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It is time for Michael Cole to be the serious interviewer and he has Shawn Michaels as his guest. Michael asks Shawn for his thoughts on Triple H’s future. Shawn says that he is feeling that he knows what is going on through Triple H’s head right now. You can tell yourself that the end is near. You can prepare yourself for it. You can do everything that people say you should do, but there is nothing that prepares you for that day when it hits your right in the face. Because all of the thought that you have given it, it happens silently and privately on its own. In reality, it happens in front of thousands of people . . . and millions on pay per view. That is the humbling part.
You cannot prepare yourself for that. You cannot prepare yourself to face your own professional mortality. You can talk about it all day long. Shawn says that he knows what Hunter is feeling. Last night could have been the end of an amazing career. Hunter is a warrior and a man of honor and integrity, things that Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman know nothing about.
Hunter goes out there every night and leaves everything in the ring. He did it last night and he did it every night prior. That is who the game is. The last couple weeks, Shawn says that he came around to support his friend. Shawn says that he realizes how stupid that was because he became a distraction and a burden on Triple H. If he was in Hunter’s corner last night, it might have been different.
Shawn says that he told Triple H last week that he knew where his heart was. Shawn did not tell Hunter the truth. Hunter needed to hear that Shawn thought he could beat Brock Lesnar. It isn’t easy to look your friend in the eye, someone who has been there through thick and thin that it might be over for them. Maybe time has run its course. Shawn tells Hunter that he has nothing to be ashamed of. He says that Hunter is one of the greatest superstars to ever live. Shawn says that he has always respected him and he has always been proud of him.
Shawn says that he loves Hunter and everyone loves him. Shawn thanks Hunter for a job well done.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Five: David Otunga versus Big Show in a Don’t say “That Word†around AJ Match
Show sends Otunga into the corner and he punches David in the midsection and follows with a forearm to the back. Show with a chop to Otunga against the ropes followed by a slam. Show with more punches to the midsection followed by another forearm. Show walks across Otunga’s back.
Show with a head butt to Otunga but Otunga gets in a few punches but Show punches back and Otunga goes down. Show chokes Otunga in the ropes. Show with a chop across the chest and Otunga does down.
Show with a knee to the midsection and Otunga goes down. Show with the spike elbow drop and then he signals for the punch and he connects and Show gets the three count.
Winner: Big Show
We go to comments from Big Show after his loss at SummerSlam. Show says that it was a handicap match, not a Triple Threat match. Show wants to know how that is fair. Cena and Punk have not gone through what Show has had to endure. Show wants to know when his one-on-one match happens.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Six: Kane and Zack Ryder versus Miz and Daniel Bryan
Bryan and Kane start things off and Bryan tags Miz in and goes to the floor. Kane brings Miz into the ring and he punches Miz in the corner. Kane with knees to Miz and then he uppercuts Miz and tags in Ryder. Ryder sends Miz into the turnbuckles. Miz with an Irish whip but Ryder with knees to Miz followed by a missile drop kick. Ryder with punches but Miz with a kick.
Miz with kicks followed by a boot to the head and he gets a near fall. Bryan tags back in and he kicks Ryder. Bryan with a kick and Knees of No. He taunts Kane and tells Ryder to tag him. Bryan with kicks of no to the chest followed by a knee drop and he gets a near fall. Bryan taunts Kane some more and Bryan with a European uppercut.
Miz tags back in and he kicks Ryder in the head. Miz works on Ryder’s back and then he applies a rear chin lock. Ryder with punches to Miz but Miz with the Reality Check and he gets a near fall.
Bryan tags back in and he kicks Ryder in the corner. Bryan misses a running forearm into the corner and he knocks Miz off the apron. Ryder kicks Bryan away and Kane tags in. Miz refuses the tag and then Bryan punches Kane in the head and goes to the floor. Bryan runs into the crowd and Kane follows for a moment.
Kane looks at Ryder and he figures if Miz and Bryan cannot co-exist, why not choke slam your partner. Kane leaves the ring and attacks the ring steps. Kane then attacks the announce table and he goes after the timekeeper. Kane throws him over the ringside barrier.
Kane returns to the ring and he grabs Ryder and hits the Tombstone piledriver on Ryder.
Kane leaves the ring and he goes to the back.
We go to comments from John Cena after he lost at SummerSlam. He is asked if Punk is the best in the world. Cena says that he has not seen anything like that in his time in the WWE. He will not blame the referee. He says that he will get Punk tomorrow.
Cena is asked again if Punk is the best in the world. Cena leaves.
Matt Striker is with CM Punk in the interview area.
Punk says that the question is who is his next opponent. Punk thanks AJ for having the respect to allow him to choose his next opponent. Punk says that he is going to pick someone the WWE Universe loves and can take a beating. He is going to face someone who the WWE Universe does not think he can beat. He is choosing John Cena, but on one condition. Punk says that it is all about respect. Punk says that he commands respect when he walks into the room. He will demand respect from John Cena.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Layla is at the announce table to watch the next match.
