00:04And make no mistake about what CM Punk is doing here, with this championship, he did perform a miracle, he's
00:13also sending a bit of a message directly to Sami Zayn, isn't he, the undisputed champion,
00:30anything you want to see, oh, love the personality, life will sleep, I can't believe, I can't believe, love the
00:45personality, it's clobbering time!
00:50Yep, clobbering time this summer, this version of Punk this summer, now reads Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam, Kevin Owens in
01:00that great match we saw in Toronto, and 2026's near zombies, Johnny Gargano.
01:08And add to that, Finn Balor, Gunther, Sami Zayn, and Kevin Owens, who all feel like they are owed an
01:18opportunity of the gold around the waist of the Second City Saint, CM Punk.
01:24Well, welcome to the world of being WWE champ, you're a man in demand, and Noah is in a good
01:32way.
01:35Punk made the offer earlier tonight.
01:39He reached a place that nobody could with Johnny Gargano for most of his year.
01:46And it was Gargano, who rose up, and accepted.
01:55The undisputed WWE championship is on the line here in Cleveland.
02:01Here's Mark Knack.
02:09The following contest is scheduled for one fall, and it's for the undisputed WWE championship!
02:21Introducing first, the challenger, accompanied by Candice Lurie, from Cleveland, Ohio!
02:31Weighing in at 199 pounds, Johnny Gargano!
02:44And his opponent, from Chicago, Illinois, weighing in at 218 pounds, he is the undisputed WWE champion, CM Punk!
03:13The look on his face says it all.
03:16He knows that kind of reaction in enemy territory.
03:19He just experienced it north of the border against KO.
03:23He also knows what it is to earn that.
03:26The greatest prize of all, he did so in his hometown of Chicago earlier this summer.
03:35Well, the good people of Cleveland trying their best to throw CM Punk off his game in order to assist
03:41the hometown boy.
03:42Johnny Gargano, historically speaking, brows like this serve to fire up CM Punk.
03:50When you showed up at work today, Wade, did you ever think you would be broadcasting Johnny Gargano going after
03:58the undisputed championship?
04:00I don't think I've ever seen Johnny Gargano vertical again!
04:04The twist in turn.
04:11And a Johnny wrestling chance had started up already.
04:16And Punk trying to get off to a quick statement start.
04:20And I'll tell you right now, body slam feels rough at the best of times.
04:23When you haven't taken one in six months, it feels like your body just shattered.
04:28Yeah.
04:28Woo-hoo!
04:29Your body's not calloused and hasn't been for some time.
04:33As you're trying to beat up a road case, running down.
04:35I hate to spoil the night, this could be a short, short match.
04:39Johnny Gargano cannot be in in-ring shape right now.
04:44No, I mean, the ring rust has to be real.
04:46There's no doubt about it.
04:48Oh, hold on a second.
04:49Lock off those cobwebs and start swinging, Johnny!
04:55Should be trying to neutralize that effort.
04:59Global tackle, sends Gargano down.
05:05Oh, Gargano!
05:06The technical wizard, Johnny Gargano, has always been, I mean, physically always an underdog in that ring.
05:15But somehow finds a way, nowhere with more drive inside than the Johnny Gargano.
05:24Finding his wrist just a bit against CM Punk.
05:33Got him up in position.
05:35Oh, what a great counter!
05:38Well, right when Punk thought he had the GTS in early, swinging it round again, is Johnny Gargano.
05:46Oh, and Johnny Wrestling has returned!
05:51Here at home, in Cleveland, feeling it!
06:00Big night here.
06:02Smackdown in Cleveland.
06:05Undisputed championship on the line.
06:08A champion that so many top contenders believe they are due a shot at.
06:13We saw that earlier tonight with Kevin Owens and Finn Balor and Gunther.
06:18Of course, Sami Zayn, who has gone out there and just decided that if he can't get a shot at
06:22this championship,
06:23he's going to make sure nobody else does.
06:28What a strike from Punk.
