WWE Money in the Bank 2011 Recap: CM Punk and How My Faith Was Restored

Do I have your attention now?!

Let me begin by first saying, if you didn't watch Money in the Bank then you should be ashamed of yourself!

The magic, that has seemed all but extinct recently in the WWE, was pumping through Chicago, Illinois on July 17th, 2011.

And for exactly two hours and 45 minutes, wrestling transcended time and space and seemed to be the only thing that mattered in the world. The magic was back.

The first moment, Daniel Bryan holding the Smackdown "Money in the Bank" briefcase high above his head, would only foreshadow the landscape altering events that were to follow.

We have all witnessed the Revolution...

The Beginning of the End

July 17th, 2011 started out innocently enough. The WWE universe was shocked, pleasantly surprised but mostly a little confused by what they had just witnessed. Daniel Bryan is "Mr. Money in the Bank"?

You heard that right. The IWC's golden child has won Smackdown's MITB match and all but assured himself a world's title, Who saw that coming? And if you comment is, "I totally saw that coming!"... You're a liar. 

Side Note: Was that not the greatest MITB ever? What could possibly top that?

After everyone in Chcago came out of shock trauma we were then treated to the ladies.. for give or take five minutes.

*Spoiler Alert* Kelly Kelly successfully defended her Woman's (sorry, Divas) Championship.

"I still can't believe Daniel Bryan won" is all I can seem to say as Kelly Kelly exits stage left still holding on to her Divas belt.

The Clash of the Titans

Mark Henry is out of control, and the Big Show has become just another victim. In resounding fashion Mark Henry pinned the Big Show. I commend the Big Show for going out in style by kicking out of the "World's Strongest Slam" on the first go-around.

This rivalry is far from over, and this match got me excited for it.

Mark Henry "breaking" the foot of the Big Show was a rather nice touch.

"The medical staff is working hard for their money tonight" my friend says; referring to an earlier incident during the Smackdown MITB match that saw Sheamus power bomb Sin Cara viciously through a ladder. Sin Cara was carted off in a stretcher officially ending his night early.

"Hey Bill?" my friend now staring at me. I give him the "what's up? head nod.

"Can you believe Daniel Bryan won?"

No, I can't.

It is his Destiny... But you Already Know That

What could possibly top the Smackdown MITB match?

Alberto Del Rio has won the Raw Money in the Bank match and has officially locked up the No. 1 contender spot...again.

From the epic ladder/lightsaber battles in the beginning, to Evan Bourne's instant classic 20ft shooting star press, to the unmasking of Rey Mysterio this mach delivered. 

Let us not forget The Miz, and one of the greatest moments of the night. Earlier in the match Miz was caught holding onto the briefcase suspended 20 feet in the air.

He dangled for a moment and then plummeted to the ground "hyper extending his knee." He was, and the night's third time, taken off by the medical staff; his night seemed over.

Untill...

The Miz is seen booking it, albeit limping, to the ring. All the remaining contestants had been knocked out, and all that stood was a ladder. The crowd ignited instantly for the Miz and quickly booed Rey Mysterio out of the building when he interrupted the Miz's climb to success.

Chicago is beating to the beat of their own drum tonight, and I am loving it.

Del Rio would proceed to rip the mask of Mysterio off his face as the two went, along with their ladders, crashing to the floor. Del Rio would re-set the ladder and proceed with his climb to destiny.

So if everyone's stone cold lock predictions are right; Del Rio is going to walk out of Chicago as WWE Champion after the night is over?

God help us all.

The Kick in the Nuts Heard Around the World  

The title says it all. Christian took a justified, down right vicious and hilarious kick in the south like a man and walked out of Chicago as the new World Heavyweight Champion.

Christian, moments earlier, had spit in, and around, the mouth of Randy Orton which unleashed all the pent up personality he'd been hiding. The man simply lost his mind and his WHC with an "Adam Vinatieri" like nutcracker. 

If you're going to get yourself disqualified that is certainly one way to do it.

At this moment I would like to give a shout out to the Spanish announcement table. It held it's own tonight by surviving two RKO attempts delivered to Christian, by Orton, post nutcracker.

As Christian lies there in the wreckage left from Orton there is surprisingly no cash in from Daniel Bryan. He's such a nice, understanding guy! 

When Wrestling Mattered and The Revolution

Punk Wins! Punk Wins! Punk Wins!

First of all, I need to say this. The only thing that mattered in the world between the hours of 10pm and 10:45pm (Eastern Standard Time) was John Cena, CM Punk and the WWE Championship.

I honestly don't remember being this excited, nervous and downright scared for a wrestling match ever. This whole thing is fake right? Wrestling is scripted, correct? I need someone to pinch me.  

Punk's "once in a lifetime" entrance stopped time. All eyes now fixed on Chicago, the voice of Chicago was heard, and John Cena was about to walk into a buzz saw.

The WWE universe was alive, and it was now anti-Cena.

Chicago would ultimately become the kryptonite to John "Super" Cena.

Or perhaps it was John Laurinaitis and Vince McMahon. The two of them running ringside looking to enact "the Screw Job Part II." John Cena would have none of it. Seeing what the chairman of the board was up to Cena let go of his STFU and rocked Laurinaitis with a blistering right hand. 

John Cena would "go to sleep" soon after, along with his WWE Championship reign, his career, and the WWE Championship itself.

An epic match, lasting over 30 minutes, had come to it's conclusion. CM Punk is the new WWE Champion!

"Get Del Rio out here right now!" McMahon would yell at the production team, but it was too late.

CM Punk was gone,  a simple "you can't see me" hand wave to Vince was all that needed to be said.

While the fans in Chicago stayed to chant "CM Punk" Punk, himself did not, he was gone.

And so to was the WWE Championship.

The Revolution has begun, and the magic has again returned to the WWE.

My faith has been restored.

"Hey, Bill?" my friend chimes in one last time. "Remember when Daniel Bryan won the Smackdown Money in the Bank? That was great."

Yes it was, and so was this night in wrestling history.