Match Number Seven: Divas Battle Royal for the Number One Contender Spot (featuring Alicia Fox, Tamina Snuka, Kaitlyn, Natalya, Eve Torres, Rosa Mendes, and Aksana)
Tamina with a clothesline to Alicia. Rosa climbs on Tamina’s back but Tamina with a snap mare. Aksana picks Rosa up by the hair. Rosa and Aksana roll around the ring while everyone watches and they roll to the floor and both are eliminated. Eve and Kaitlyn battle while Alicia connects with forearms to Tamina.
Natalya picks up Kaitlyn and tries to slam her. Natalya and Tamina get Kaitlyn on the apron but Kaitlyn fights her way back to the ring. Tamina and Natalya with a double suplex to Kailtyn. They kick Kaitlyn but Alicia with a shot to Natalya.
Alicia with forearms to Natalya. Tamina and Natalya try to eliminate Alicia but it fails. Tamina punches Alicia in the midsection. Natalya and Tamina try for another double suplex but Alicia escapes and she hits a double drop kick on Tamina and Natalya. They hang from the apron but stay in the match. Natalya runs Alicia into the turnbuckles while Eve and Kaitlyn remember that they are in the match.
Tamina eliminates Natalya and Alicia Fox but Kaitlyn eliminates Tamina. Eve gets Kailtyn on her shoulders but Kaitlyn holds on to the ropes. Kaitlyn with a European uppercut and clothesline that sends Eve over the top rope to the floor.
Winner: Kaitlyn
In case you missed the first part of the show, we have footage of the crowning of Brock Lesnar as the second King of Kings by Paul Heyman.
We see a Tout of Brock Lesnar saying that he is leaving WWE and never coming back. The King of Kings has abdicated his throne.
We are back with a Barrett Barrage Return video. He says that broken bones and shattered dreams are a way of life. Between hope and despair, his fists are his weapons of choice. He is relentless. He is remorseless. You fight or you perish. He says that his barrage cannot be stopped.
Michael Cole mentions AJ’s tweet that she is going to send Daniel Bryan to anger management classes.
Vickie Guerrero says that AJ is a witch. Dolph cannot lose the briefcase. She tells Dolph that he needs to win for her.
Dolph says that he might not get another title match again. This is the biggest match of his life. He says that he has to win. Dolph says that they will win.
Match Number Seven: Dolph Ziggler (with Vickie Guerrero) versus Chris Jericho in a Jericho’s contract and Ziggler’s Briefcase are on the Line Match
They lock up and Jericho with a side head lock. Jericho with a shoulder tackle but Jericho with a rollup for a near fall after a leap frog by Ziggler. Jericho gets another rollup for another near fall. Ziggler goes to the floor to regroup and discuss strategy with Vickie. Jericho with an inside cradle when Ziggler returns to the ring. Jericho with a kick to Ziggler.
Jericho with a chop followed by punches and forearms. Ziggler with a punch to the head and kicks to the ribs. Ziggler with a leaping elbow drop to the ribs and he gets a near fall. Ziggler with an elbow to the head followed by a punch and kick. Ziggler with an Irish whip but Jericho runs into a boot from Jericho. Jericho with a missile drop kick for a near fall.
Jericho back body drops Ziggler over the top rope to the floor and Jericho hits the springboard drop kick that sends Ziggler to the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and Ziggler with a reverse chin lock. Ziggler takes Jericho back to the mat and Ziggler with a headstand to add more pressure to the hold. Ziggler with elbows to the neck followed by a leaping elbow drop for a near fall. Ziggler returns to the reverse chin lock. Jericho with a belly-to-back suplex to get out of the hold. Ziggler runs into a boot from Jericho.
Jericho with shoulder tackles but Jericho is sent to the apron. Jericho goes up top and hits a double sledge. Ziggler avoids the bulldog but Jericho puts Ziggler on the turnbuckles and chops him. Jericho with punches and he hits a super hurricanrana. Jericho gets a near fall. Ziggler gets a near fall after a DDT.
Jericho tries for a Fameasser but Jericho blocks it and tries for the Walls of Jericho. Ziggler with a near fall. Jericho with a clothesline. Ziggler tries for the Zig Zag but Jericho holds on to the ropes. Jericho with a bulldog and then he tries for a Lionsault but lands on the knees. Ziggler hits the Zig Zag for the three count.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
After the match, Dolph celebrates his victory while Jericho sits in the ring, wondering what is next for him.
Jericho grabs the briefcase and Vickie yells to tell Dolph to do something.
Jericho hits Ziggler with the briefcase and then he has an evil look on his face before hitting a Codebreaker on Ziggler.
