WrestleMania: Chris Jericho Vs. CM Punk (WWE Championship)
The following is from our live coverage of WWE WrestleMania 28. To access our full coverage, click here.
We see WWE Champion CM Punk backstage when Team Laurinaitis walks by celebrating. Laurinaits stops and teases Punk. He wants a wrestling match tonight. He announces that if Punk loses his temper and gets disqualified tonight, he will lose the WWE Title to Chris Jericho. He tells Punk to have a good match and walks off.
WWE Title Match: Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk
We go to the arena and the lights go off for a few seconds. Chris Jericho makes his way out with a crazy jacket on. It's announced that Punk will lose the WWE Title if he is disqualified. We see footage from the feud over the past few weeks.
WWE Champion CM Punk is out next and he gets a hue fireworks display as Cult of Personality hits. The bell rings and they lock up, going to the corners and back. They trade holds and Punk takes Jericho down first. More back and forth action on the mat now. Punk comes from behind and hits Jericho with shots to the head. Punk with chops now before a knee to the gut off the ropes. Punk stomps away in the corner but stops before he gets DQ'd. Punk unloads on Jericho in the corner again and stops before the DQ.
Jericho asks how Punk's father is and Punk unloads on him again. Punk keeps control of the match and goes to the top. Jericho rolls out of the ring before Punk comes down with the elbow. Instead, Punk leaps from the top to the floor and takes Jericho out. The referee starts to count. Jericho asks how Punk's sister is. Jericho runs in the ring and Punk chases him with a steel chair. Jericho begs Punk to hit him with the chair while taking trash about his family. Punk holds the chair in mid-swing as the referee tells him not to. Punk stops and kicks Jericho to the mat. Punk turns back around and gets dropkicked to the mat. Jericho with right hands on the mat now.
Jericho drops Punk with an elbow. Punk ends up on the apron and looks to go for a GTS but it's blocked. Jericho clotheslines Punk into the ring. Jericho tries to suplex Punk out to the floor and nails it. Both men land on the floor and there's a nasty thud. Jericho kicks Punk on the floor and brings him back in the ring for a 2 count. Jericho keeps in control and hits a big backbreaker for another 2 count. They go on and Jericho hits another backbreaker for 2. Jericho with kicks to the back and a back splash now. Another 2 count. Jericho keeps control and drops Punk on his head again. Jericho with another pin attempt and a knee in the back now.
Jericho gets hung up in the corner after Punk dodges him. Punk fights back with chops to the chest now and a knee to the chin. Punk with a clothesline and a swinging neckbreaker for a 2 count. Jericho blocks the bulldog and goes for the Lionsault. Punk counters that. Jericho counters and goes for Walls of Jericho. They trade counters and Punk tosses Jericho. Punk kicks Jericho in the head for another 2 count. They go on and end up outside of the ring. Jericho brings Punk back in but Punk goes for GTS and nails it. Jericho gets to the ropes off the pin. They get up and Punk connects with a series of kicks. Punk hits a scoop slam and another 2 count.
They trade holds again. Jericho gets the upperhand and nails the Lionsault for a 2 count. Jericho with right hands now. Jericho goes to the middle rope but Punk stops him with chops and headbutts. Punk climbs up to the top with Jericho. Punk goes for a hurricanrana but Jericho grabs him in mid-air and turns it into the Walls of Jericho. Jericho locks it in tight as Punk crawls for the ropes and breaks the hold. Jericho argues with the referee that Punk tapped. Jericho charges and Punk dumps him out to the floor. Punk runs the ropes and dives through, taking out Jericho on the floor.
Punk connects with a knee to the head up against the ring post. They come back in. Punk comes off the top rope and Jericho catches him in a Codebreaker. Jericho covers but Punk kicks out at 2. Jericho grabs Punk and talks trash to his face now. Punk scoops him for GTS but Jericho blocks it. Punk goes for it again and Jericho fights out. Jericho with shots to the back of the head. Jericho shoves Punk to the corner and beats him up. Jericho goes to the top but Punk kicks him down. Punk goes for GTS in the middle of the ring. He screams best in the world but Jericho counters it for Walls of Jericho. Punk finally rolls through and gets a 2 count. They trade near falls. Punk locks on the Anaconda Vice. Jericho turns it into a 2 count but Punk keeps the hold locked in and tightens it. Jericho with knees to the back of the head. Jericho rolls through and goes for the Walls again. Punk tries to block it and fights Jericho off with kicks to the head. Punk drops down with the Anaconda Vice again. Jericho with knees to the head but it doesn't work this time. Jericho taps out.
Winner: CM Punk