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The five eliminated NXT Rookies returned for the season finale of WWE NXT Tuesday night. Michael Tarver, Daniel Bryan, Skip Sheffield, Darren Young and Heath Slater looked on as WWE NXT host Matt Striker explained that the WWE Pros will cast their votes in two Pros’ Polls to determine which NXT Rookie will be the competition winner.

At WWE Fatal 4-Way, World Heavyweight Champion Jack Swagger will attempt to defend his illustrious title against three former World Champions – CM Punk, Big Show and Undertaker – in an explosive Fatal 4-Way main event. And in a match where bedlam will rule, the four elite SmackDown Superstars will draw their advantage from four completely different sources.

At WWE’s innovative new pay-per-view, the odds will be stacked against Jack Swagger retaining his World Title before the bell even rings. According to the rules of a Fatal 4-Way Match, not only will all four Superstars be battling at the same time, but any one of them can pin any other Superstar to capture a championship victory.

Regardless of the odds, “The All-American American” has claimed that he is the “odds on favorite” in any competition he is involved in. Despite his rocky road since cashing in his WrestleMania Money in the Bank opportunity, the outspoken champion’s success at keeping his “greatest trophy” securely around his waist is unquestionable. His biggest advantage lays in his steadfast determination to hold on to the World Title at any cost. And against the awesome odds he will face at Fatal 4-Way, he will have to pull out every trick in the book.

After Swagger got himself disqualified in his Over the Limit World Championship Match with Big Show, The World’s Largest Athlete presents the textbook definition of an angry giant threat. His advantage in the Fatal 4-Way stems from his enormous size, which manifests itself in his most dangerous weapon, the knockout punch. The rage that drives the gigantic Superstar once the bell rings will make overcoming Big Show an extremely tall order.

CM Punk lost his hair at Over the Limit, and with it, the symbol of his Straight Edge “purity.” If he could once again become the Straight Edge World Heavyweight Champion, the freshly masked “savior” would provide himself with a new symbol to carry forth as the head of the S.E.S. Now that he has qualified for Fatal 4-Way by defeating Kane – the very Superstar that helped make it possible for Rey Mysterio to shave his head in the first place – The Second City Saint’s devotion to the Straight Edge lifestyle may be all the strength he needs to come out on top.

The strength that Undertaker wields in WWE is as dangerous as it is ominous. He is a true legend of the squared circle whose very name strikes fear in the hearts of any adversary he faces, before the battle even begins. After qualifying for Fatal 4-Way with a hard fought victory over The Ultimate Underdog Rey Mysterio, The Phenom looks to utilize the full force of his intimidation to bring his “holy grail” back home.

Who will emerge from WWE Fatal 4-Way with the World Heavyweight Championship? Find out June 20 at 8/7 CT, only on pay-per-view.

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The latest Pros’ Poll results were revealed, and NXT Rookie Darren Young was the fourth competitor eliminated from WWE NXT. The South Beach Party Boy said he’d hoped elimination day would never come, and thanked the WWE Universe in attendance and at home for their support. He said the difference between he and the other NXT Rookies is that he has respect for the WWE Pros.

If you’ve been keeping score, it’s all tied up between Rey Mysterio and CM Punk. At WrestleMania XXVI, The Ultimate Underdog downed Punk with the 619 to prevent having to join The Straight Edge Society.

Then at Extreme Rules, Punk defeated The Master of the 619 to protect his hair. Now, at Over the Limit, one Superstar will be forced to make a drastic change.

If Mysterio loses, he must join The Straight Edge Society. And if Punk loses, Rey gets to shave his head! If you look deeper than the match stipulations, there may be some extra motivation for Mysterio to win.

Leading up to their WrestleMania match, Mysterio was forced to endure The Second City Saint’s taunting of his family.

And in recent weeks, Mysterio has been the victim of sneak attacks from a mysterious hooded person who has yet to be indentified. Clearly though, the individual has allegiances to The Straight Edge Society. Will this individual play a role at Over the Limit?

Regardless of who has more motivation to win, the bottom line is that someone’s future is going to change.

Will Rey find himself forced to stand side-by-side with Luke Gallows, Serena and CM Punk? Or, will Punk lose what he calls a symbol of his purity? Find out at Over the Limit, live Sunday, May 23, only on pay-per-view.

Amid the uncontrollable fury of Extreme Rules, Rey Mysterio will face CM Punk in a WrestleMania rematch. And if The Second City Saint comes up short this time, he will have to cut his hair.

On The Grandest Stage of Them All, The Master of the 619 triumphed over his idealistic adversary, defending his family’s honor while preventing his forced induction into The Straight Edge Society.

Punk returned to SmackDown five days later, continuing his obsessive attempts to “save” the masked Superstar. Insisting that Mysterio’s conversion would serve as the ultimate example that Straight Edge can save anyone, Punk proclaimed that if he was granted a rematch, he would put the “toxin-free” symbol of his Straight Edge leadership – his hair – on the line.

Riding the momentum from his monumental victory over his would-be savior at The Show of Shows, Mysterio accepted Punk’s challenge one week later, vowing to take his hair and to put an end to The Straight Edge Society.

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.

