In what is already going to be a packed show – a DX reunion, an appearance by Brock Lesnar and The Rock, an AJ/Daniel Bryan wedding and a new general manager just for starters – the 1000th episode of Raw will culminate in something for the history books.

John Cena, defying the expectations of fans, detractors and internet reports, will not be waiting for Summerslam to cash in his newly won Money in the Bank contract. CM Punk has until Monday to “prepare” for his first title defense against Cena since nearly one year ago. With last night’s Raw scoring its highest rating since the night after the Royal Rumble, people who watch on a weekly basis are already salivating over this. Couple this with casual fans who only tune in for special occasions and even people who have since stopped watching wrestling but might catch wind of a huge night like this, and you have yourself a night of wrestling that will be talked about for a very long time.

This WWE Championship Match will have far-reaching consequences that will be felt for years. John Cena is the face of the company, and some would say he has been more prominently featured than even his WWE Champion opponent. CM Punk has held the title for almost nine months, the longest since – you guessed it – his opponent. The man who walks out of this match as champion will have a brand new wave of momentum to ride, and the man who loses may never be the same again. What exactly could happen next week? Let’s talk.

 

1. CM Punk Wins; Cena Moves On

With the two biggest babyfaces in WWE coming together, there will be a “split” crowd at best. When CM Punk either pins John Cena or forces him to tap out to the Anaconda Vice, Punk will stand tall in the ring to celebrate. Cena will be slow to get up, and after a minute of staring each other down, one offers the other his hand. They shake, possibly embrace after a battle I expect to go for at least a half hour and Cena raises Punk’s arm, truly acknowledging who is the “best in the world” and bringing the entire audience, Punk fans and Cena fans alike, together to celebrate one hell of a match.

 

2. John Cena Wins; CM Punk Gets His Rematch at Summerslam

For the first time, with the WWE Championship on the line in a one-on-one match, John Cena is finally able to beat CM Punk. Cena celebrates in the ring while Punk, disgusted with himself, pulls himself together. Cena stops running around the ring in celebration, and the two look as if they will go to blows. Punk grabs a microphone, approaches Cena with a dark look in his eye, and shakes Cena’s hand while saying “I’ll take my rematch at Summerslam.” Punk can go back to playing the tweener he was during last summer at this point to establish two completely different points of view of who is the best and why.

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