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BG Says Special Edition: CM Punk and the OVW Heavyweight Championship
By Brad Garoon | July 5, 2008
In honor of your NEW World Heavyweight Champion
In Volume 1 a Special Edition chronicled Punk’s career in OVW leading up to his title win. It was a long look at a large chunk of time. This Special Edition follows his championship reign, which lasted until his departure for ECW. It’s going to be a long ride too, but I figure given his WWE World title win on Monday it’s worth your time.
We start off with Punk’s first title defense. In the run up to his strap match against Brent Albright for the title Albright enlisted the help of Gaspard to beat Punk around. He helped Albright whip Punk in the ring and then beat him down backstage one week before the title match. Punk won the belt, and then reminded Gaspard that with Albright out of the way he had nothing else on his mind but revenge.
In a pre-match promo Punk takes one last shot at Albright, calling him a great wrestler who sucks at life. He says that he’s not afraid of Gaspard because he’s from the streets too, the streets of Chicago. In Brooklyn apparently you attack people from behind, but in Chicago you fight a man face to face. Tonight they meet in the ring so Punk is going to win with the Anaconda Vice.
CM Punk VS. Shad Gaspard [OVW Heavyweight Championship Match– 5/13/06]
Ken Kennedy does the ring introductions. Gaspard opens up before the bell. They slug it out until Punk hits an ugly dropkick. He beats Gaspard in the corner until the referee pulls him away. Gaspard hits a cheap shot. He throws Punk across the ring by his throat. He hits an exploder for 2. He lifts Punk up in a double-handed choke. Punk goes to the eyes to escape. He hits kicks and slaps. He puts on the Anaconda Vice and holds on through Gaspard’s attempts to escape. Gaspard taps out at 2:47. Not much of a match after all that build.
Rating: *
After the match Kennedy starts to announce Punk as champion before laying him out with the belt. He hits Punk with the Swanton Bomb. He announces himself as the special WWE Superstar to receive the OVW title shot at Punk.
CM Punk VS. Ken Kennedy [OVW Heavyweight Championship Match– 5/20/06]
They lock up and Kennedy powers Punk to the corner. He puts on a headlock but Punk comes back with a hammerlock. Kennedy gets to the ropes. Punk goes for the Anaconda Vice but Kennedy counters to an armbar. Punk goes for a backslide but Kennedy pushes away. Punk gets a takedown but Kennedy counters the face wash to a clothesline. Punk dodges a face wash attempt from Kennedy and connects with the move himself for 2. He puts on a modified Tarantula but the referee calls for the break. He hits a springboard crossbody for 2. Punk hurts his arm coming down so Kennedy goes after it. Punk hits a dropkick for 2. Kennedy rams Punk’s arm into the post as they go to commercial. Back from the break Kennedy rams Punk’s arm into the turnbuckle. He gets a roll up for 2. He slams Punk’s arm to the mat and pounds Punk down for 2. He puts on an armbar and hits an armbreaker for 2. He goes back to the armbar and hits a clothesline in the corner. They hit simultaneous clotheslines and both go down. Back on their feet Kennedy attacks the arm again. Punk comes back with forearms and the STO. He hits a kneelift and a bulldog with the good arm after switching from the bad arm. I love stuff like that. Kennedy hits a kick to the arm and an enziguiri. He hits the Green Bay Plunge for 2. He sets Punk up top and goes for a superplex but Punk fights him off and goes for a sunset bomb. Kennedy sits down and holds the ropes for leverage but only gets 2. He climbs the ropes but the Kenton Bomb hits knees. Punk grabs the Anaconda Vice and Kennedy taps out at 14:52 shown. It’s good to see that OVW got the Anaconda Vice over as a sure-thing match ender. Being afraid of that move Kennedy wisely dissected Punk’s arm to keep him from using it. Punk adapted however, using his good arm and his knees to get in enough offense to stay alive. The finish felt a little tacked on but I can forgive it.
