DIGITAL PICTURES — SCREEN CAPTURES

WWE Champion CM Punk vs. World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan announced 
With his job in jeopardy, Interim Raw General Manager & EVP of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis started off Raw SuperShow fully confident that he would keep his job by the end of the night. Then, after calling attention to the big Raw Elimination Chamber Match on Feb. 19 (PREVIEW), the GM announced WWE Champion CM Punk and World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan would collide later tonight.

After the GM’s announcements, Punk led the WWE Universe in singing “Nah Nah Nah Hey Hey Hey Goodbye.” Next, after Punk and the GM traded verbal barbs, World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan emerged to tout his accomplishment at the 25th anniversary of Royal Rumble. Then after the two champions mixed heated words, the 2012 Royal Rumble Match winner Sheamus came out to remind them that he earned the right to be in the main event of WrestleMania, where he boldly proclaimed he will become the WWE or World Heavyweight Champion.
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DIGITAL PICTURES — SCREEN CAPTURES

Whether Interim Raw General Manager and Executive Vice President of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis intended it or not – CM Punk stood tall over Dolph Ziggler in the WWE Championship Match at Royal Rumble, proudly showing off the most coveted prize in WWE.

Rather than risk seeming biased in light of his upcoming performance appraisal by WWE COO Triple H, Mr. Laurinaitis excused himself from officiating duties in the WWE Championship Match. This ultimately allowed Punk and Ziggler to do what they do best in an evenly- officiated contest.

The sold-out WWE Universe inside St. Louis’ Scottrade Center witnessed the two Superstars lay everything on the line, highlighting the importance of the WWE Championship and The Grandest Stage of Them All waiting on the horizon in Miami. Continue reading »

DIGITAL PICTURES — SCREEN CAPTURES

WWE Champion CM Punk called out Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis
One week after unloading a verbal tirade on Mr. Laurinaitis, The Voice of the Voiceless opened WWE Raw SuperShow by calling out the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, and demanding he admit that he will screw Punk at Royal Rumble. To the surprise of the WWE Universe, John Cena made his way to the ring as Mr. Laurinaitis did not. Cena took the opportunity to demand a match with Kane on Raw and to grant Zack Ryder a U.S. Title rematch.

The Interim Raw General Manager finally appeared and announced that Zack Ryder would face Kane in a Falls Count Anywhere Match tonight. He also declared that if Cena interfered, Long Island Iced-Z would never have another U.S. Title opportunity. Mr. Laurinaitis then announced that CM Punk and John Cena would battle Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler next! Continue reading »

See more at WWE.com.

I added some scans, digitals & other pics to the gallery:

WWE Magazine – 2011 The Year In Pictures – thanks to Scandids
WWE Magazine – January 2012 – thanks to Scandids
PWI – March 2012 – thanks to Amanda
Twitter Pics
Sky Sports Digitals

DIGITAL PICTURES — SCREEN CAPTURES

Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis unleashed a pipe bomb of his own on WWE Champion CM Punk. First he reversed the decision of the night’s main event. Then after saying he’s sick and tired of being disrespected, he admitted he’s going to try to screw Punk at Royal Rumble. At the end of his emotional tirade, the EVP then bashed WWE Legend Mick Foley in the head with a mic! Continue reading »

DIGITAL PICTURES — SCREEN CAPTURES

WWE Champion CM Punk def. Jack Swagger (WATCH)
In two weeks, CM Punk will defend the WWE Championship against Dolph Ziggler with Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis as the Special Guest Referee. On WWE Raw SuperShow, “The Voice of the Voiceless” faced off against another of Vickie Guerrero’s prize Superstars, Jack Swagger. However, in an effort to show his impartiality toward the WWE Champion at Royal Rumble, the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations Mr. Laurinaitis told Punk that if he defeated Swagger, The All-American American and Vickie Guerrero would be banned from ringside at Royal Rumble. Continue reading »

