DETROIT – What is greater – creator or the creation? Since he was signed to a WWE developmental contract eight years ago, CM Punk’s biggest advocate has been one of sports-entertainment’s most lauded creators: Paul Heyman. But in front of a raucous Motor City crowd at Night of Champions, Heyman’s creation achieved momentary redemption against his former mentor before succumbing thanks to a massive intruder.
During the two months since Money in the Bank’s epic betrayal, The Second City Saint has waged vicious wars with Heyman via the proxy of Brock Lesnar and the newest “Guy,” Curtis Axel. But it was in Detroit that Punk had vowed to tear apart the mad scientist himself. And he delivered with mixed results.
The Handicap Elimination Match had gained a No Disqualification stipulation, and the rules dictated that Punk must first face off with Intercontinental Champion Axel. No easy task, but the former WWE Champion had the benefit of facing a worn down adversary. Earlier in the evening, the third-generation competitor was forced to defend his title in a physical bout against Kofi Kingston.
Punk briefly got his hands on Heyman before the Extreme mastermind was able to escape out of the squared circle thanks to low blow from the Intercontinental Champion. Axel nailed a vicious kendo stick shot to Punk’s clavicle, allowing the son of Mr. Perfect to score a near fall and prepare a table in a corner of the ring. As the talented titleholder unleashed an offense reminiscent of both his father and grandfather – Larry “The Axe” Hennig” – the wily adviser at ringside continued to shout, “I believe in you!” at his protégé.
Attempts by both men to execute a suplex through the table were unsuccessful, which led into a familiar offensive sequence by Punk, including a high knee and intense clothesline. With Axel on the floor at ringside, the Chicago native dove through the ropes onto his rival, but was met with the cold, hard steel of a chair.
Back in the ring, each competitor traded shots with the kendo stick. In what was beginning to resemble a match featuring one of Heyman’s original “Guys,” The Sandman, Punk finally nailed a vicious enough strike to take complete control. The Voice of the Voiceless hoisted the exhausted Axel onto his shoulders and sent him to the mat with a rattling GTS. Punk locked in the Anaconda Vise for the submission, and kept the hold applied after the bell to guarantee to further involvement from Axel.
With a grin, Punk slowly turned around to face Heyman, who stood peering into the ring as if his life was flashing before his eyes. Following a brief chase through the crowd, Punk finally got Heyman right where he wanted him: in the center of the ring. There was no more Curtis Axel. No more Brock Lesnar. It was just Punk and Paul. Creation and creator.
The first blows with a kendo stick weren’t enough for the former WWE Champion. Punk handcuffed his former mentor as Heyman pleaded for it all to end. “You did this to yourself!” insisted Punk, as he administered a sadistic barrage including stiff kendo stick hits to the New York native’s ankle and inner thigh. Heyman took no pages out of ECW Original Tommy Dreamer’s playbook. Instead of asking if he may have another, the once proud sage only screamed a desperate, “Are you crazy!?”
Perhaps Punk was crazy with redemption. Grabbing the loudmouth by the lips and nostrils, The Best in the World asked, “I broke your heart? I’ll break your face.” Aiming at Heyman’s skull with a kendo stick as if he was about to finish off the cowardly Judas once and for all, Punk suddenly sensed a looming figure behind him. Turning to face the intruder, Punk was shockingly plowed through the aforementioned table by the hulking Ryback.
Splinters strewn across the canvas, Ryback dragged the incapacitated Heyman on top of the wounded Punk for the shocking pinfall. The bruiser lifted the lifeless victor onto his shoulders and carried him from the arena while the match’s victim rose to his feet and walked out of the ring. Yes, CM Punk did get his hands on Paul Heyman. But it was the evil genius that somehow weaseled his way out of Detroit with a victory.
Is the sadistic monster from Sin City the newest “Paul Heyman Guy”? If Ryback is the latest recruit to receive Heyman’s tutelage, he might be the most impressive creature yet for sports-entertainment’s Dr. Frankenstein. He will be following in the footsteps of Lesnar, Big Show and ECW’s chokeslam innovator 911. Because as valuable a creator can be, it is the creations that cause destruction.
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