WWE News: Punk Out (Day 7); Rey Mysterio Jr. Gets Revenge Win over CM Punk

Big Nasty will be keeping a running diary of what appear to be CM Punk's final days in WWE (for now).  Reports of Punk's reticence to sign a contract extension seem to point to the fact that he is gearing up to leave the company.

News of CM Punk's impending departure from the WWE only continued to gain steam this past week, as the latest developments from backstage have all point to CM Punk bolting from the world wide leader before SummerSlam. 

Punk reportedly still has yet  to sign a contract extension, and is not being advertised for WWE live events in late July on a leg of the tour that will blow past Punk's home state of Illinois. 

Speculation of CM Punk's almost inevitable exit from WWE is slowly starting to degenerate into a countdown as the WWE continues to act as a helpless, yet resourceful, observer.

RICHMOND, Virginia - June 6.  This past Monday on RAW, CM Punk's girlfriend Beth Phoenix became the beneficiary of a timely push as she was immediately thrust into the now dim Diva's spotlight.

Just one week removed from breakout star gone wrong Kharma's involuntary transition into motherhood, Beth Phoenix and Kelly Kelly were featured in a tag team match against WWE Diva's Champion(s) Brie and Nikki Bella. 

Beth Phoenix earned the deciding pinfall in a statement win for the blonde tag team as the commentators heavily teased the possibility of a title match for Phoenix against Brie Bella. 

Meanwhile, CM Punk was to be pit against Rey Mysterio Jr. for the second week in a row.  The matchup did not bode well for Punk given the fact that the Mysterio/Punk feud is being billed as an arch rivalry, and Punk scored a clean victory over Mysterio last week. 

Punk's match with Mysterio once again delivered as the two had another solid back and forth contest.  In addition to teasing his Go to Sleep maneuver, Punk teased his signature roundhouse kick, which seems to be his new finisher, multiple times but to no avail. 

Punk controlled much of the match with technical holds and cut off multiple Mysterio comeback attempts with his maneuvers from his unique offensive arsenal that have come to define him as an elite performer. 

The tides turned when Mason Ryan got involved, stopping a 6-1-9 attempt by launching his immense 6'6" and near 300-pound frame onto the apron.

After dodging another roundhouse kick attempt from Punk, Mysterio expertly countered the outside interference by kicking Ryan off the ring apron in midair before connecting on a tornado DDT on Punk. 

Mysterio hit his patented splash before picking up the revenge victory. 

Punk seems to be destined for a feud with Rey Mysterio that will culminate at Capitol Punishment, and while the two continue to work well together, the WWE is in an obvious holding pattern with CM Punk. 

Big Nasty is a contributor to FightLife Magazine. Follow him on Twitter  @ThisIsNasty.