Match of the Debut - The Nexus hijack Raw

John Cena vs. CM Punk - Viewer's Choice WWE Championship match - Raw (2010)

The first big match between the WWE champ, John Cena and then masked CM Punk gets hijacked on Viewer's Choice Raw by The Nexus, an eight man gang featuring young upstarts from WWE's developmental territory, FCW as well as all being original contestants on the first NXT program.

While it was not totally chaos, the NXT rookies of the first season really shook things up for a pretty stale product that was WWE at this point. I remember watching this episode of Raw and thinking that something new was upon us. Of course, nothing really happened. The ring gets stripped, Bryan gets fired for chocking the timekeeper with his own tie, and then for weeks John Cena does that thing he always does; he overcomes the odds.

Still, the damage that the Nexus created from their ambush on Raw was pretty impressive for WWE standards. To bad they were pretty much destined to fail once they started feuding with Super Cena.

Theme results

Ring Destruction: Apron skirts ripped off, mat gets exposed, padding torn loose, and the ring ropes are loosened and taken down.

Match of the Day - the CM Punk ROH dog collar match #2

CM Punk vs. Jimmy Rave - Dog Collar match - ROH Manhattan Mayhem (2005)

Miss CM Punk? Well, here's a CM Punk match.

Not too long before signing with WWE and going to Ohio Valley Wrestling, CM Punk was in Ring Of Honor's second ever dog collar match. Punk was also in the first which I've covered here before with Raven. This time Punk was facing off against Jimmy Rave who - while a prominent star of the indies at this time - will always be remembered as one half of the Rock N Rave Infection of TNA with Lance Rock (now wrestling as Lance Archer in NJPW) to me. These two put on a very physical match that is definitely a must-see if you are a punk fan, or a Jimmy Rave fan. There's Rave fans out there... somewhere... maybe.

The only thing that rubs me the wrong way during this match is the interference by Fast Eddie towards the end. I'm not ragging on him for having a run-in spot, I'm just bothered that the guy had to do a moonsault from the top rope to break up a pinfall. I get that Punk moves out of the way just before the landing and therefore Rave gets all of the moonsault, but come on, just get in there and break up the pin. Save the "I got to get my shit in" indy wrestling mentality for a match you will actually be in, but that's just me. Other than that though, this match is very good.

PS: The sounds cuts out about two thirds the way into the video above. It's not that big of a deal, I just don't want anyone thinking they lost his or her sound or something.

Match of the Day - Two indie darlings and some masked dude

CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Kane - WWE Championship Triple Threat match - No Way Out (2012)

I'm just going to keep this one short and sweet because this match is not too old, yet I honestly don't remember the AJ Lee love triangle (or would it be a square?) storyline too well. I will however point out how much things have actually changed since this match in June of 2012. 

Plus, this match is pretty good. But you probably already guessed that. 

Match of the Day - The Raven vs CM Punk dog collar match!

Raven vs. CM Punk - Dog Collar match - ROH Death Before Dishonor (2003)

One of CM Punk's greatest rivalries in Ring of Honor. Features an early use of Punk's straight edge lifestyle versus a man who is struggling with his personal demons - a gimmick that was later used in Punk's rivalry with Jeff Hardy which some say really put Punk over in WWE. Parts of this rivalry were also used again in the Punk/Jericho Best in the World '12 feud.

Raven and CM Punk fought in many hardcore matches together around this time... some for ROH and some for TNA when Punk was in Raven's "Gathering"; TNA's version of The Flock.

Match of the Day - Vampiro get's hung-up while TNA explains how oxygen works

Vampiro vs. Raven  - NWA:TNA (2003)

Blood Gallows of Retribution Hangman's Horror Dog Collar Match

Vampiro and Raven fight out in a Hangman's Horror Dog Collar match, because there's nothing like taking a good thing i.e. Greg Valentine and Roddy Piper's classic Dog Collar match, and choking the life out of it for the amusement of no one.

The object of this match, which had three names, one being "dream blood" which Professor Mike Tenay explains to us is the words smeared on Raven's chest and that's about it, is the first person to strangle their opponent with the dog collar over the top rope wins. So yeah, dream blood.

After chaining Vampiro up with two dog collars to smack Vampiro with a trash can and then delivering him with a terrible-looking DDT onto a table, Raven would get the victory as Vampiro was unable to continue from the dog collar choke-out.

What makes the match as bad as it was though really would have to be combination of the fans on-demand chanting "let's go Raven" as if this was some kind of fun pie eating contest or was running a 200 meter dash at a high school track meet, and Mike Tenay and Don West's constant teaching of science as they continually try to explain that without oxygen going to your brain or something - you are a goner.

Another cringe-worthy part that I actually enjoy that takes place after the match is when a young CM Punk runs in to try to help Raven against James Mitchell and his sinister fireballs which causes Raven to grab a mic and explain to Punk that "this is a personal matter" and he "must take care of it himself" - except instead of Raven saying this, it sounds just like classic Johnny Polo circa 1993.

I would love to see Raven play Johnny Polo again in Chikara for King of Trios in some classic blast-from-pasters team like Team WWF. I would see that.

For Sure.