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Tired of being overlooked by the WWE Pros and the WWE Universe, NXT Rookie Michael Tarver proclaimed himself a “bulldog off the leash” and offered an open challenge to anyone in the WWE NXT locker room. This came after an angry Tarver refused to compete in the weekly NXT Rookie Challenge, and “dance on a balloon like a little monkey for your entertainment.”

Hoping to impress his WWE Pro, William Regal, who was stuck in Europe due to the Icelandic volcano eruption, NXT Rookie Skip Sheffield accepted the dare. Then, WWE Pro CM Punk offered his NXT Rookie, Darren Young, who earned a huge victory over Luke Gallows last week.

Clearly still troubled by his loss to Young, the Straight Edge Society’s Luke Gallows tried to interfere in the Triple Threat Match. His efforts to sabotage Young backfired, as the South Beach party boy pinned Tarver. With the victory, Young’s record increased to 6-2 – the highest of any NXT Rookie after week nine, while Sheffield’s dropped to 0-5 and Tarver’s fell to 0-6.

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While no man is an island, Triple H certainly appeared adrift in unfamiliar waters when he opened Raw. The Superstar explained that, unlike the remainder of the red brand’s roster, he had remained stateside during Raw’s European tour. He explained that, due to the volcanic ash over Europe, air travel has been disrupted grounding most of his Raw brethren across the Atlantic.

The Game then went on to discuss his Street Fight against Sheamus this Sunday at Extreme Rules before he was rudely interrupted by The Straight Edge Society, including Luke Gallows, Serena and leader CM Punk. After Punk and Triple H exchanged words regarding Punk’s pay-per-view bout against Rey Mysterio, the preachy provocateur demanded that The King of Kings convert to Straight Edge. Triple H didn’t take too kindly to the proselytizing, and he and The S.E.S. came to blows. That’s when Mysterio joined the fray. The Biggest Little Man helped beat back The S.E.S. and, in a possible foreshadowing of their bout at Extreme Rules, managed to snip a lock of Punk’s hair in the process.

Just six days until Extreme Rules, a battalion of the pay-per-view’s competitors converged in a Six-Man Tag Team Match pitting Rey Mysterio, Edge & Triple H against CM Punk, Chris Jericho & Luke Gallows. In the run-up to the highly anticipated Steel Cage Match, Edge faced down his former partner Jericho, who punished his rival by crushing his ankle. Punk also sent Mysterio a message in the lead up to their Extreme Rules contest.

The match’s conclusion, however, seemed fitting since it was Raw Superstar Triple H who led his team to victory by pinning SmackDown’s Straight Edge spiritual guide, CM Punk.

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Following NXT Rookie Darren Young’s victory over Luke Gallows on Tuesday night (watch), CM Punk brought his followers together to face Rey Mysterio and The Hart Dynasty in a Six-Man Tag Team Match. With Unified Tag Team and United States Champion The Miz joining the broadcast table, Rey Mysterio dialed-up the 619 on Punk from around the ring post, paving the way for David Hart Smith to hit a running powerslam on the self-proclaimed “savior” for the win.

Will The Master of the 619 use his growing momentum to give The Second City Saint the hair cut of a lifetime at Extreme Rules?

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In one of the biggest matches of his NXT Rookie career, Darren Young defeated Luke Gallows, not only proving his worth to his WWE Pro, CM Punk, but also saving his hair.

Earlier, Young apologized to Punk for his actions on SmackDown, and pleaded with him not to cut his hair. While Punk told Young he thought he showed guts, Straight Edge Society disciple Gallows took offense. Punk ordered his NXT Rookie to face the menacing Gallows with his hair on the line. When it mattered most, Young delivered, impressing Punk and the WWE Universe by pinning Gallows. Afterward, Punk raised Young’s hand in victory as a stunned Gallows looked on.

The South Beach party boy proved he could defeat a WWE Superstar on his own, without compromising his own wild personality and style. With the victory, Young’s record improved to 5-2.

