WWE Main Event Report
October 3, 2012
Taped 10/2/12 in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Aired on Ion Television
By Michael Cupach, PWTorch contributor

[Q1]
-WWE open.

-Main Event opening music video featured what looks like only main event and upper-mid-card wrestlers. I don’t know who sings the song because I am too old and I am no longer “with it” anymore to know who sings what.

-Full pyro and Michael Cole welcomes everyone to Main Event on Ion Television. Cole is in the middle of the ring with The Miz, who calls himself the “most must-see WWE champion now on the most must-see new show!” Cole plugs Sheamus vs. C.M. Punk in a Champion vs. Champion match tonight. Michael and Miz tout the accolades of Punk and then throw to a video package showing who C.M. Punk is and what he is about for the potential new viewers. They show clips from Punk on the indy scene and show some talking heads who say that they always knew that Punk would make it. Next, they play clips of Punk winning various WWE titles while the talking heads talk about him tarnishing the WWE Title.

-Backstage, Matt Striker interviews Punk and Paul Heyman about Punk's match against Sheamus tonight. Punk says that a champion vs. champion match is as big as it gets and tonight he will earn the respect that no one wants to give him by beating the World Champion. Punk thinks that after he wins, people like Matt Striker won’t barge into his locker room and demand interviews. Heyman calls Punk the best in the world and Striker throws back to Michael Cole.

-In the middle of the ring, Michael Cole throws to Josh Mathews, who is backstage with Sheamus.

-Sheamus responds to Punk by saying that Punk is on a crusade of respect and he will respect him the best way he knows how – by taking his boot and shoving it down Punk's throat! Josh Mathews then sends it to a highlight reel of Sheamus for the new audience. Winning the World Title at WrestleMania in 18 seconds is mainly what is focused on.

Mike’s Reax: Two great video packages from WWE that introduced two of their top wrestlers to a new audience on Ion! This is what WWE does best.

-Sheamus makes his way to the ring, he faces C.M. Punk next!

(Commercial)

-Punk comes to the ring with Paul Heyman as Michael Cole notes that Punk has been champion for 318 days. He notes that Punk and Sheamus were supposed to face each other on Labor Day, but Punk decided to take the night off instead of fight Sheamus.

[Q2]

1 - World Heavyweight champion SHEAMUS vs. WWE champion C.M. PUNK (w/Paul Heyman) – non-title match

Cole notes that on Main Event every week there will be a major match-up, like the one being shown now. Collar and elbow tie-up to start, then Punk breaks off as Sheamus starts to overpower him. Punk whips Sheamus into the ropes and spinwheel kicks Sheamus and then backs Sheamus into the corner where he stomps away at the World Champion. The ref backs Punk off him, then Punk charges back in and runs into a boot. Battering ram attempt by Sheamus, but Punk knocks him to the floor as Main Event takes a break!

(Commercial)

Punk has Sheamus tied up in the ropes and pounds on Sheamus's chest as Main Event returns. It's kind of ironic seeing Punk steal Sheamus’s signature move. Snapmare takeover by Punk, and he kicks Sheamus in the back and then drops a knee on the face. Dropkick by Punk as Miz ponders what it would do for Punk's career if he made the world Champion tap out tonight. Neckbreaker by Punk gets a two count and he moves into a chinlock to slow Sheamus down. Sheamus fights out and then takes Punk out with a series of Irish Hammers and a knee lift. Running powerslam by Sheamus gets a two count on Punk, who rolls to the apron. Sheamus tries tying him up, but Punk knees Sheamus in the face as Main Event takes another break 10:00 into the match.

(Commercial)

[Q3] Back on Main Event, Sheamus is outside the ring, writhing in pain. Punk then tries a suicide dive, but Sheamus cuts him off with a huge forearm to the face! Battering ram from Sheamus. Sheamus calls for the Brogue Kick, but Punk ties himself up in the ropes, Sheamus come over to pull him out and Punk pulls the cover off the turnbuckle. Sheamus ties Punk up in the ropes and clubs him on the chest ten times. White Noise from Sheamus gets a two count as Paul Heyman looks on nervously from the floor.

