This next match is from a feud many people wanted for quite some time (and one I wish Punk could have had to solidify his Intercontinental title reign back in 2009) but if I remember correctly some people were disappointed. Chris Jericho was rumoured to have been a potential Royal Rumble winner this year, but in the end was the runner-up, losing out to Sheamus. He challenged CM Punk (not long returning from a now-regular hiatus) for the championship and the right to be called The Best in the World. Team Johnny walks past CM Punk backstage, Johnny takes time to talk to the champ. He says everyone but Punk is jumping for joy. Punk is preoccupied with his match with Jericho, who has made their feud personal. John Laryngitis doesn't want a brawl out there so he's going old school NWA on Punk's match, if CM Punk gets disqualified, Jericho wins the title. Justin Roberts announces the new stipulation to the live crowd as Chris Jericho enters for the match. Jerry “The King” Lawler and Michael Cole are on commentary. After a quick catch up video of the feud CM Punk makes his entrance. Andy Garcia is shown in the crowd so Cole can hype up over 78,000 people being at Wrestlemania.
CM PUNK © VS. CHRIS JERICHO (WWE CHAMPIONSHIP)
WWE Wrestlemania 28 (1st April 2012)
The bell rings and they lock up, they work around the ring, getting nowhere. Punk slips behind with a waistlock, Jericho counters but a second standing switch brings it back to Punk. Punk takes Jericho to the mat for more chain wrestling. Punk rides Jericho, hitting him with crossface strikes. Punk leans Jericho on the ropes for a chop and sends him across the ring. Jericho runs into a knee to the gut. Jericho crawls to the corner, so Punk beats on him there until the referee counts to 4, then quickly backing away. Jericho gets to his feet and slaps Punk across the face. Punk goes back on the attack in the corner for another 4 count. Chris Jericho slaps Punk twice across the face before diving back into the corner. Again Punk barely avoids disqualification, hitting Jericho with a dropkick then a flurry of punches. Jericho asks how Punk's father is and gets a running knee to the skull. Punk brings Jericho out of the corner and hits elbows to the side of his head, but Jericho gets the ropes forcing a break. Punk slams Jericho. But Jericho rolls out of the ring before Punk can attack, Punk lets Jericho get in position before hitting a clothesline from the top rope to the floor! Punk has a sick sadistic smile on his face.
Chris Jericho asks how Punk's sister is. Punk grabs a chair and chases Jericho back into the ring. Jericho continues the trash talk whilst telling Punk to hit him. Punk decides to hit a spin kick to Jericho, continuing the match and keeping his title. Punk backs to a corner as Jericho uses the opposite side to stay on his feet. Punk charges into a dropkick. Jericho gets some ground and pound, deciding that taking a kicking to try and get the disqualification isn't going to cut it for much longer. CM Punk gets sent across the ring and runs into a back elbow. Punk rolls out to the apron, Jericho is on the top rope, but he drops to the apron like a clunky WWE video game. Punk has Jericho on his shoulders for a Go 2 Sleep but Jericho elbows his way down to his feet. Punk kicks Jericho's chest but gets sent back in the ring with a clothesline. Chris Jericho reaches over to grab CM Punk, bringing him back outside with a suplex from inside the ring to the floor! Neither of them can move particularly fast after that, with Jericho booting Punk on the floor. Punk is sent back inside the ring at 4, with Jericho following at 5 and covering CM Punk. Punk is able to kick out at 1.
Jericho had himself between Punk and the ropes, not letting him take the easy way out. Jericho hits an elbow drop, bringing Punk up to his feet for a Tiger backbreaker and a nearfall to follow. Chris Jericho works a chinlock as we see the suplex to the outside again. Punk fights to a seated position, Jericho forces his knee into Punk's spine, cranking his neck back. Punk uses his hands to force some separation, making his way to his feet and slapping Jericho. CM Punk picks up speed, running into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Jericho covers but Punk kicks out at 2. Chris Jericho kicks Punk's back, then lands awkwardly on a running back senton covering for another nearfall. Jericho unloads some frustrated shots before going back to Punk's midsection CM Punk fights to his feet with slaps and backs Jericho into the corner with forearms, Jericho reverses an irish whip but Punk gets a boot up in the corner. Punk leaps to the top rope but is pulled down by his trunks. That was a rough landing. Chris Jericho covers but Punk gets his shoulder up at 2 ½.
