time picturing Rocky in a main event match almost a year after his last appearance in action.

But Punk has been keeping himself relevant, even through his knee injury.

I also think that there is a better storyline in the works as we speak. This includes the return of another Paul Heyman guy.

I honestly see a five-star match that will go about 20 minutes before The Shield tries to interfere. The Rock will clear the ring before Brock Lesnar runs out to cause the distraction and allow Punk to get the G.T.S. for the win.

This will set up a 2002 SummerSlam rematch between The Rock and Lesnar for WrestleMania.

And where does that leave for the longest reigning WWE Champion in the modern era?

I'm sure that I won't be the first or last person to predict that Punk will face The Undertaker in a "Title vs. Streak" main event.

While I could see an argument for Brock Lesnar or John Cena getting their chance to end the streak, CM Punk would be more fitting for a true WrestleMania main event.

Think of the buzz that the match would create for fans. Would The Undertaker be given the title, or would the WWE give Punk a push that would automatically make him a Hall of Fame talent.

The road to WrestleMania is always a bumpy ride, and it all begins at the first exit—the Royal Rumble.