DIGITAL PICTURES — SCREEN CAPTURES

Dolph Ziggler def. WWE Champion CM Punk by Count-Out (WATCH)
CM Punk lost his bout against No. 1 contender Dolph Ziggler, but retained the WWE Championship when the match ended in a count-out thanks to a distraction by Interim Raw GM John Laurinaitis. The EVP of Talent Relations ran down to the ring to advise the WWE official about the exposed turnbuckle. Meanwhile, The Straight Edge Savior nearly hit his opponent with the GTS, then locked him in the Anaconda Vise, but the official never saw Ziggler tap because he was talking to Laurinaitis. Punk ended up outside the ring, thanks to Laurinaitis, who pulled down the ropes, allowing him to slide out. Punk couldn’t get back onto the mat before the 10-count, giving his opponent the victory. While the cocky Ziggler didn’t win the title, he left proudly holding Punk’s WWE Championship knowing he’s defeated him for two straight weeks.

DIGITAL PICTURES — SCREEN CAPTURES

WWE Champion CM Punk’s Second City homecoming was marred by the underhanded actions of Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis and Dolph Ziggler, while the diabolical Kane finally shed some fire on his recent attacks on John Cena.

Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis set a Gauntlet Match for WWE Champion CM Punk
The Chicago crowd hoping to give their hometown hero a rousing ovation was disappointed when Raw kicked off with Interim General Manager John Laurinaitis mocking CM Punk’s signature entrance. With the WWE Champion’s T-shirt pulled over his suit jacket, the executive proceeded to give himself credit for the exciting changes in sports-entertainment.

That was all it took to bring out a livid Second City Savior. Explaining that Raw’s revolution is due to Punk being “the best wrestler in the world,” the WWE Champion looked ready to hit the EVP with a GTS. That’s when Laurinaitis announced his idea for the evening — Punk will face three opponents in a Gauntlet Match and if any of those competitors beat the champion, they will receive a WWE Title Match next week on the first Raw of the New Year!

The Straight Edge Superstar was game, but he wanted to up the ante. If the tattooed Superstar beat all three Superstars, he proposed that he get a fourth match with none other than John Laurinaitis himself.

WWE Champion CM Punk def. Jack Swagger in a Gauntlet Match (WATCH)
Forced by Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis to face Jack Swagger, Dolph Ziggler and Mark Henry in a Gauntlet Match, WWE Champion CM Punk knew he had to dispatch of his first opponent early. It wasn’t easy getting by the former World Heavyweight Champion, but even with the shrill Vickie Guerrero attempting to sway the bout for her client, The Straight Edge Superstar put Swagger to bed with a devastating roundhouse kick.

Dolph Ziggler def. WWE Champion CM Punk in a Title-Free Gauntlet Match (WATCH)
Still sucking air after his first Gauntlet Match, Punk rallied against the talented, but arrogant Dolph Ziggler. That was until Mr. Laurinaitis stuck his nose in. Distracting The Straight Edge Superstar by making a mid-match announcement, the Interim Raw General Manager allowed Ziggler to steal one and earn a WWE Title opportunity against the champion next Monday night. The showoff was so pumped about his victory, he snatched Punk’s title and taunted a disgusted Chicago crowd.

The trio of WWE Champion CM Punk, World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan and United States Champion Zack Ryder had reason to celebrate. Lifelong sports-entertainment fans, the three Superstars overcame some serious odds to walk away from WWE TLC with their respective titles in hand. But the mutual admiration society didn’t have much time to pat each other on the back in Philadelphia. Soon besieged by the tyrannical trio of The Miz, Alberto Del Rio and Dolph Ziggler, the three champions fought off their attackers before receiving word from Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis that they would face those three Superstars in tonight’s main event.

It looks like the change The Straight Edge Superstar promised is finally coming to fruition. Entering the ring through a raucous Philly crowd, WWE Champion CM Punk, World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan & United States Champion Zack Ryder showed how they were leading WWE into 2012 by blasting their way through a veritable rogues’ gallery with blunt force. The exciting young Superstars each got their fill of action before Bryan made Del Rio tap out to the LeBell Lock.

If it wasn’t clear at WWE TLC, it should be after this bout — the future is now.