The Bell Tolls For CM Punk

It is official; CM Punk VS The Undertaker

The stage has been set, and the gauntlet thrown; we have a superstar to challenge for the Streak this year, and it goes to CM Punk. With a clean win over Randy Orton on the Old School RAW. Even though that this match was already slated in the cards, and rumored about for a while now... I am excited to see this match up happen. It's not the championship match, but it does establish something else for Punk if he breaks the streak. Again with last night, when Wrestlemania season rolls into town, the Undertaker becomes a target. Who doesn't want to cement themselves in the wrestling history books with the likes of Bruno Sammartino and Buddy Rogers as the guy who broke a twenty year streak? Considering the names that came out and wanted a piece of the Undertaker's Wrestlemania legacy (Orton, Sheamus, and the Big Show), CM Punk put away Orton on a distraction. This ultimately made Punk look strong in a top-tier match against superstars who have all been multiple former champions. Count 'em... there have been over 40 championship reigns between those four men. And to think, Mean Mark Callous was winning championships back when most of these competitors (outside of the Big Show) wer in grade school, and with CM Punk winning and going to Wrestlemania would be a happy medium with a fresh face versus Taker, as the past four years have seen rematches of Shawn Michaels and Triple H. Glad to see something new.

With fresh being one of the topics at hand, how fresh is the Undertaker? Considering his tenacity for the past four years against two solid competitors, Taker has performed amazing matches with HBK and HHH, and didn't disappoint. However, we all saw Undertaker barely walk away from his last match with Triple H.  How much fuel does Taker have left in his tank? Will this match with CM Punk be just as, if not better, than his last? Will the WWE allow him to keep the streak intact? Or does the Undertaker realize that he isn't in the best shape to continue five-star quality matches any longer? Outside of his appearance at RAW 1000, a year long hiatus for the Undertaker may not be enough. This may be the time for the Undertaker to pass the torch to Punk and walk away with his first Wrestlemania loss.

Now, let us take a look at the challenger. Any superstar, even Gillberg and the J.O.B. Squad would be solidified as amazing to put away the Undertaker and his streak (but it would devalue Taker immensely), but this is no ordinary challenger--this is CM (Chick Magnet) Punk, a man who carried the WWE Championship longer than anyone within the WWE in the last 25 years. Punk has credibility as a wrestler, and has established himself as a legitimate threat to many in the locker room. Best In The World would BE Punk, hands down, save a win over the Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Of course, looking into the past, there have been numerous threats in the Dead Man's way. The Heartbreak Kid and Triple H have been massive road bumps recently, to which Taker did not walk away from the past four Wrestlemanias that easily. It showed his age, and that he is getting up there with the rest of the Legends. But, I digress.

If Punk puts away Taker, you might also have someone else to thank for his historic win; Paul Heyman. If you are an avid reader of my long-winded spectacle, I am a fan of Heyman and his "managerial" talent. Even after all the twinkie tits and walrus references from the Rock, he takes everything in stride and he is amazing when it comes to acting and reacting. He is the prime onscreen definition of the word "slimeball". However, with all that is said, Heyman has been with Punk since September 2012, and has made waves for CM Punk. My question is, with Heyman in Punk's corner, will this also play as a factor in Punk's win/loss? Heyman is very diabolical, as with his encounter with the Dead Man back in 2002 with Brock Lesnar. Heyman himself had tried several times to disarm Taker and request from Mr. McMahon different ways to disallow  Undertaker from using a cast on his hand that Brock had injured. As Vickie Guererro and "creative" are so haphazard and disorganized, I'll be hard pressed to see what disadvantage, if any, she will put the Undertaker in. I was even half-expecting the Shield to come out and raise hell for the Undertaker at Punk's behest.

It is what it is. I'm very interested in seeing what happens at Wrestlemania, as this event is no longer something mentioned in passing; it is Undertaker's legacy.

The Streak
(Forgive the errant Win/Loss column... doesn't factor right in Google Blogger)

VII Jimmy Snuka 1–0

VIII Jake Roberts 2–0

IX Giant González 3–0

XI King Kong Bundy 4–0

XII Diesel 5–0

13 Sycho Sid 6–0

XIV Kane 7–0

XV Big Boss Man 8–0

X-Seven Triple H 9–0

X8 Ric Flair 10–0

XIX Big Show & A-Train 11–0

XX Kane 12–0

21 Randy Orton 13–0

22 Mark Henry 14–0

23 Batista 15–0

XXIV Edge 16–0

XXV Shawn Michaels 17–0

XXVI Shawn Michaels 18–0

XXVII Triple H 19–0

XXVIII Triple H 20–0

XXIX    CM Punk ???