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Even without the flanking of his New Nexus rebels at Capitol Punishment, CM Punk eked out a sound victory over longtime enemy Rey Mysterio, closing the latest chapter on their storied rivalry and positioning Punk to next “do the most honest thing the WWE Universe has even seen.”

While his cryptic message begs for clarity in the wake of Capitol Punishment, the one certainty to be extracted is that – as attested by The Straight Edge Superstar’s staidness to his unique lifestyle – Punk takes personal vows most seriously. It’s a matter of time before the New Nexus leader’s actions make an indelible impact on the WWE Universe – not too dissimilar to that left on The Master of the 619 in Washington D.C., on pay-per-view.

The Ultimate Underdog, in this instance, wasn’t overwhelmed by the odds of the yellow-and-black armbanded renegades commanded by CM Punk. Banned by an authority-wielding “Stone Cold” Steve Austin prior to the pay-per-view clash, The New Nexus ranks – WWE Tag Team Champions David Otunga & Michael McGillicutty, plus the monstrous Mason Ryan – could not intervene in their savior’s favor.

The result? A definitive match between two former World Champions who’ve fought for hair, mask, family honor and much more in their intertwined pasts.

CM Punk evades Rey Mysterio’s 619 at Capitol PunishmentIn a fast-paced physical dispute between two men who are more than well versed in one another’s techniques and movesets, CM Punk snared a satisfying pinfall victory after slipping a 619 into a GTS. Digits morphed into letters and the referee’s three-count sealed The Straight Edge Superstar’s sworn impending act of honesty.

No alcohol, no drugs, no tobacco and no lies. According to the sinister CM Punk, he will outwardly differentiate himself from the politicians of Washington and his fellow Superstars whom he dubbed frauds.

Empowered by his substantial triumph on pay-per-view, Punk walks forth with obscured intentions. Honesty is typically the best policy … except when brandished by one with an ashen heart like CM Punk. What exactly is up The Second City Savior’s tape and tattoo sleeves? And when will he play his hand?

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CM Punk def. WWE Champion John Cena in a Non-Title Match (WATCH)
R-Truth is crazy like a fox. As the No. 1 contender for the WWE Title, Truth plotted to improve his odds going into this Sunday’s Capitol Punishment, when he will face off against WWE Champion John Cena. As The Champ competed against CM Punk, he proved unrelenting in his attack. Never one to give up, Cena fought through The Second City Savior’s assault.

And since The New Nexus was banned from ringside, The Champ probably thought he was in for a fair fight. Alas, Truth wasn’t about to let that happen, not with a mere six days until their title match at Capitol Punishment. The “Jimmy” hating jerk distracted Cena, handing Punk the opportunity he needed to overcome The Champ. Truth then snatched the WWE Title, clobbered Cena in the face with it and taunted his incapacitated adversary.

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Rey Mysterio def. CM Punk (WATCH)
Consider the score evened. After losing to CM Punk last week, Rey Mysterio requested a rematch. In a renewal of their deeply personal rivalry – that had seen Punk torment Rey’s family – The Master of the 619 wasn’t about to let The Second City Savior get two over on him. Instead, the high-flyer overcame his disappointment and refused to give up, earning an especially satisfying victory.

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CM Punk def. Rey Mysterio (WATCH)
Rey Mysterio scored the victory over CM Punk last Monday night in a tag team match, but this week, The Second City Savior found salvation. The leader of The New Nexus, accompanied by powerhouse Mason Ryan, relished exacting revenge on his longtime rival. He avoided the high altitude assault let loose by The Master of the 619 and dropped his nemesis with a jaw-rattling kick to the head.

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Despite a hard-charging effort by both Truth and his pious partner, Cena refused to let his battered and bruised body lie still. The Champ kicked out of sure pins and fought back with dogged determination. But even Cena’s steel-belted body has its limits. It would be up to WWE’s Littlest Big Man to carry the day for his team – a tall order he would fill with Herculian effort.

Rey capitalized on his elusive build and high-flying frame to hobble both Truth & Punk within seconds of one another. He then nailed Punk with a 619, but Hart wasn’t about to let him have all the fun. The WWE Hall of Famer, fed up with Punk’s in-ring antics, belted The Second City Savior across the jaw and locked him in the Sharpshooter, allowing Rey to pin his shoulders for the victory.

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WWE Tag Team Champions Big Show & Kane def. CM Punk & Mason Ryan

WWE Tag Team Champions Big Show & Kane once again proved what happens when the irresistible force and the immovable object are combined. The larger-than-life duo were too much for former World Champion CM Punk and his New Nexus cohort, Mason Ryan, to handle as the Tag Team Champions double chokeslammed Ryan to retain their titles and continue their dominant reign.

Undoubtedly, it was Big Show & Kane’s strategy that ultimately got the better of The New Nexus. Though two of the largest Superstars in WWE history, Kane & Big Show are only a pair, whereas the four men of The New Nexus display strength in numbers. However, the tag team champions were out to dominate in Seattle’s KeyArena and did so both physically and psychologically.
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CM Punk def. U.S. Champion Kofi Kingston in a Non-Title Match
The Second City Savior vowed to show “leadership by example.” He needed to do something after the embarrassing shellacking he and his New Nexus disciple, Mason Ryan, suffered at the hands of their WWE Over the Limit opponents, WWE Tag Team Champions Big Show & Kane.

As a result, The Second City Savior challenged U.S. Champion Kofi Kingston to a non-title match. After prevailing over the impressive Dreadlock Dynamo, Punk announced that the New Nexus were on a road to redemption and vowed that the group will regain its former dominance.

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WWE Tag Team Champion Kane vs. Mason Ryan ended in a No Contest
Last week, Mason Ryan leveled both WWE Tag Team Champions Kane & Big Show. This week, retribution came in one size: XXXL. As Kane tangled with Ryan in a singles match, his partner attacked The New Nexus ringleader CM Punk as they watched outside the ring. The attack prompted the rest of the New Nexus disciples to converge on The World’s Largest Athlete and his partner.

Having dispensed of Ryan’s Nexus brethren as well, the WWE Tag Team Champions trained their considerable fury on the Welshman and demolished him with a double chokeslam.

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WWE Tag Team Champion Kane def. Mason Ryan with CM Punk & The New Nexus by Disqualfication
Mason Ryan is for real. When The New Nexus powerhouse faced off against WWE Tag Team Champion Kane, he manhandled The Big Red Machine. Not that Kane was about to cede any ground – he banged right back. That is, until Ryan’s fellow Nexi bulldozed into the ring and ambushed him.

After the match, Ryan continued to crush his opponent. When Kane’s partner, Big Show, attempted a rescue, The New Nexus softened him up and allowed their behemoth to finish him off with a spear. Afterward, Ryan broke from the group and exited up the entrance ramp alone.

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Once again, CM Punk learned that Randy Orton’s patented RKO is perhaps one of the most unpredictable and devastating maneuvers in WWE history. The WWE Universe watched in awe — and thousands of flash bulbs attempted to capture the astounding moment when The Viper took down CM Punk to pick up another victory over the leader of The New Nexus. This instance was different than the one inside the Georgia Dome at WrestleMania and on Raw the following night, because after this unbelievable RKO, Orton truly was the last man standing at Extreme Rules.

In a Last Man Standing Match, anything goes, there are no count outs and whichever Superstar does not answer the official’s 10-count loses the match. After many close calls and brutal action in and outside of the ring, CM Punk was unable to get back to his feet before the count of 10.
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