WWE Capitol Punishment Preview: Predicting the Winners of Each Match

With Capitol Punishment just about 48 hours away, it is time to look at the matches for the patriotic pay-per-view.

So far, seven matches have been announced and some notable names are left off of the card. Even if additional matches are included, Capitol Punishment is a collective mix of old feuds that have been dug up randomly and new feuds that were stuck together with bubble gum and duct tape in the last four weeks.

The card looks weak from top to bottom, but it may end up being one of those pay-per-views that widely exceeds everyone's expectations. Here is the card with well-reasoned predictions for each one of them.

CM Punk vs Rey Mysterio

Dug out of the "We did this for way too long last year" file, CM Punk and Rey Mysterio will go one-on-one at a pay-per-view. Stop me if you have heard this one before.

Mysterio beat Punk in six minutes at last year's WrestleMania. Mysterio best Punk again at Over The Limit, when he shaved his head. Mysterio would also become World Heavyweight Champion the following month at the Fatal 4 Way pay-per-view, defeating Punk, among others. If we found some rhymes in this, we could make a Dr. Seuss book about Rey Mysterio beating CM Punk.

In fact, since losing his last world title to The Undertaker at Hell in A Cell 2009, CM Punk has won just once. In that span, CM Punk has had a match on 16 different events. The lone victory: a victory over Mysterio at Extreme Rules 2010. If Punk has any inkling to want to stay, you have to imagine that he is going to win this match somehow.

This is why I am picking Punk to win and gain momentum into Money in the Bank next month in his home state of Illinois. Does anyone else smell a WWE Championship match?

Winner: CM Punk

Big Show vs Alberto Del Rio

I understand why a storyline like this is created, but it just sounds ridiculous when they talk about it.

We find The Big Show hit by Del Rio's car, yet have Big Show in a position that even the guys from CSI don't understand. He "rehabs" for a few weeks and runs without a limp last Monday night to attack Del Rio.

In any other instance, this would be a simple Big Show victory under ten minutes with a bunch of slaps to the chest and a knockout punch at the end. However, this idea is not as cut and dry as before. Del Rio has lost all momentum when he came to RAW and this looks like his first honest chance to make a name on Monday nights.

Defeating Big Show could be possible, especially with the way that Del Rio operates. I will go with Del Rio to steal one here and really get his push back on track.

Winner: Alberto Del Rio

Kofi Kingston vs Dolph Ziggler (United States Championship)

No, you are not in a time machine. Dolph Ziggler and Kofi Kingston are facing each other for a title at a pay-per-view.

Before you start calling it deja vu, be aware that Dolph got a haircut and it is a different title this time. Before it was the Intercontinental Championship, but it is now the United States Championship.

I could see, especially with patriotic themes all night long, that this could be the opening contest on Sunday. It might be the match that steals the show on Sunday, especially when some of these matches may not deliver like they should. Ziggler and Kingston know one another well that, if given the time, can put together one heck of a story.

I like Ziggler here because I think he can do more with the title than Kofi did. Kingston does not need a mid-card title, especially when prepping for his Money in the Bank appearance next month. Kingston needs to drop the belt for his fans to claim that it is his time to win the briefcase.

Winner: Dolph Ziggler (new United States Champion)

Wade Barrett vs Ezekiel Jackson (Intercontinental Championship)

They can't tease Ezekiel Jackson getting the Intercontinental Championship much longer without actually letting him get it.

Without Gabriel and Slater anymore, Barrett is a sitting duck for The Personifcation of Domination. A couple dozen slams and a torture rack later and we can move on to the next match.

Winner: Ezekiel Jackson (new Intercontinental Champion)

The Miz vs Alex Riley

I'm pretty intrigued by this match, mainly because of me being a fan of both of these men. In the end, I think that this will be a match that will define Alex Riley going forward, which is why he is winning it.

The Miz does not need the win as much as Riley does. A win by Riley gives him the momentum to move along on Smackdown and do whatever. The Miz can wallow in his self-pity before going into a Money in the Bank match and claim that he will do it again, only to fall short.

The Miz will fall on some hard times, but he will bounce back up in a few more months. For now, this night belongs to Alex Riley.

Winner: Alex Riley

John Cena vs R-Truth (WWE Championship)

I'm kind of surprised when people say that they aren't sure what will happen in this match. Even though it is a clear setup for Cena to retain, some are pondering rooting for R-Truth to get his world title.

There's absolutely no way that Cena does not leave Washington D.C. with that ugly looking belt.

Winner: John Cena (still WWE Champion)

Randy Orton vs Christian (World Heavyweight Championship)

Their last match together on pay-per-view may be one of the best this year, so this one has a lot to live up to. For one, it needs to put Christian over as a heel more than he is right now.

There's still too many cheers to ignore on Smackdown episodes for Captain Charisma, which only takes away from his character's mood lately. Orton looks unstoppable as champion, which looks like what they were going for at first.

Christian will bring the fight, but in a Canada vs. USA fight in the capital of the United States, Orton will retain. You better keep those cars on fire in Vancouver after Sunday night.

The only thing that can change this is if Orton cannot go due to his real-life health issues. In that case, I think there would be a replacement for Orton, in which case that person would win and build more anger for Christian's new attitude.

Winner: Randy Orton (still World Heavyweight Champion) OR Orton's Replacement (new World Heavyweight Champion, should Orton not be able to compete)