06:30Stunning leg, Larry.
06:31Just when it looked like Johnny Gargano was about to build up a head of steam,
06:36fired up by his wife, Candice LeRae, on the outside.
06:39That could be it now for Gargano.
06:41This is going as expected at this point.
06:44I mean, it was always going to require a Cinderella story,
06:48but it looks like that story is now drawing to a close.
06:51We're certainly in the final chapter, if not the final page.
06:56Especially if Punk goes up top and delivers with his signature.
07:00And that is what the champ is aiming to do right here.
07:04Oh, where's Sandy Zayn at?
07:12For real smack to all his detractors, a lifelong antagonist that is C.M. Pope, but don't take too long.
07:20Yeah, he hesitated just a moment, and that opened the door for Gargano.
07:24As Gargano now gets up there with Punk.
07:29Now he's made a career of upsetting the odds, but this may be too tall a test.
07:34And the crossbody, but the roll through, the roll through.
07:37Oh, just a millisecond away from having a new WWE champ.
07:42Could you imagine, and look at this reversal counter.
07:45Shoulders down, and Punk survives it.
07:47Well, twice now, Gargano almost stealing the gold away from C.M. Punk.
07:52In what would historically be one of the biggest shots here in all time.
07:58He might get out.
07:59Can you imagine him?
08:00Oh!
08:03And LeRae on the outside knows just how close her husband was to claiming the WWE championship.
08:13Take another look at this.
08:16The doctor and the perfect connection on that super kick right underneath the jaw of C.M.
08:21Punk.
08:24Punk with just enough left in it to kick out in the nick of time.
08:28Yeah, her husband, who when we started our evening, was once again catatonic.
08:34But did he ever respond when this championship match was offered up?
08:39And is he ever responding right now, battling Punk in the center of the ring,
08:46toeing the line, back and forth?
08:56Johnny Wrestling, where has this been?
09:00Oh, man.
09:01He crumbles.
09:03No!
09:04Oh, wait a minute, Wade.
09:07I'll tell you right now, nobody slams a door in an opponent's face quite like C.M. Punk.
09:13You'd have bet the house on Johnny Gargano building something special there.
09:18And C.M. Punk said no.
09:21C.M. Punk's just getting frustrated now.
09:23He thought this was going to be a walk in the park.
09:26Absolutely, he did.
09:30But to be fair, who would blame him?
09:32A guy who hasn't even moved in six months.
09:35Let alone competing.
09:36Let alone into a gym.
09:39That's delivering punishment.
09:40And all of a sudden, Johnny Wrestling delivers the kick.
09:45There's the slingshot spear!
09:46The slingshot spear into the cover!
09:52Where is he finding the strength?
09:55Look at him wobbling unsteady on his feet!
09:58Nobody has the unrelenting passion for this industry that Johnny Gargano possesses somewhere deep inside his soul.
10:08And now back home in front of his stand with his wife ringside.
10:14Gargano wants it right here.
10:17Oh!
10:18What a message!
10:19He delivers the pump!
10:20The pump catches it!
10:22Message rebuff!
10:27Shoulder up again!
10:29A little blue thunder bomb right there!
10:31Shades of a certain Sami Zayn, perhaps!
10:35Message sent once again!
10:37It is time to simply go to sleep.
10:48The undisputed champions.
10:51With Gargano up on his shoulders in position.
10:57Oh no!
10:59Sami arrives!
11:00You'll see how Punk has been taunting Sami the entire match.
11:04Eventually, Sami coming out of hiding, looking to get involved in this matchup.
11:08No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, what the hell is doing?
11:09Sami Zayn.
11:11No, no, no, you'll need to be in here!
11:13You did say earlier, if I had to.
11:15Oh!
11:16Candice LeRae!
11:17Oh God!
11:19Sami Zayn was on the other side.
11:21The ref had to deal with it.
11:23And now Johnny Wrestling Suicide Dive!
