CM PUNK (C) VS. JOHN "BRADSHAW" LAYFIELD

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  Before the match Jerry "The King" Lawler thanks Jet Black Stare for the Summerslam 2008 theme "Ready to roll" and there's a poll to see whether fans think Edge and Vickie Guerrero will get a divorce. We see CM Punk stretching backstage before Cole leads us in to a video package for the champ. CM Punk cashed in his Money in the Bank contract he won at Wrestlemania 24 on Edge, winning the World heavyweight championship, and he says he deserves it. JBL disagrees, he's a self-made millionaire and CM Punk's run as champion will be a footnote. JBL challenged CM Punk to a drinking contest and called him boring, but got a beating for it. JBL enters first and it's the aforementioned duo of Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler calling this match for Raw. JBL won number one contendership in a match made by new Raw General Manager Mike Adamle (remember that guy?) in an "Adamle original match" with JBL pinning Punk to get the shot. CM Punk enters and I think the network dimmed his reaction, it just doesn't sound right to me. JBL's called Punk a transitional champion and called this match a meeting of Oldschool and New School. Lillian Garcia gives us Big Match in-ring intros.

CM PUNK © VS. JOHN "BRADSHAW" LAYFIELD

(WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP)

WWE Summerslam (17^th August 2008)

  They start with a collar-elbow tie up and JBL easily takes Punk to the corner, Punk shoves JBL as he breaks, JBL hits Punk with a knee to the gut, clubbing at him before grabbing a side headlock. JBL tries to keep his weight on Punk but CM Punk gets to his feet. He forearms JBL in the ribs, sending him against the ropes and across the ring. JBL knocks CM Punk down with a shoulder tackle. Punk goes prone and JBL blocks a hip toss. Punk ducks a clothesline attempt kicking at JBL's legs. CM Punk ducks a clothesline and hits a flying forearm and dropkicks JBL out of the ring. CM Punk dives through the ropes with a tope to knock JBL down on the floor, before sending JBL back in the ring and climbing to the top rope. CM Punk lands a cross body and JBL kicks out at 2. CM Punk runs into a shoulder tackle and is sent into the corner with right hands. CM Punk is sent across the ring as we get a replay of the shoulder tackle we just saw and he gets the boot up to meet JBL and he climbs to the top rope. JBL cuts him off with a clubbing blow and the Fall Away slam from the second rope sends the champion across the ring! JBL covers for a nearfall.

  JBL attacks Punk's back with falling European uppercuts. CM Punk is brought to his feet but JBL knocks him down again with a right hand as Lawler and Cole put over his brawling style. JBL puts Punk in one corner before sending him across the ring with raw strength, Punk collapses to the mat and JBL working the back of CM Punk early in this match. JBL grabs a bear hug and clubs at Punk's back. Punk elbows at Bradshaw but can't break free, JBL ducks to one knee to avoid more elbow strikes, keeping pressure around Punk's ribs. Punk uses the point of his elbow to attack JBL's ribs and breaks free, he hits him with a forearm and a spin kick sending him into the corner but he runs into a big boot before he can pick up much momentum. Punk drops to his ass and JBL kicks him in the head a second time for a nearfall. JBL hits a vertical suplex with a float-over for another nearfall. JBL with the clubbing blow to Punk's back and he brings him down on his neck with a back suplex. JBL covers again, but the champion still kicks out after 2.

  JBL leeches onto Punk with another bear hug on the mat. Punk doesn't give up and fights to his feet, breaking free of JBL's vice. JBL misses a swing at Punk but his weight advantage allows him to knock Punk into the ropes. JBL works an abdominal stretch. I know he said he was “Old-School” but I didn't realise it was 1970's old. JBL applies a claw for added pressure and nostalgia to all the grandparents in the crowd. Punk tries to get fired up by the crowd so JBL clubs at his midsection. Punk releases himself sending JBL over with a hip toss, but it hurt his midsection. JBL staggers to the corner and he's caught with a high knee! CM Punk hits a bulldog out of the corner. CM Punk's slow to capitalise, he lifts JBL for the Go To Sleep but his core can't take it, JBL hits a short-arm clothesline and a combination of elbow drops. JBL covers after the fifth but CM Punk kicks out at 2. JBL brings Punk to his feet and they exchange rights, Punk hits JBL with a palm strike so JBL goes for the eyes. Punk ducks a clothesline and fires with a combination of strikes knocking JBL down. Punk covers but only gets a nearfall.

  CM Punk slides out to the apron, but gets caught on the springboard clothesline, JBL slams him down and covers but still only gets 2. JBL is frustrated and calls for the Clothesline From Hell to a chorus of boos, Punk hits a leg lariat first! They knocked heads landing on that, with JBL landing on Punk. Punk gets to his feet first, hitting JBL with another high knee, JBL blocks the bulldog this time, perching Punk in the corner and of course attacks the back with clubbing blows. JBL brings Punk down to the mat with a back superplex and Lawler mentions Punk's bleeding from somewhere. Not good with this being WWE's first official PG Pay-Per-View. The referee counts both men down as we see the cause of Punk's blood. JBL rolls Punk over and covers, but the champion still kicks out after 2. CM Punk ducks a clothesline and hits JBL with the Go To Sleep, Punk's dazed but he finds his way to cover JBL and hook the far leg to retain his championship.

WINNER: CM PUNK (STILL WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION)

  JBL got a lot in this match, considering this time last year he was retired I'm not sure how smart that was. Although it makes sense from a visual test point of view. CM Punk got some good moves in, but this was really a JBL match where Punk scraped a victory from hitting his finisher. Not a bad match, and reasonably enjoyable. A middling description is best for this match really. – WORKRATE: 2.75/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 2.25/5 OVERALL 5/10

From this match I get to go on to another of my favourite Summerslam matches in history. Also featuring CM Punk, also for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. This time he's defending against Jeff Hardy and representing Smackdown.