The Deadman returned from his summer holiday at SummerSlam and chokeslammed CM Punk, setting up their autumn feud. Punk was fresh off his incredible summer run and feud with Jeff and 'Taker's last WWE contribution was his WrestleMania XXV classic with Shawn Michaels, so to say expectations were high would be an understatement. They met in a submission match at Breaking Point in September, after Punk had ended the career of Jeff Hardy in a loser leaves WWE cage match. Undertaker was the de-facto number one contender, because he's The Undertaker. There was little build for the bout, but it still went on last. To end this so-so ten minute affair, WWE booked a Montreal Screwjob finish, which was an insult to the paying customer. The Straight-Edge Superstar then took a back seat as Undertaker focused his attentions on Teddy Long, whom he believed to have screwed him at Breaking Point. Long buckled and booked a rematch at Hell in a Cell in the Cell. Undertaker won the match and the World Heavyweight Title far too easily in about ten minutes. Rumour has it that Punk was booked to drop the strap after he made a comment about WWE's dress code and compared himself to John Cena during a European tour. This was WWE's way of putting him in his place. By TLC in December, he was jobbing to R-Truth in the dark match.