Rating: ***¼
CM Punk VS. Johnny [OVW Heavyweight Championship Match– 5/27/06]
WWE World Tag Champ Johnny is in Spirit Squad mode here. The rest of the Squad was banned from ringside. They lock up and trade holds to start. Johnny hits a shoulder tackle. Punk hits a hiptoss. He hits a bodyslam. He hits a dropkick for 2. He goes for the Anaconda Vice but Johnny keeps away from it. Johnny hits a knee to the gut. He chops Punk in the corner. Punk returns the favor. Johnny goes for a Boston crab but Punk blocks it. They slap each other across the face. Punk grabs the Anaconda Vice but (after some weirdness from Mikey of the Spirit Squad) the Neighborhoodie and Gaspard distract Punk from the hold. They lay Punk out with the title belt, getting 2 for Johnny. Punk gets a backslide for 2. Johnny boots him to the mat. He puts on a chinlock. Punk escapes with a back suplex. He hits the roaring forearm. He hits the STO. He hits a kneelift. He hits a knee kick in the corner. He hits a bulldog for 2. He hits Welcome to Chicago for 2. Johnny comes back with a spinning kick for 2. He puts on the Boston crab. Punk powers out and grabs the Anaconda Vice. Johnny gets to the ropes. He gets a crucifix pin for 2. He goes back to the Boston crab. Punk gets to the ropes. He gets a roll up for 2. He dodges a superkick and floats into an enziguiri. He puts on the Anaconda Vice for the win at 11:43. The interference in the middle was poorly executed and was quickly forgotten, but the rest of the match was a lot of fun.
Rating: ***
Next week Mikey and Johnny approach Maria and ask her to find another girl to help her “take on” the tag champs. She asks why everyone’s always picking on her. Punk tells them to leave her alone. They challenge him to a tag match.
Later on Maria interviews Punk. He’s got a friend who’s going to watch his back. He’s not going to tell who this man is, but he’s going help Punk take the Spirit Squad… to the… extreme!
CM Punk & Tommy Dreamer VS. Johnny & Mikey [WWE World Tag Team Championship Match - 6/3/06]
Mikey & Johnny make fun of Triple H’s entrance. In a display of the times the fans don’t react for Dreamer’s Man in the Box entrance music but go crazy at the sight of him, showing that these are tried and true WWE fans who have forgotten ECW. Everyone brawls to start. Punk and Dreamer hit stereo hiptosses. Punk follows the Squad to the floor with a suicide dive. Dreamer hits them with a baseball slide. He hits Mikey with a small trash can. In the ring he puts Johnny in an abdominal stretch, allowing Punk to kick his face. Dreamer hits an elbowdrop for 2. Punk hits a neckbreaker for 2. Dreamer tags in and gets sent into the post. Mikey tags in and slams Dreamer’s arm against the mat. He kicks the arm against the ropes. He hits an arm whip for 2. He puts on a kimura. Punk breaks it up with a dropkick. Johnny comes in illegally and puts on a hammerlock. Mikey tags in and stomps on the arm. Punk tags in and cleans house. He hits Mikey with the STO and a knee in the corner. He hits Johnny with the knee as well. He bulldogs Johnny while clotheslining Mikey. He hits Johnny with a spinebuster for 2. Mikey saves Johnny from Welcome to Chicago with a dropkick. They hit Punk with the Spirit Kick for 2. Dreamer sends Mikey to the floor. Johnny hits him with a superkick. Punk locks the Anaconda Vice in on Johnny and Dreamer puts Mikey in the crossface. Gaspard and the Neighborhoodie run in and attack Punk & Dreamer, drawing a disqualification at 7:18. This was just fine before the finish. I guess they had to protect those WWE guys.
Rating: **
After the match the OVW tag champs and future Cryme Tyme completely destroy Punk & Dreamer.
Next week Maria interviews Punk again. She lets him know that Simon Dean did something awful to Al Snow, and now he’s challenging Punk for the title. Punk is more interested in Gaspard and the Neighborhoodie, but he’s going to take pleasure in punking Dean for what he did to Snow.
