Grudge Match
CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio
How: Punk challenged Rey in front of his family FOR CHRISSAKES! Rey accepted. Here we are.
Heat Check: The festivities started before Elimination Chamber, when the two were slated to face off against each other in a warm-up match. Mysterio defeated Punk with a counter to the GOOOOO 2 SLEEEEEEEEEEEEP~!, and Punk got pissed, like rill pissed. So he beat Rey up and had Luke Gallows do this:
In the aftermath, Punk kept baiting Rey, even going so far as to interrupt Rey's birthday celebration for his youngest daughter and offering him out right then and there. Punk's been a real bastard. Anyway, here we are, although more stuff should happen with two more Smackdowns left to air before WM. The rumor is it'll become a lucha de apuesta, i.e. Punk's hair vs. Rey's mask.
Analysis: Of all the things they could have started the feud over (Rey's wellness violations, his injury proneness, Punk picking him as a potential "candidate" for the SES), they started this feud because Punk was pissed off over losing to Rey. Call me old school, but I LOVE that beginning. Feuds starting over competition in the ring are sometimes the best ones. This does have the chance to evolve into something else, but for now, for a low-card match where the feud hasn't started until recently? It's perfectly fine the way it is.
I think this has match-of-the-night potential. Mysterio is one of the top 3 workers in the company according to a lot of people who judge that sort of thing (including me), and Punk really isn't far behind. This is the rare match where Punk can play bully, and with his offense based on heavy strikes, especially with his elbows and knees, he can really brutalize the smaller Rey, whom I expect will bump like a madman for the Straight Edge Superstar. If this match doesn't deliver, then I'll be highly, highly surprised.
Who Should Win: Punk should win just because he could use a high-profile win at WM to help his heel status. I can definitely see him regaining the title later on this year.
Who Will Win: Rey Mysterio will probably win with a counter or something. I don't see this feud ending just yet, and really, it shouldn't. It's a great pairing between two great workers and a character pairing that works almost perfectly together.
Main Photo Credit: WWE.com
