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Despite the controversy, World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk emerged to relish in his victory. Taking no responsibility in the incident itself, he proclaimed that he was the first man in WWE history to make Undertaker tap out. He then proceeded to sing his praises while preaching to the WWE Universe about their many “inadequacies.”

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Following suspicious calls by SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long and WWE official Scott Armstrong, The Straightedge Champion secured his most crooked win to date, retaining the World Heavyweight Title against Undertaker in a Submission Match in which The Deadman never actually surrendered.

Without pinfalls, disqualifications or count-outs, passage to the World Heavyweight Title was granted only by making an opponent submit – something The Deadman has never done in his near-two decade career. The heavy match favorite, the returning Phenom sought to cull both the gold and soul of CM Punk in a single night at WWE Breaking Point.

This outcome appeared imminent when Undertaker ultimately hooked in Hell’s Gate, gripping the champion and squeezing the petty life from Punk’s tattooed body. The Straightedge Superstar’s flailing arms dwindled to a wilt and the champion used his last moment of consciousness to submit.

But mere instants after The Phenom could have his cold arm raised as the victor, GM Long arrived to overrule the referee’s initial decision, reinforce the ban on Undertaker’s potent hold and grant Punk a second chance by restarting the match.

While the WWE Universe uncharacteristically jeered the General Manager and Hell’s Gate-crasher, CM Punk sprung back into action, en route to The Straightedge Champion’s signature Anaconda Vise. A shocking Canadian coup then became apparent; Long stood watch from the stage while Armstrong, the match’s official, signaled for an abrupt ringing of the bell to end the match in Punk’s favor, despite The Deadman’s lack of legitimate submission.

Leaving mouths agape in Montreal, the tattooed titleholder quickly exited the ring beside his co-conspirator and swiftly stumbled away from The Phenom’s reach to the ramp where Punk gloated beside a stoic, expressionless Long.

Though The Deadman is a WWE figure who’s often shrouded by anomaly, the puzzling conclusion of this bout in Quebec is more so the result of another deceptive act by CM Punk to maintain his position at SmackDown’s pinnacle. This calls into question the judgments rendered by both Armstrong and Long, who confounded his loyal SmackDown supporters. Simply stunned, the WWE Universe begs for explanation, but more importantly, righteous resolution.

As countless collected souls can attest, Undertaker is the specter of vengeance in WWE. Though seemingly bamboozled at WWE Breaking Point, The Deadman does not rest, and likely will not rest until The Straightedge Superstar serves a suitably painful penance by his gloved hand.

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Undertaker opened SmackDown with the chilling proclamation that World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk will feel the devastating grip of Hell’s Gate in their Submission Match at WWE Breaking Point (Match preview), before handing The Phenom both the title and his very soul. Punk then burst upon the scene, declaring that he only wants one thing this Sunday: To make The Deadman tap out for all the WWE Universe to see.

In the main event, “the only Straightedge Champion in WWE history” made a tremendous statement about his upcoming match with The Deadman, forcing Matt Hardy to tap out to his excruciating Anaconda Vise. Although Punk held the gold high above his head, darkness soon overcame his triumph. And when illumination was restored, Undertaker was standing at the top of the ramp, clutching Punk’s World Title in his mighty hands.

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Covered in Jeff Hardy-style face paint, World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk teased the WWE Universe by entering the arena to Jeff Hardy’s entrance music. Punk went on to disparage The Charismatic Enigma, flaunt his own “straightedge” lifestyle and dare his WWE Breaking Point opponent, Undertaker, to face him in the ring.

But instead of The Phenom, it was Matt Hardy who charged into the ring to brawl with The Straightedge Superstar. The emotion-charged fight ended only when WWE officials separated the two Superstars. Later, when CM Punk confronted SmackDown General Manger Theodore Long, Teddy agreed for both Superstars to meet in a non-title match later in the night.

In Matt Hardy’s first one-on-one match on SmackDown since having abdominal surgery, he was looking to represent the Hardy name and take down the reigning champion in the night’s main event. In a battle of wills, it was anyone’s match to win. However, before a victor could be decided, Undertaker emerged to confront his WWE Breaking Point opponent. In a swift and powerful assault, The Phenom chokeslammed Punk through the announce table, leaving him a lifeless heap on the arena floor. Is it a sign of things to come at WWE Breaking Point?