CM Punk VS. Simon Dean [OVW Heavyweight Championship Match– 6/10/06]
Dean’s neon green outfit makes him blend in with the yellow ring ropes. They lock up and Punk overpowers Dean. They knuckle up and Dean grabs a wristlock. Punk goes for the Anaconda Vice but Dean backs up to the corner. Punk baits him in and gets back control. Dean turns it over but can’t pass Punk’s guard. Yep, Simon Dean is doing MMA stuff. Punk hits a forearm. He hits a back elbow. He hits kicks in the corner. Dean blocks the knee kick and hits a Stun Gun. He hits the Skull @#$%er for 2. He hits the Complete Shot and puts on the Koji Clutch. The commentator asks when the last time Punk was in a hold like that. I’d guess it was in one of his matches against Christopher Daniels late in his ROH run. Punk comes back with strikes. He hits a clothesline and a back elbow. He hits the STO. He hits a kneelift. He hits the knee kick in the corner. Dean blocks the bulldog and gets a roll up with a handful of tights for 2. Punk counters la magistral to the Anaconda Vice. Dean waves starts waving and the Neighborhoodie & Gaspard run in and draw the disqualification at 6:32. Dean was squashing Punk before the final ten seconds, making the champ look like a chump. I mean really, you have to make Simon Dean look good?
Rating: *½
After the match Cryme Tyme and Dean beat on Punk relentlessly. I guess Dean vs. Snow was going to be a big deal. After the commercial break Punk gets on the microphone and tells Dean that he’ll take care of him at the Six Flags show with the help of Snow.
Next week Punk cuts a promo in the ring. He reminds us about Gaspard jumping him from behind with his buddy the Neighborhoodie. He declares himself the man of the people, just to remind us that he’s a babyface. Now Punk has a shot at Gaspard and Neighborhoodie’s tag titles. Dreamer is busy, so Punk is bringing Kane to Six Flags to challenge for the belts.
CM Punk VS. Vic Devine [6/24/06]
They trade holds to start. Devine goes to the ropes. They slug it out until Devine slams Punk to the mat by his hair. Punk comes back with kicks for 2. He puts on the Anaconda Vice for the win at 1:24. Punk definitely needed that after weeks of compromising his spot for WWE wrestlers.
Rating: ¼*
After the match Gaspard and the Neighborhoodie stalk Punk. Kane’s music hits, scaring the New York thugs to the back. Kane doesn’t make an appearance.
Next week Punk talks about the upcoming Six Flags show and the fact that Rey Mysterio is coming to defend his World Championship. Punk and Seth Skyfire are both champions in OVW, so they’re going to face off to see who will get the shot at Mysterio. Punk doesn’t address the tag match with Kane against Cryme Tyme that is scheduled to take place on that same Six Flags show.
CM Punk VS. Seth Skyfire [WWE World Championship Number One Contender Match - 6/28/06]
The Miz comes out before the match can get going and complains that he should get the shot against Mysterio. Punk slaps him to the floor and we don’t see him again. Skyfire’s ribs are taped. They lock up and Punk puts on a headlock. Skyfire gets a roll up for 2. Punk pins Skyfire for 2. They knuckle up and Skyfire gets a monkey flip for 2. He puts on an armbar. He dodges the Anaconda Vice but can’t connect with a kick. They knuckle up again and Punk hits a monkey flip. Skyfire goes for a sunset flip but Punk kneels down for 2. They trade pin attempts for 2. Punk dodges a crossbody and gets 2. After a commercial break Skyfire gets a roll up for 2. They slug it out in an exchange that Punk wins for 2. Punk puts on the body scissors. Skyfire elbows out of the hold. With Skyfire’s tape gone Punk works over the midsection. He hits a knee to the gut for 2. He puts on an abdominal stretch. Skyfire counters the hold. Punk goes for a hiptoss but Skyfire reverses to a roll up for 2. Punk hits a back elbow. Skyfire hits clotheslines. He hits a leg lariat. Punk hits a back heel kick. Skyfire hits a tiger flip for 2. He blocks the Anaconda Vice and hits a standing moonsault for 2. He hits an enziguiri for 2. He climbs the ropes but Punk brings him down and hits Go2Sleep for 2. Punk kicks Skyfire’s back repeatedly for 2. He hits the uranage and puts on the Anaconda Vice. Skyfire gets to the ropes. He hits the Code Breaker. He gets a roll up for the win at 14:12 shown. I was actually expecting more after the stuff these two did in the four way before Punk’s OVW Championship win, but this was still a good back-and-forth match.
