WrestleMania 27: CM Punk Vs. Randy Orton Match Breakdown, Faith or Venom?

One week after the 2008 WWE Draft, I sat down expecting new draftees Batista, Rey Mysterio, and Mr. MITB, CM Punk, to make some impactful debuts and set the tone for the rest of 2008.

Legendary RAW Commentator Jim Ross made his way to the ring for his farewell speech.

Good Ol JR was on his way to Smackdown but he would not leave without controversy. Half way into his speech, Edge interrupts JR and insults him to a point where Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder escort JR out.

The Rated R Superstar taunts the RAW fans, stating that Triple H being drafted to Smackdown left RAW without a World Champion.

After Edge soaks in his ego for a short time, he leaves the ring and continues taunting the fans until that familiar tune rang out through the arena.

Saliva’s I Walk Alone.

One night before, Edge cheated his way to a successful World Title defense over the Animal, Batista.

The rage apparent on his face, Batista slowly pursues Edge and despite the pleas by the World Champion, The Animal destroys Edge.

After finishing off the beating with a Batista Bomb, Batista exits the ring only for another familiar tune to soar through the arena. Mr. Money in the Bank, CM Punk, makes his way to the ring with a ref following close behind.

Punk pleads with the ref to speed up the process and after the official announcement, the match begins.

Punk quickly hoists Edge over his shoulders and drops the World Champion with a Go 2 Sleep. Three seconds later, RAW does have a World Champion.

Perhaps the loudest night in my household, as everyone there was a Punk fan.

Mark out

After a failed attempt at an RKO gone wrong and a motorcycle accident, Randy Orton makes his long awaited return to the WWE after breaking his collar bone.

The former WWE Champion insults every Champion on RAW only to bring out reigning World Champion, CM Punk.

After a verbal exchange where Punk (as a face) embarrasses Orton and mentions his motorcycle accident, Orton swallows his pride and leaves the ring.

Later in the night, Punk is eliminated from a Battle Royal and arises at the feet of Orton only for Punk to pour water in his face moments later. Punk leaves ringside with the World title and a confrontation is almost set and stone for another date.

That date would come that Sunday at Unforgiven 2008. The Viper would confront Punk only to be attacked by Legacy and Manu. Despite the efforts of Kofi Kingston, Punk was ultimately beat down and punted in the head.

Punk was scheduled for a Championship Scramble and was deemed unable to compete and was forced to relinquish the World Heavyweight title, which was later won by Chris Jericho.

When Orton returned, Punk slapped the Viper right across the face prompting a match for later in the evening. Orton lost the match after Ted DiBiase interfered. The two had fought on two other occasions, with Orton winning both encounters.

Two years passed and the two never crossed paths again until teaming for Team Orton vs. Team Kingston with Kofi pinning both heels. The heel vs. heel path doesn’t work out too well in the WWE, and it’s all about the draw.

Orton later turned face and CM Punk was traded back to RAW for the Rated R Superstar.

At the Slammy Awards, Punk informed the audience that a fellow wrestler had wronged him, and he would seek revenge. Initially, I predicted Orton to be the target, but the feud with Cena was inevitable.

After things cooled down between Punk and Cena, Punk and the New Nexus cost Randy Orton the WWE Title. The Second City Saint informed Orton that the punt to the skull from Unforgiven was his motivation and it cost Orton a World title.

Turnabout's fair play

Orton and Punk faced off in the Elimination Chamber where Orton initially pinned Punk after he was trapped in the pod door but the RAW GM reinstated Punk into the match and the Chicago native made quick work of Orton and even resorted to using Orton’s mannerisms.

Both men ultimately lost the Chamber match, and the feud continued with the match being announced later in the week.

Orton has taken out each member of New Nexus week by week and it seems as if Punk’s next in line for punt No. 2? That is until last week’s RAW.

The Straight Edge Messiah baited Orton into running to his tour bus only to be cracked in the leg with a wrench.

The Viper is walking around with his leg heavily taped and a punt attempt was thwarted when Orton was unable to continue. Punk capitalized and dropped the Viper with the GTS. Now it seems as if the advantage goes to Punk?

Don’t believe the hype, Orton promised Punk wouldn’t walk out of WrestleMania and knowing WWE Creative, it may come to fruition.

Are Punk’s actions against Orton justified? Yes they are. In this business, it’s an eye for an eye and no matter if it was two years later, Orton deserves everything Punk has done to him since Elimination Chamber.

Match of the night?

Will the New Nexus leader reign supreme? Will the faith Punk wholeheartedly relies on lead him to victory this Sunday?

Or will the Viper finally sink his teeth into Punk and leave the Second City Saint lifeless after a punt to the skull?

Ain’t that a kick in the head?