[2010-05-23-WWE-Over the Limit] CM Punk vs Rey Misterio (Straight Edge Society Pledge vs Hair)

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Superstar Sleeze]

CM Punk vs Rey Mysterio - Over The Limit 2010 Hair vs SXE Pledge

 

After lopsided wager matches, this is the culmination with each putting up the thing they put up in the previous matches. I don't like this style of building to a finale, but I get it. I also wish Rey was putting up his mask instead, but I need to let that go. By far and away, this is their best match together and they really put together a WWE classic here. Watching the first two matches, you got the sense that two great workers were putting on good matches, but they weren't finding that the next gear to really push it. Well if you gonna save it, best save it for the grand finale.

 

Rey's shine is pretty good early on as he drives Punk into the barricade off a rana. That becomes an important plot point, but lets table that for now. Rey Rey goes for the 619 but Punk cuts him off. Rey goes for his classic bellyflop bump. Only one problem there is a fucking barber's chair there. HOLY SHIT! My eyes got so wide and I audibly gasped. Rey went head first hard into the barber chair. Great Holy Shit bump. Meanwhile, Punk cant capitalize. Why? He is bleeding and because this is 2010 the medical trainer has to come in. I was really racking my brain where that could have happened. Plus this is 2010 the height of when blood was taboo. So I was trying to think of where it could have happened. The announcers think it was the barricade. Yep, Punk bladed. I am like 99% sure, no way that could cut you and where it was in the hairline. Classic bladejob. Good for them to add some color. Also given Punk's Jesus look the blood trickling down and pooling in this eyes was an awesome visual.

 

Rey finally returns to the ring and PUNK EXPLODES! Great intensity from Punk here. Putting an absolute whuppin' on Rey Rey. This was the intensity that was missing from their previous matches. Great spot with Barber chair, Punk bleeding and intensity this is what they needed to get over. The finish stretch I thought was a great melding of their moves with lots of drama coming down the stretch. I really thought Rey brought the excitement. CM Punk brought the edge and attitude. CM Punk cutting off the 619 with WELCOME TO CHICAGO MUTHAFUCKER Backbreaker was great. Just a emphatic quashing of Rey's high speed rally. Punk goes for the Go 2 Sleep which he can never seen to hit. When Rey tries to counter, he powerbombs Rey into the buckles and hits a wicked kick to the head of Mysterio. Cole does a great job reminding us that Rey may suffered a head injury running into the barber chair. Good for Cole that was an important plot point and adds to the nearfall. Punk really wants the G2S, but again Rey shimmies out of it. 619! Drop a Dime? No instead he bellyflops on nuthin but canvas. Punk thinks he has this won. Sloppy cover...Rey rolls him into an Oklahoma Side Roll 1-2-3! Punk is aghast! Great facial expression there. Here comes the SES. Kane saves. This was during the time when Kane was consumed with eating Rey Mysterio. The details are foggy but I distinctly remember a promo after this where Kane intimates that he ate Rey Mysterio. Rey handcuffs Punk. This may go down as the greatest shaving ever. You got Punk bleeding, writhing in shame and Rey giving him one of the worst, patchy hair cuts ever with all the black hair everywhere. Great satisfying ending.

 

To me the post- match puts this over the top. Punk does a great job being ashamed and humiliated. The blood helps a lot too. The match itself had big time spots that are memorable, great character work from Punk (intensity, arrogance and shame) and a finish run that keeps you on your toes. Right up there with the Jericho match as a Rey match that shows the WWE midcard could have great matches. ****1/2

[Jimmy Redman]

I don't know if you ever saw their February match on SD that kind of kicked the feud off but that's definitely worth watching as well.