Rating: ***
Since I don’t have any Six Flags matches in my possession the tag match with Kane isn’t going to be reviewed. What is going to be reviewed is Skyfire’s OVW Championship Match challenge, which he received for defeating Punk in the World Championship contender match.
CM Punk VS. Seth Skyfire [OVW Heavyweight Championship Match – 7/12/06]
They lock up and Punk puts Skyfire on the mat. They knuckle up and Punk pins Skyfire for 2. Skyfire comes back with an armdrag. He gets a takedown for 2. He puts on a wristlock. Punk counters to a leglock. Skyfire blocks a Mexican surfboard. Punk tries again but Skyfire blocks again. He puts on a headlock. Skyfire hits a dropkick for 2. They trade forearms and Punk goes to work on the midsection. They go to the floor where Skyfire hits a head scissors takedown. After a commercial Skyfire pounds on Punk in the ring. Skyfire gets a victory roll for 2. Punk rolls back for 2. Punk finally locks in the Mexican surfboard. He rolls back and pins Skyfire for 2. He puts on a chinlock. Skyfire stomps on his foot to block. Punk gets a takedown for 2. Skyfire hits a standing moonsault for 2. Punk ducks a kick and puts on the Gory Special. Skyfire tries to escape with an armdrag but Punk puts him on the mat and stomps on him for 2. Skyfire hits chops and avoids the same from Punk. He hits a leaping forearm. He hits a tiger flip. He hits a basement dropkick for 2. Punk puts on his rope submission until the referee calls for the break. He misses a springboard maneuver and Skyfire hits a leg lariat off the top for 2. Skyfire rolls through the uranage. He gets a roll up for 2. Punk blocks a crucifix bomb and puts on the Anaconda Vice. Skyfire rolls over for 2 but Punk keeps the hold locked on. Skyfire puts on the head scissors but Punk doesn’t release the Vice. Skyfire taps out at 12:10 shown. This was worlds better than their first match, with fun counters and nothing boring throughout.
Rating: ***½
Punk and Skyfire shake hands and hug after the match. Gaspard and the Neighborhoodie attack Punk but Skyfire runs back out to make the save.
Next week Punk says that Skyfire is going to be his partner. Since he can’t seem to find Gaspard and the Neighborhoodie now he’s going to bait them out with a challenge. At Six Flags they’ll put their singles titles on the line if Gaspard and Neighborhoodie will put their Southern Tag Team Titles on the line. Deuce and Domino walk up to them and say that since they’ve already beaten the champions in a non-title match they’re the number one contenders to the tag belts. A new number one contenders match between these teams is agreed upon.
CM Punk & Seth Skyfire VS. Deuce & Domino [Number One Contenders Match - 7/19/06]
Skyfire and Deuce start. Skyfire gets a roll up for 1. Deuce puts on a headlock. He gets a roll up for 2. Skyfire gets a roll up for 2. Domino tags in and runs into a drop toehold. Punk tags in and kicks Domino’s back. He puts on a headlock. Skyfire tags in and hits a crossbody for 2. Punk tags in and kicks Domino’s back for 2. He hits Deuce with a knee in the corner. Domino slams him off the top rope for 2. Deuce tags in and hits a backbreaker for 2. Punk hits a neckbreaker. Domino tags in and hits a bodyslam. He hits a kneedrop for 2. Deuce tags in and “hits” a leg lariat. He puts on a front facelock. After a commercial Punk clubs Deuce down. Domino tags in and hits a double axe handle for 2. Deuce tags in and pins Punk for 2. He puts on a chinlock. Punk hits a back bodydrop. Domino tags in and keeps Punk from making the tag. He hits a snapmare for 2. Deuce tags in and boots Punk in the face for 2 when Skyfire saves. Domino tags in and gets nailed with a flying forearm. Skyfire tags in and cleans house. He hits Deuce with a dropkick and Domino with a leg lariat. He hits Deuce with a leg lariat off the top for 2. Punk shoves Domino to the floor. He goes for a plancha but completely wipes out. In the ring Deuce hits Skyfire with his elbowdrop. Neighborhoodie runs out and distracts the referee while Gaspard knocks Deuce out with a title belt. He rolls Punk on top, giving the champ the win at 9:31 shown. Deuce & Domino are the slugs, but Skyfire did his best to keep the match interesting.