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Following his SummerSlam triumph, a gloating CM Punk returned to SmackDown as the “only Straightedge Champion in WWE History.” When The Charismatic Enigma interrupted his celebration, promising to end Punk’s reign in their steel cage rematch, Punk proposed the loser be thrown out of WWE. As the shocked WWE Universe stood witness, Hardy accepted the huge gamble. SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long arrived to set the stipulation in stone. He then dropped a bombshell, stating that at the brand new pay-per-view WWE Breaking Point, where every main event will be a submission match, the winner of the steel cage clash would face Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Later that night, after years of incredible feats of reckless abandon, fate finally caught up with Jeff Hardy in a moment of tragic irony. After blocking the high-flying specialist’s climb to victory, the World Heavyweight Champion superplexed him from high atop of the cage. Hardy battled back heroically, trying to prevent his adversary from getting over the cage with every fiber of his being. But a thumb to the eye by Punk sealed his fate, allowing The Straightedge Superstar to retain his title while simultaneously vanquishing the amazing Jeff Hardy from the WWE ring. After Hardy delivered a heartfelt goodbye to the WWE Universe, the ruthless Punk added insult to injury, attacking the departing Superstar from behind with the World title.

As a result of the SmackDown main event, World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk will face the returning Undertaker at WWE Breaking Point.

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In an in-ring encounter earlier in the night, CM Punk once again lectured Jeff Hardy and the WWE Universe about the straightedge lifestyle. But, Punk paid the price when he tried to knock the champion from atop a ladder in the middle of the ring. The egregious actions prompted the high-flyer to crush the No. 1 contender with a Twist of Fate.

The night’s main event featured the reunited Hardy brothers, who proved they are once again a force to be reckoned with in WWE. A fired-up Matt Hardy took care of business by dropping No. 1 contender CM Punk with a Twist of Fate to get the pinfall for his team. Does the win give World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Hardy the momentum he needs to successfully defend his title against Punk this Sunday?

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After his vicious attack on Jeff Hardy last week, CM Punk expounded on his own TLC attributes, insisting that he would prove victorious in the World Heavyweight Championship Match at SummerSlam (match preview). After the former champion promised to “end Jeff Hardy,” SmackDown General Manger Theodore Long stepped into the ring to refute Punk’s claims that the injured Hardy may be too hurt to compete at the pay-per-view. The war-torn Charismatic Champion himself then slowly emerged to echo Long’s statement, promising to defeat Punk in nine days time. (VIDEO | PHOTOS) Though it seemed Hardy would be out of action for the night, WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon soon dropped a bombshell by phone, ordering that, despite his injuries, the World Champion would have face The Hart Dynasty in a Handicap Match.

Though Hardy fought heroically, the 2-on-1 disadvantage proved too much for the injured champion, as he finally succumbed to the Dynasty’s Hart Attack. When The Straightedge Superstar emerged to execute a post-match onslaught on his SummerSlam opponent, John Morrison rushed down to Hardy’s defense. But the pair still found themselves outgunned once Punk incorporated the steel chair. Then, to the surprise and delight of the WWE Universe, Matt Hardy suddenly burst onto the scene. After working to clear the ring, the elder Hardy extended an arm to help his brother up, igniting an explosive roar from the ecstatic WWE Universe.

Back in his office, SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long made the monumental announcement to Mr. McMahon that next week on SmackDown, CM Punk & The Hart Dynasty will face John Morrison and Matt & Jeff Hardy.

The third time proved to be a charm for The Straightedge Superstar. After suffering two separate pinfalls at the hands of The Friday Night Delight in recent weeks, the No. 1 contender to the World Heavyweight Championship foiled Morrison’s second attempt at Starship Pain and hit the GTS.

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CM Punk denied any foul play in his championship match with Jeff Hardy at The Bash, claiming his “eye injury” caused him to “accidentally” kick the referee. He demanded an apology from The Charismatic Enigma for his post-match attack. Teddy Long emerged, swiftly creating a World Heavyweight Title rematch between Punk and Hardy at Night of Champions. Hardy then came to the squared-circle, making it clear that he does not believe Punk’s explanation. He did, however, offer an “apology” in advance for taking The Straightedge Superstar down at Night of Champions

Punk was featured on WWE Superstars but did not make an appearance. Click on the thumbnails to view the screen captures.

John Cena def. WWE Champion Rey Mysterio; CM Punk confronted Cena
The capacity crowd inside the Hampton Coliseum might want to save their ticket stubs. It was a night to remember for the WWE Universe. In an unprecedented second WWE Championship Match of the night, newly-minted WWE Champion Rey Mysterio was forced to defend the title he won less than two hours earlier against one of WWE’s toughest competitors, John Cena.

As the two sportsmen competed, it eventually became clear that The Cenation Commander-in-Chief would overpower Rey’s agile assault and capture his ninth WWE Championship. In the carnival of celebration, however, one competitor emerged to dispute the legitimacy of Cena’s reign.

CM Punk shocked the WWE faithful when, after having departed the company two weeks earlier, he surfaced inside the arena carrying his WWE Title. The audience, as well as millions at home, watched the confrontation, the tension, the body language. Which man would blink first? Which WWE Champion was the rightful heir to WWE’s most coveted object? In the frenzied air of anticipation, however, there would be no determination. The Second City Savior and The Champ merely stood hoisting their respective WWE Titles skyward, as if to declare their proper place in the history books despite the protests of the other.