11:26Well, Zayn said earlier, if I had you a gift, Johnny, make sure you're taking this, my beard!
11:31Oh!
11:32Could it happen right here?
11:34One, two, three!
11:37Oh!
11:38One final beat!
11:40DDT almost gets the job done for Gargano!
11:45But CM Punk kicks out, and Sami Zayn thought the fix was in right there!
11:51Sami Zayn's play.
11:52What is he doing now?
11:55That title has been a weapon lately in the hands of Zayn.
12:02And he's offering it up!
12:05Kevin Owens!
12:06Kevin Owens is here!
12:08A mortal enemy!
12:11Just an absolute beatdown of Sami!
12:17KO!
12:18Has a hole!
12:20Gunther's here too!
12:21Everyone wants a piece of Sami Zayn right now after he blew up the treble threat match last week.
12:30Gunther's in the hole!
12:32Slam play Finn Balor!
12:35And they're squabbling over who gets the tear.
12:37Sami Zayn just shreds!
12:39And with the WWE title right to the head of Balor, he's right there!
12:44What's happening on the outside of the ring is outrageous right now.
12:49Oh, and he delivers the KO as well!
12:51Like an action replay of last week.
12:54Everyone taken out by a championship-wielding Sami Zayn.
12:59But look at the ring!
13:00C.T.S.
13:05Tandis Moray is occupying the referee!
13:09Sami's in the ring!
13:11Oh, and he clocks Punk!
13:13He clocks Punk!
13:15Punk is out!
13:17Punk's out, Cole!
13:19Go, Garvin!
13:19Can we win this?
13:22This is a thing to win!
13:24Wrestling could win the Undisputed Championship!
13:27One, two, three, one!
13:37Beyond comprehension, what we've seen, what we've witnessed.
13:42Well, look at this distraction after the GTS.
13:45Punk had the match won with the refs back turned, clocked in the skull with the WWE Championship.
13:52The match was stolen until CM Punk in the last millisecond kicked out.
13:59Sami Zayn's fix has got a hell in the hand fast.
14:01But this might be a plan B right here.
14:04He's still plotting.
14:06And finally...
14:10What a rollercoaster we've been on here, and the match is still ongoing.
14:15Sami Zayn getting kicked out finally.
14:19Nick Aldis has seen enough.
14:22CM Punk!
14:24He's got Johnny Gargano up, delivers the GTS to put it away for good!
14:33Here is your winner, and stiff, undisputed WWE Champion, CM Punk!
14:43Well, twists, turns, skullduggery, disappointment, and ultimately victory for CM Punk, who retains the goal, as bodies are strewn around
14:57the ring.
14:59That was insanity, Joe Tex.
15:02There is no line.
15:04You're the one who got a line.
15:06I'm not too late.
15:07You're ruining everything.
15:08No line Sami Zayn won't cross at this point.
15:12We're another champion.
15:13He said it himself.
15:14He's gonna hijack the show unless he gets what he wants.
15:18But Nick Aldis has basically had it up right now.
15:22Nick Aldis, I got some juice around here.
15:26I can call a shot when I want to.
15:28I gleefully step into enemy territory and get booed when I know I'm going to, but I still love you,
15:35Cleveland.
15:35Listen.
15:38Sami Zayn, you don't want this title half as bad as I want to break your face for constantly sticking
15:46your nose where it doesn't belong.
15:50You want a title shot?
15:53You little, you got one.
15:55Next week, Mexico City, Punk vs. Zayn.
16:02It's time of you to go to sleep.
16:05That's happening?
16:07Punk vs. Zayn next week for the WWE title of SmackDown from Mexico City.
16:16It's over for you.
16:17Sometimes crime does paint you.
16:19His constant complaints.
16:21His constant involvement.
16:23And now, in a result, in a showdown in Mexico City on SmackDown for the undisputed championship.
16:32On the line, Sami Zayn and CM Punk.
16:37You suck it for me.
16:38You suck you, baby.
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