CM Punk Vs. Gunther Ends In Violent Fashion With Shocking Finish

This was Punk's most formidable opponent and his biggest singles match since returning to WWE. The announcing crew pegged this as a match for the ages. Punk was fresh off a WrestleMania main event loss. Could he make up for it Saturday night in New Jersey?

Both men measured each other up early. Basic wrestling locks and snapmares started the bout. Punk worked the arm to try and take away one of The Ring General's biggest weapon -- the chop. He stayed relentless on the arm. Punk went for a high-risk move, and that's when Gunther caught him. Unfazed by the earlier arm work, Gunther laid in chop after chop and took control.

Gunther began to dominate the match and worked on Punk, who, despite trying to fight back periodically, couldn't withstand Gunther's stiff shots. Punk was bloodied from the chops, and Gunther began to trash-talk Punk as he was delivering his offense.

The match got to the point where fans were starting to wonder how much Punk had left. He began to rally and he wobbled the champion. Both men were exhausted. Punk landed a heel kick, then a neckbreaker. He went for a knee, but got caught in a power bomb. Punk kicked at two. Punk caught Gunther in a triangle choke. Gunther got out easily and went for a Boston Crab. Both men continued to exchange shots.

Punk hits the running knee, then a bulldog. Gunther kicked out. Punk went ot the top rope, but got caught in a press slam. Gunther hit a frogsplash, and Punk kicked out. A confident Gunther hit a huge clothesline. Wade Barrett argued it was only Punk's stubbornness keeping him in the matchup. Another clothesline, and Michael Cole suggested reality was starting to set in.

Punk went for a GTS, but Gunther turned it into a powerbomb. Gunther hit a dinosaur dropkick, then another powerbomb, but Punk kicked out a two. A defiant Punk took shots that had no effect. Gunther threw Punk to the outside and began to brag on the table, prematurely celebrating. Punk caught him and dumped him on the announce table. Punk used whatever time he could to get a second win. Gunther appeared from under the table, badly busted open. He was bleeding badly.

He was holding his nose, but the blood threw him off his game. Punk went on a run, trying to win it quickly. He bit a big elbow. He went for a GTS, but Gunther applied a sleeper hold. Punk reversed into a GTS. Gunther didn't fall. Punk hit a second one. He fell on Gunther to win the World Championship.

Seth Rollins Cashes In

Rollins came to the ring after the match on crutches, accompanied by Paul Heyman. He looked at Punk from the aisle and warned Punk that he was coming. He turned to walk away then dropped the crutches.

He took off his shades and then took off his knee brace. He ripped off his jacket, grabbed the case, and headed for the ring. The two began to brawl. It was clear nothing was wrong with the knee. Rollins hit Punk endlessly with the case, then told the referee to cash it in.

Punk was defenseless in the match, took a stomp, and lost the title to Rollins. Rollins and Paul Heyman swerved everyone, and the injury was likely never legitimate. Punk stood in the ring a long time after the bout, devastated by what had just happened.