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After WWE NXT Rookie Darren Young refused to accept the Straight Edge lifestyle, he suffered a beating at the hands of CM Punk, Luke Gallows and Serena. But just when it looked like Young was going to become Straight Edge – whether he liked it or not – Rey Mysterio stormed the ring to break up the indoctrination. After clearing the ring of The Straight Edge Society, Mysterio passionately accepted Punk’s challenge to a match at Extreme Rules – also vowing to shave Punk’s head and put an end to The Straight Edge Society!

It seems as though they didn’t air the Chicago Street Fight. Since I attended the show. Once Rey accepted the challenge for Extreme Rules, Teddy comes out and tells the Rey and Punk that the fans don’t want to wait for Extreme Rules. The fans cheer and Teddy announces a Chicago Street Fight. While the match didn’t get too hardcore, it ended with Rey getting the victory.

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After losing to Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania, The Straight Edge “savior” challenged The Master of the 619 to a rematch, pledging to put his precious hair on the line for another opportunity to “save” The Ultimate Underdog.

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At WrestleMania, Rey Mysterio reigned supreme over CM Punk, defending his family’s honor while saving himself from a forced induction into The Straight Edge Society.

Mysterio’s intense battle for freedom with The Second City Saint raged fast and furious on The Grandest Stage of Them All. From the opening bell, both Luke Gallows and Serena made their presence felt, interfering whenever possible in their savior’s favor. But, despite Punk’s ruthless attack and the actions of his loyal cronies, Mysterio refused to give in. And his heart-filled refusal to give in would not go unrewarded. When The Straight Edge Society tried to prevent the masked Superstar from dialing-up the 619, Mysterio went to work, countering Punk’s GTS and sending him flying into the interfering Gallows. Then, before the capacity crowd, Mysterio rang-up 619 on his second attempt and successfully defeated his Straight Edge nemesis.

The volatile paths of The Master of the 619 and The Straight Edge Superstar collided with catastrophic fallout on The Road to WrestleMania. Punk, along with his faithful disciples Luke Gallows and Serena, assaulted Mysterio with brutal back-to-back attacks on SmackDown. Mysterio cost The Straight Edge Savior two huge opportunities, pinning him at WWE Elimination Chamber and costing him his WrestleMania Money in the Bank Qualifying Match against Shelton Benjamin.

Punk “crossed the line” when he and The Straight Edge Society ridiculed Mysterio and his family as they attempted to celebrate his daughter’s birthday on SmackDown. In the midst of his merciless verbal taunts, the calculating Punk issued a WrestleMania challenge to his emotionally-charged adversary.

One week later, Mysterio accepted Punk’s Show of Shows challenge with fury in his eyes. But, when Gallows triumphed over The Master of the 619 later that night, a stipulation was set in stone that The Ultimate Underdog must win at WrestleMania or take the Straight Edge pledge.

Rey Mysterio’s victory on The Grandest Stage of Them All has allowed him to stay clear of everything he detests. But considering the deplorable actions of CM Punk in recent weeks, has the masked Superstar seen the last of The Straight Edge Society?

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Like Rey Mysterio, CM Punk appeared on “WWE Superstars” hoping to send a clear message about his commitment to victory at WrestleMania. With the support of the Straight Edge Society, the maniacal Superstar looked to make an example of his opponent, JTG. Despite a valiant effort from the Cryme Tyme member and the massive Shad at ringside, JTG was left on the mat counting sheep after a devastating execution of Punk’s Go-To-Sleep.

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With the Straight Edge Society in their corner led by Pro CM Punk, Rookies Darren Young & David Otunga both upped their records to 3-1 on WWE NXT. Thanks to a distraction by Luke Gallows, Rookie Daniel Bryan was left alone in the ring when his partner, Rookie Michael Tarver, didn’t tag into the match, allowing “A-List” Otunga to capitalize on the situation and pin Bryan for the win. Earlier, Bryan showed off his extraordinary arsenal of submission moves on party boy Young, but with the loss, Bryan’s record fell to 0-5. Disappointed Pro Carlito watched as the record of his stunned Rookie, Tarver, dropped to 0-3.

A huge thank you to Rockecy for sending me these captures. In case you guys haven’t already, pick up The Best Of SmackDown 10th Anniversary and you’ll find an interview with CM PUNK. Here are some captures from the interview.