Jericho presses into Punk's back with his boot, but Punk makes it to his feet and sends Y2J into the corner with a mule kick. Jericho waits in the corner for Punk to get to his feet, Punk counters a running bulldog sending Jericho into the corner. CM Punk sends Jericho into the ring and hits a leg lariat, Chris Jericho stands back up into a clothesline. CM Punk hits a swinging neckbreaker on Jericho and covers for 2. Chris Jericho makes his way to his feet in the corner, Punk hits his running knee. Chris Jericho counters Punk's signature bulldog, attempts a lionsault but avoids Punk's knees, he rolls Punk into a Walls of Jericho but Punk rolls through, releasing Jericho. They both get to their feet and Jericho runs into a roundhouse kick to the head. Punk covers and gets another 2 count. CM Punk slams Jericho into position again and climbs to the top rope for the Randy Savage elbow. Chris Jericho got his knees up, quickly hitting a Codebreaker, but it sends Punk out of the ring!
Chris Jericho quickly follows Punk as he notices what's happened and lifts his dead weight back into the ring. Chris Jericho follows but runs into a Go 2 Sleep. CM Punk covers 1, 2, Jericho's foot finds the bottom rope. CM Punk gets a combination of kicks as they get to their feet, but misses the haymaker. Jericho picks up speed but runs into a snap powerslam, Punk hooks Jericho's legs but still can't keep him down. Chris Jericho counters a suplex, they keep switching positions on a waistlock but Jericho gets tired of that and knees Punk in the midsection. Jericho drapes Punk's ribs over the top rope, he bounces off and lands hard on the mat. Jericho hits a lionsault but only gets a nearfall. Chris Jericho makes his way to the top rope, but Punk cuts him off. CM Punk climbs to the top rope for a super hurricanrana but gets caught. Jericho drops to his feet on the mat locking in the Walls of Jericho! CM Punk has to slowly crawl to the bottom rope for a break. Jericho desperately pleas with the referee that Punk tapped, giving time for Punk to get to his feet using the ropes. Jericho gets sent over the top rope to the floor by Punk.
CM Punk hits a tope through the ropes sending Jericho into the barricade, as Jericho gets to his feet Punk hits a leaping knee strike sending Jericho's head into the ring post. Punk rolls Jericho into the ring, but only goes as far as the apron. He springboards into a Codebreaker by Jericho! Chris Jericho slowly covers, 1, 2, no! We see a replay of the Codebreaker as Jericho starts stirring, bringing Punk back to his feet and talking trash. Punk has Jericho in position for another Go 2 Sleep but Jericho lands on his feet, Jericho walks into another but elbows his way out. He sends Punk into the corner, then hits a running forearm to Punk. Jericho loudly kicks Punk in the ribs and slowly makes his way to the top rope. Punk hits a jumping enziguri to Jericho, buying some time. He gets to his feet and has Jericho in the corner for a GTS, Punk screams he's the best in the world but Jericho lands on his feet, he locks in a Liontamer before fully rolling Punk over for a Walls of Jericho. Punk tries to get to the ropes, but is dragged into the middle of the ring. Punk pulls his way through and rolls Jericho up with a small package, they exchange nearfalls leading to Punk locking in an Anaconda Vice! Jericho uses the hair to roll Punk up for a nearfall but Punk rolls it back over. Jericho knees Punk in the head and counters into a Walls of Jericho attempt, Punk is able to block it and counters into another Anaconda Vice, Jericho can't reach Punk with his knees and he's forced to tap out.
WINNER: CM PUNK (STILL WWE CHAMPION)
This match was better than I remembered it being. I could have done without the beginning section of Punk getting so easily worked up and coming a second from disqualification so constantly, but once they pushed through that I enjoyed it. They both got some good stuff in and it took everything they each had to put the other away. I've heard people call this match a disappointment, but that left me pleasantly surprised. – WORKRATE: 3.25/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 3/5 OVERALL 6.25/10
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