Jericho leaves the ring, shaking hands with the fans.
CM Punk is walking in the back and we get ready to hear what his condition will be for his match with John Cena. Who wants a commercial?
We are back and CM Punk makes his way to the ring.
Punk decides to return to his perch in front of Jerry Lawler and he says that after defending his title at SummerSlam and feeling good about it, he was going to talk about that and his next contender. He remembers that Jerry said that Punk turned his back on the WWE Universe. Punk says that he wants Jerry to go ahead and admit that it was a lie.
Jerry says that he meant no malice and he thought that Punk turned his back at that time.
Punk tells Jerry to tell him to his face that he was wrong and he asks for an apology.
Jerry is speechless . . . but that doesn’t matter because John Cena comes out.
John makes his way to the ring and Punk is not impressed.
Punk asks Cena if he could have waited. Punk says that he was going to call John Cena out so he knew that Punk was doing business with Jerry, but Cena had to steal the spotlight.
Punk says that since Wrestlemania until last night, he has been taking a back seat to Cena, Triple H, Dwayne Johnson, and he has been doing it out of respect.
Punk tells John Boy that respect is a two way street and it has not been reciprocated to him. Punk reminds us that he is the WWE Champion and has been for nine months. People have been asking him why he is not in the main event and taking a back seat to John Cena.
Punk says that he is always in the main event and out of respect he lets Cena wrestle last. Punk says that taking a back seat no longer makes sense. Punk says that he was the man he beat to win the title at Money in the Bank. Punk says that he beat Cena last year at SummerSlam. He is still taking a back seat to the guy he beat last night.
Last year he had to take the company hostage to get respect.
Punk says that he is going to beat John Cena again because he has to do it again. All of the times that he has defeated Cena, it has not mattered. He sees a sea of green with foam fingers, t-shirts, and wristbands. He sees the C-Nation in Fresno. It dawned on him and the one condition that he wants Cena to do . . . is . . . admit that CM Punk is the best in the world.
Cena thinks about it and Punk wants him to tell the truth.
Cena says that Punk is one to always speak his mind. Cena says that Punk has been the WWE Champion for nine months. That means that he has not been the WWE Champion for nine months. You will see t-shirts and signs in the crowd and Punk might ask why. Cena says that it is because through all of the wins and losses, through the good times and bad times, they connect through one word. That word is respect.
Cena mentions Fresno and the place goes crazy. For some reason, if Fresno State does not win the National Championship, the fans are not done with their team. They love their team and they are proud of their city. It represents who they are. Cena says that his merchandise represents who he is. Cena will not let all of us down.
Cena says that he might be throwing away his shot at the championship, but he is not going to say that Punk is the Best in the World. Cena says that he has to believe that he is the Best in the World. It is not out of arrogance or being cocky, he wants people to believe in him. Cena says that he spent a year saying that would beat the Rock. Cena says that he did not think he was going to lose the match. If he gets another chance, he will think that he can beat the Rock again. Cena tells Punk that if he doesn’t think he is the best, he can go out the door. Cena says that he held the title for more than 380 days and he never demanded anything from the fans inside or outside the ropes.
Cena says that Punk is firmly in the back seat. Punk has been champion for 274 days and all people remember is the day that Punk blew a kiss to Vince McMahon and walked out of town. Cena says that now Punk wants him to throw away everything that Cena developed over the last ten years. He is not here to stroke Punk’s ego. He tells Punk to choose someone else because he will not say that Punk is the Best in the World. He knows that he can get another title match.
Cena tells Punk that there is one match that will define what Punk wants. Cena says that Night of Champions is in his house. If Punk goes into his house as champion and leaves as champion, that will be the moment that defines his existence.
Cena says that there is a mutual respect. He tells Punk to choose whoever he wants, but he tells Punk not to demand respect from the people. He tells Punk that if he does not choose Cena for the main event of Night of Champions, Punk has no respect for himself or the title.
Cena leaves and goes to the back.
CM Punk addresses Jerry Lawler and says that he wants to finish things with him. He demands an apology. Punk wants Jerry to come into the ring so they can have a conversation.
Punk says that Jerry went a little too far and Jerry owes him an apology.
Jerry says that this is a misunderstanding and if Punk wants this, he will apologize.
Punk stops Jerry from leaving the ring and he says that he is not finished. If John Cena doesn’t want him to say it, Jerry is the minister of propaganda. He wants Jerry to say that Punk is the best in the world.
Jerry says that Punk can call him what he wants. Jerry says that he has built a rapport with the WWE Universe.
Punk wants Jerry to tell everyone the truth and say that Punk is the best in the world.
Jerry says that he cannot say that. Jerry asks Punk to let him do his job.
Punk kicks Lawler in the back and then he picks up the title belt and he squats next to Lawler. We go to credits.
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