In an explosive WrestleMania showdown, the biggest heart in WWE will risk every part of himself against the collective forces of everything he despises as Rey Mysterio takes on CM Punk. And if The Ultimate Underdog loses the extremely personal match, he must join The Straight Edge Society.

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

Punk “crossed the line” when The Master of the 619 brought his family to SmackDown to celebrate his daughter’s birthday. As the WWE Universe joyfully sang “Happy Birthday” to the elated 9-year-old, The Straight Edge Society crashed the party. Punk challenged Mysterio to a match right then and there, as well as one at WrestleMania. Though he taunted Mysterio and his family mercilessly, the masked Superstar refused to give an answer or to fight while his loved ones were in the ring. Later that night, Mysterio attacked Punk, igniting an all-out brawl that spilled into the crowd.

One week later, Mysterio accepted Punk’s WrestleMania challenge, demanding that the match be a Street Fight. The Straight Edge “Savior” declared that if Mysterio laid a hand on him before WrestleMania, he would call off their match. He also proclaimed that if Mysterio wanted a Street Fight Match at The Show of Shows, he would first have to beat Luke Gallows. However, if he didn’t and Mysterio went on to lose their match on The Grandest Stage of Them All, the masked Superstar would be forced to join The Straight Edge Society. With Punk and Serena’s help, Gallows triumphed over Mysterio, setting the circumstances of the volatile WrestleMania encounter in stone.

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Before the match, CM Punk encouraged Luke Gallows to get the win and earn some payback for Mysterio keeping Punk out of WrestleMania for interfering in his Money in the Bank Qualifying Match last week. (PHOTOS) Despite Punk’s words, Gallows failed his Straight Edge savior by getting pinned by Mysterio. After the bout, Punk tried to hit Mysterio with the Go to Sleep. But he too failed to get the better of The Master of the 619. Punk was seething at the outcome.

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Shawn Michaels’ recent career crisis appears to have DX unraveling at the seams. HBK and Triple H joined forces in an effort to retain their Unified Tag Team Titles in a Triple Threat Elimination Match against United States Champion The Miz & Big Show and the Straight Edge Society. Michaels, however, seemed distracted by what can only be categorized as his obsession with a WrestleMania rematch against World Heavyweight Champion The Undertaker.

After eliminating Luke Gallows, HBK focused on the remaining threat, Big Show & Miz. Rather than offer his usual sure-handed performance, though, Michaels crumpled, allowing his opponents to surmount his offense and capture the Unified Tag Team Titles

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The first man to be introduced in the Royal Rumble is Dolph Ziggler. Number Two is the high flying Evan Bourne. The bell rings and we’re ready to start. Ziggler jaws at Bourne and they both eye the WrestleMania sign. Bourne catches Ziggle with a coulpe of kicks and a hurricarana before connecting with a heel kick to Ziggler’s jaw. Ziggler almost knocks Bourne out with a dropkick, but Bourne fights him off and stays in the ring. Bourne launches himself up off of Ziggler and connects with the double knees to Ziggler’s chest. Bourne knocks Ziggler to the apron, but he makes it back into the ring. Ziggler connects with the Zig Zag out of nowhere, and he throws Bourne to the apron, but Bourne kicks Ziggler and comes back in the ring with a Shooting Star Press, the buzzer rings and number three is CM Punk with Sarita. Punk goes after both Bourne and Ziggler and he immediately eliminates both.

Punk grabs the mic and thanks the crowd for joining him for the most historic moment the Straight Edge Society has seen. 29 other men will either be eliminated or saved. The clock counts down and number four is JTG. JTG goes right to work on CM Punk, but when he charges Punk in the corner, he finds himself eliminated. Punk gets right back on the mic and says not everyone can win the Rumble, just like not everyone can be saved. Not everyone has his dedication. And tonight he’ll be the first straight edge Rumble winner. The clock counts down again and this time it’s the Great Khali. Punk tries to save Khali, telling him he can make him greater. Punk says he can see the pain in Khali’s eyes and he needs to be saved. He asks Khali to raise his right hand and accept straight edge into his life, but Khali hits a chop and locks in the vice. The clock counts down again and the next entrant is Beth Phoenix.

Khali immediately picks up Beth and puts her over the rope and directs her to the back. Beth kisses Khali and drags him over the top rope, while remaining on the apron. She turns around and goes right to work on Punk, trying to eliminate him. Punk connects with the G2S on Phoenix. The clock counts down again and the next man in is Zack Ryder. Punk eliminates Phoenix. Punk says that Ryder has potential, but he double crosses Ryder and hits him with the mic. Punk sends Ryder over the top rope and eliminates another person. Punk asks who’s next, and says that whoever it is he’s better than them, because he’s better than everyone there today. The next entrant in is Triple H. Hunter makes his way to the ring slowly, and Punk hypes himself up. Punk and Hunter stare each other down, and Punk tries for a right, but Hunter fights him off. Hunter connects with a knee and puts Punk back into the corner, pounding on him. Punk connects with a high knee, but Hunter fights off the bull dog and hits a spinebuster.

The next entrant is Drew McIntyre. Hunter fights off McIntyre as soon as he gets in the ring with a high knee. Hunter tries for the pedigree on Punk, but Punk fights out. Punk tries for the G2s, but Hunter fights out and sends him out of the ring.

credit to rajah.com for the report

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