WWE Best of the Month: September 2012

Here are the highlights from September 2012:

Superstar of the Month: CM Punk

CM Punk's crusade for respect, alliance with Paul Heyman and change of persona catapulted him back to the top of the WWE landscape during the month of September.  After spending months playing second fiddle to the likes of John Cena, The Rock, Triple H & Brock Lesnar, he re-emerged as the WWE's most prominent and captivating star.  Although his methods were questionable, one can not deny that the results have been spectacular.  Being the WWE Champion and "the man" are two things that every WWE superstar dreams of, but only so few ever truly achieve.  In September 2012, Punk surpassed many WWE legends when he became one of the top ten longest reigning champions of all time.  Forget about being the top star, Punk has now entered into some rarely trespassed territory.  A territory reserved for legends.

Match of the Month:: WWE Night Of Champions 2012: CM Punk vs. John Cena

As of right now, I'm hard pressed to find many matches so far this year that were as thrilling as this one.  It will most definitely be on my short list of Match of the Year candidates come year's end and with good reason.  CM Punk and John Cena are two of the finest performers of their generation and their rivalry is the best thing going in pro wrestling today.  No other active competitors have such a unique chemistry that could whip a crowd into a frenzy with just the simplest of holds.  It's a special aura created by two polar opposites with an unmatched desire to be the very best being the only common trait they share.  Well, other than the fact that damn near every time they touch, it's worth mentioning amongst the all-time classics.

 

Moment of the Month: All Hail The King

On the September 10th 2012 edition of Moday Night Raw, Jerry Lawler gave the entire wrestling world a scare when he suffered a heart attack on national television.  When Michael Cole announced the news, chills ran up my spine as his somber tone made my mind begin to trace through past unfortunate memories of Owen Hart, Eddie Guerrero and so many more legends we've lost over the years.  I had feared that Jerry may very well be next.  Thankfully, Jerry Lawler would do what he spent his entire Hall of Fame worthy career doing, he fought admirably against adversity.  Of all the legendary battles Lawler has been in, this one was the hardest and most dreadful.  So to hear the King had made a great recovery and to have him tearfully thank each and every one of us, was easily, some of the most moving television of the year.  Get well soon, Jerry.  We more than look forward to seeing you again. 

Surprise of the Month: Still A Paul Heyman Guy

A CM Punk/Paul Heyman union has been something many fans have been clamoring for since Punk first infamously uttered the words "I'm a Paul Heyman guy".  Almost immediately, everywhere you turned, all you heard about was how awesome a Heyman/Punk alliance would be, but most of us thought that it more than likely was not going to happen.  However, on the first Raw of the month, it seemed as if all of our voices had finally been heard.  After assaulting John Cena and costing him a match against Alberto Del Rio, Punk would get into a vehicle driven by none other than Paul Heyman.  The sight of Heyman sticking his smarmy mug outside of that window, is a sight I will never forget.  I was left in genuine shock for what seemed like the hundredth time this year and with these two running rampant over Raw, it seems that it won't be the last.

 

 

Top Ten WWE Superstars Pound for Pound

*The number in parenthesis is the superstar's rank in the last month's list

1. CM Punk (1) WWE Champion: CM Punk entered elite territory when he became one of the top ten longest reigning WWE champions of all time this past month.  He also managed to retain said championship against his biggest rival John Cena at NOC.  On top of that, his alliance with Paul Heyman appears to make him more dangerous than ever.
2. Sheamus (2) World Heavyweight Champion: Sheamus again defeated Alberto Del Rio for the third month in a row.  The Great White has beaten everyone there is to beat on the blue brand and his position in the company is second only to CM Punk and John Cena at this point.  He has carved a unique niche for himself and is poised to remain champion for months to come.
3. John Cena (6): Although Cena failed to capture the WWE Championship and has suffered a major injury, he is still the WWE's most marketable star and one of the most dominant competitors in the sport today.  If Cena can make a full recovery in time for HIAC, we may be looking at a new WWE Champion.
4. Randy Orton (-): The WWE's Apex Predator bounced back big time when he defeated rising star Dolph Ziggler twice in September.  His abilities are without question and his name should always be mentioned when on the topic of title contenders for any championship.  He is the most feared athlete on the current WWE roster and his track record speaks for itself.
5. The Miz (5) Intercontinental Champion: The Awesome One silenced all the cynics when he defeated three of the WWE's top superstars blindfolded to retain his IC championship at NOC.  Say what you want about his loud mouth, but he can back up the big talk when the time comes.
6. Daniel Bryan (7) & Kane (-) WWE Tag Team Champions: Whether either man wants to admit it or not, these two make for quite the tandem.  They are nearly unbeatable even though they can't stand the sight of each other.  It's a dynamic that has made for one of the WWE's most compelling and successful duos in years.
7. Big Show (10): The World's Largest Athlete became the number one contender for Sheamus world title when he defeated Randy Orton in the last weeks of the month.  Heading into HIAC, one has to question Sheamus' odds if across the steel from the angry giant.
8. Antonio Cesaro (8) United States Champion: At last month's PPV, Cesaro defeated Zack Ryder in a thriller that has to rank amongst his most impressive showings to date.  He is slowly becoming one of the more formidable competitors in the company and is currently, the superstar to watch.
9. Dolph Ziggler (3) World Heavyweight Championship MITB Winner: After a rather impressive couple of months, Ziggler has fallen a bit due to his inconsistency.  When he's on, he's the best performer in the world bar none, but he struggles to maintain focus.  Still, he did pick up at least one high profile victory over Randy Orton.
10. Alberto Del Rio (4): Del Rio has shown flashes of brilliance and is one of the most talented men on the WWE roster.  And when he chases the world title, he mows through the competition and earns major victories along the way.  However, this all means nothing if he can't win the big one.