Rating: **¼
No Six Flags footage means we miss Skyfire and Punk beating the future Cryme Tyme for the Southern Tag Team Championships. I suppose because of the shady finish to their number one contender match Deuce and Domino get the first shot at the titles.
CM Punk & Seth Skyfire VS. Deuce & Domino [OVW Southern Tag Team Championship Match - 8/2/06]
Punk and Domino start. Punk hits leg kicks. He gets a roll up for 1. He hits knees and tags to Skyfire. They hit a double chop for 2. Skyfire kicks the chest but misses a standing moonsault. Deuce tags in and walks into a clothesline. Skyfire hits the standing moonsault. Punk tags in and kicks Deuce’s chest for 2. He puts on an armbar. Deuce goes to the eyes. Domino tags in and walks into a hiptoss. Deuce tags in and gets caught with a backslide. Domino tags in and works over Punk’s neck. Deuce and Skyfire tag into the match. Punk hits a drop toehold and Skyfire hits an elbowdrop for 2. Punk tags in and dropkicks the back of Deuce’s head for 2. Domino tags in and slugs Punk’s gut. Deuce tag sin and hits a chop block for 2. After a commercial Punk hits an enziguiri. His leg took serious damage during the break. Skyfire tags in and cleans house. He hits Deuce with a leg lariat. Domino slugs him from behind. Skyfire screws up his top rope leg lariat so he hits a regular one for 2. He gets a roll up for 2. Punk limps in and shoves Domino to the floor. They hit Deuce with Total Elimination for 2. Domino trips Skyfire (so telegraphed) and Deuce hits a facebuster. Deuce dances around and hits a fistdrop for 2. Domino shoves Punk into the post. The challengers double-team Skyfire for 2. Skyfire hits a backdrop and tags to Punk. Punk is upset at being tagged in while injured. Deuce hits his elbowdrop thing for the win at 9:10 shown. Skyfire’s mistake aside this was much better than the previous match.
Rating: **¾
Next week Punk and Skyfire are getting ready in the back when a candid camera catches them arguing about last week’s match. Punk thinks Skyfire screwed up the whole match by tagging in the injured wrestler. Skyfire says that he’d just taken their finisher and he needed to tag out and didn’t realize Punk was as hurt as he was. He apologizes and says they’ll get the belts back tonight. A little later on a lot of tension still exists between the two.
Deuce & Domino VS. CM Punk & Seth Skyfire [OVW Southern Tag Team Championship Match - 8/9/06]
Punk and Deuce start. They lock up and Punk gets a roll up for 1. Punk puts on a wristlock and tags to Skyfire. Skyfire stays on the arm. He gets a roll up for 2. Punk tags in and hits a snapmare for 2. Domino hits a cheap shot. Deuce hits a standing bulldog. He dances around before going for the fistdrop but Skyfire hits him with a cheap shot. Skyfire tags in but misses the standing moonsault. Domino tags in and runs into an armdrag. Punk tags in and wants a double backdrop but Skyfire hits a dropkick. It gets 2 for Punk. Deuce tags in and gets caught in a roll up for 2. Skyfire tags in and hits a side Russian legsweep for 2. Domino tags in and walks into the top rope leg lariat. Cherry distracts Skyfire and Deuce pulls him to the floor. Cherry kicks him with her roller skate, getting 2 for Domino back in the ring. After a commercial Deuce hits Skyfire with a backbreaker. Domino tags in and hits a knee kick for 2. He hits a butterfly suplex for 2. The champs double-team Skyfire in the corner. Deuce comes in illegally and pins Skyfire for 2. Domino tags in and hits a double axe handle to the ribs for 2. He puts on a chinlock. Deuce tags in and keeps the chinlockery going. He misses a kneedrop but keeps Skyfire from tagging to Punk. Domino tags in but Skyfire fights him off and tags to Punk. Punk cleans house. He hits back bodydrops on both opponents. He hits Deuce with a bulldog while clotheslining Domino for 2. He hits Deuce with a springboard dropkick. He strikes Domino down for 2. He sees Skyfire hurt on the apron but tags him in anyway. He turns away while Deuce boots Skyfire in the face and gets the win at 10:12 shown. Definitely the best match of the three, with a great story told and consistent action throughout the match. If only Deuce and Domino could pull that off on Smackdown.