Sheamus tries the Texas Cloverleaf, but Punk fights out before he can lock it in. Sheamus backs into the corner and Punk nails him with a running high knee. Top-rope elbow from Punk connects, but fails to put Sheamus away. Cole notes that the elbow is a homage to the late Randy Savage. Punk calls for Go To Sleep, but Sheamus blocks it and puts Punk in the Cloverleaf! Punk almost taps out, but scratches his way to the bottom rope to break the hold!

Punk rolls in front of the exposed turnbuckle, then charges out of the corner, but gets caught by Sheamus, who gives him a Irish Curse backbreaker. Sheamus sets up the Brogue Kick, but Punk ducks and sends Sheamus head-first into the exposed corner. He then rolls up Sheamus, grabs the tights, and pins the World Champion!

WINNER: C.M. Punk by pinfall in 19:00.

-Post match, Matt Striker sheepishly interviews Sheamus, asking him about the result and noting that it can’t be what he was hoping for. Sheamus, catching his breath, says that he has been listening to Punk demanding respect and with the way the match ended, he knows why he is always demanding it and never getting it. Sheamus vows that the next time they meet, Punk will eat a Brogue Kick!

-At the announce table, Michael Cole says that that is how a champion should act, but Miz replies that as a champion, you need to win however you can. Cole throws to a replay where he points out when Punk noticed the exposed ring and then when he pulled the tights to get the win.

-Up next, C.M. Punk speaks (again).

Mike's Reax: Awesome match to kick off Main Event on Ion Television! They started with one of the biggest matches they could offer and it delivered. Both men were kept strong (although I think Punk looked a little better than Sheamus) and Sheamus was protected after the loss. Hopefully WWE can keep delivering big time matches each week and Main Event doesn’t become a throwaway show, which is what Superstars became.

(Commercial)

[Q4]

-Josh Mathews is backstage with C.M. Punk and Paul Heyman. Josh asks whether that's how Punk wanted to earn respect with how he beat Sheamus. Heyman takes offense and says that he beat the World Champion, so how is Punk not the best in the world? Josh then asks why Punk won’t face John Cena at Hell in a Cell. Heyman dances around the question, then wonders how Josh got his job asking questions like that while standing next to a future Hall of Famer and the best in the world, a man who has been champion for 318 days straight. Punk dismisses Josh Mathews without answering.

-Next week, Randy Orton will take on The Big Show in a return match from last week's Smackdown.

-Backstage, Big Show is with Matt Striker. Big Show says that next week will be Randy Orton’s first and last appearance on Main Event because he will end his career with another WMD!

-Up next, Santino Marella and Zack Ryder take on Justin Gabriel and Tyson Kidd in a tag tournament match!

-Santino and Zack make their way to the ring, they are in action next!

(Commercial)

-Monday on Raw, Punk has the attention of Ryback. Will Punk get the respect he demands or will Ryback fulfill his appetite?

2 – JUSTIN GABRIEL & TYSON KIDD vs. SANTINO MARELLA & ZACK RYDER - Tag Title Tournament match

Santino and Justin start things off with a handshake. Waistlock from Gabriel, reversed by Marella, and Justin counters into a side headlock. Gabriel reverses a hip-toss and Santino jumps over a legsweep attempts. Both men tag out, then Ryder and Kidd go through a similar sequence, but it ends with Zack pancaking Tyson Kidd for a two count. Double-team by Kidd and Gabriel gain the advantage on Zack Ryder, then they double-team him again.

Ryder reverses a suplex, then tries the Rough Ryder, but runs into a kick from Kidd. Santino enters the match and takes Gabriel out to the floor. Kidd then sends Marella out as well. Broski Boot from Ryder, Santino blind tags in, and Ryder somersaults onto Gabriel on the floor as Santino puts Kidd away with The Cobra for the win!

WINNERS: Santino Marella & Zack Ryder by pinfall in 4:30.

-Michael Cole goes to the tag team bracket and notes that the former champions, Kofi Kingston and R-Truth, take on the Prime Time Players on Smackdown. He then plugs Randy Orton vs. Big Show next week on Main Event!

Thank you for reading, make sure to check out my reviews of Smackdown each and every week, also follow me on Twitter @MJCupach where I tweet live during Raw and WWE PPV’s. I am also a frequent guest on the FTWPodcast, go to FTWPodcast.com for more details!

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