Royal Rumble 2013: Will CM Punk Lose His Title Due to the Shield Interference?

After their onslaught on the People's Champion during the latest edition of Monday Night Raw, the team of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns—better known as the Shield—have been banned from interfering with the WWE Championship match between current champion CM Punk and his challenger the Rock at this Sunday's Royal Rumble pay-per-view event. 

The announcement was made on Tuesday via a WWE.com update on a supposed injury the Rock had. 

According to the WWE.com update, "Mr. McMahon has added a new stipulation to Sunday’s WWE Championship Match: If The Shield interfere in this bout, Punk will be stripped of his title." 

Ever since the Shield's debut on November 8, 2012 during the Survivor Series pay-per-view, Ambrose, Rollins and Reigns have been instrumental in allowing the 400-plus-days champion CM Punk to retain his title. Could the Shield once again join Punk in the ring? 

With the Rock expected to win the WWE title against CM Punk this weekend, the Shield's intervention at the Royal Rumble could set up the perfect scenario where Punk can both drop the strap and seem like a strong champion. 

If Punk was to lose his title to the Rock as a result of a disqualification—on account of the latest stipulation on their match—he could set up a rematch claiming that he was "robbed" of his title. 

It remains to be seen whether the Shield will have a presence this Sunday, but if CM Punk is to lose his title, what better way than to do so because of outside interference. 

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