Rating: ***
Next week Maria interviews CM Punk backstage. Punk gets a couple words out before Skyfire confronts him. He’s upset over what happened last week. Punk just says “now you know how it feels” and says they’re even now. He says they can go for the tag titles again. Skyfire doesn’t want to team with him anymore and challenges him to an OVW Championship match. Punk is reluctant.
Maria interviews Chet the Jet. He wants a shot at either Punk or Skyfire’s title. Punk strolls through so Chet runs him down for what he did to Skyfire last week. He says Skyfire used to be his tag partner so he knows what happened two weeks ago was an accident. Cody Rhodes walks up and says that the whole locker room feels the same way. Punk doesn’t care. Chet says he’s getting cocky and challenges him for a title match.
Later on Maria brings Skyfire and Punk back together to try to get them to make up. Punk still wants to bury the hatchet. Skyfire says there’s no way. Since they’re 1-1 in singles matches he wants a rubber match with Punk’s title on the line. Punk says that he’ll defend his title after Skyfire defends the TV Title against Charles Evans.
Later on Skyfire loses the title to Evans and is subsequently beaten down. Punk comes out to check on him. He asks for a microphone and says that Skyfire can have his title shot right now…
CM Punk VS. Seth Skyfire [OVW Heavyweight Championship Match - 8/23/08]
Punk pins Skyfire to retain in 8 seconds.
Rating: DUD
Punk celebrates like he just won the main event at WrestleMania. An announcement is made that OVW Owner Danny Davis has decreed that this was not an official title match and Skyfire will receive another title shot next week.
Before the match can occur the following week the new Television Champion Charles Evans attacks Skyfire during his entrance. He rams Skyfire’s injured back against the apron repeatedly. Referees gets Evans to go to the back. Chet the Jet, who was one of many helping Skyfire to the back, takes offense to Punk’s tirade in the ring and demands a title match right now.
CM Punk VS. Chet the Jet [OVW Heavyweight Championship Match - 8/30/08]
They lock up and trade holds to start. Punk dropkicks the knee. Chet gets a roll up for 2. He puts on a hammerlock. He hits a pair of shoulder tackles for 1. He puts on the head scissors but Punk escapes and hits a dropkick. Punk misses a fistdrop and Chet hits a dropkick for 2. Punk hits a cheap shot. Chet comes back with overhand chops in the corner. Punk returns fire with an attack on Chet’s knee. He hits leg kicks and bites Chet’s face. Chet goes back to the overhand chops. Punk bails and rams Chet’s knee against the post. Back in the ring Chet dodges a leg kick and goes back to the old and faithful overhand chops. Punk dropkicks the knee for 2. He puts on a leglock. He hits a vertical suplex for 2. He hits the uranage and puts on the Anaconda Vice. Chet gets to the ropes. He knocks Punk down with overhand chops. He hits a clothesline, a back elbow and a back bodydrop for 2. He counters a bulldog to a back suplex for 2. He goes for a bicycle kick but Punk grabs his leg and elbows his knee. He hits a roundhouse kick and goes for another uranage but Chet counters to a takedown for the win and the title at 12:02. The match was a bit repetitive but I appreciate the concrete story running throughout. There was a very annoying fan loudly yelling “Come on Chet,” throughout the match in a horrible tone, so be prepared to deal with that if you ever see this match.
Rating: **¾
As cool as it is that WWE guys were coming into OVW so frequently the lack of clean finishes was annoying. I understand that the OVW headliners and the WWE wrestlers all needed to be protected but it got to the point that you knew ahead of time that there wouldn’t be a clean finish to those matches. Though the storylines running throughout Punk’s reign were all solid the matches left a lot to be desired. The singles matches against Skyfire were solid but thirty minutes of Deuce and Domino was a lot to sit through. The build to Punk winning the title was more interesting than his title reign, but the reign itself wasn’t a total wash. I can only hope that since the build to Punk’s WWE World title reign was almost non-existent that more effort is put into making the reign itself exciting.
Topics: Special Edition |
July 5th, 2008 at 6:45 am
Michael Jackson
November 5th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
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