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WWE Extreme Rules 2012 is already in the books, and we are already gearing up for the next pay-per-view, Over the Limit, which will take place in less than three weeks on May 19th, 2012, from the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. If you watched Monday Night RAW last night, you know that the first two matches for this show have already been signed.
The first match will be for the WWE Championship, as defending champion CM Punk takes on the former World Champion, Daniel Bryan. Bryan won the right to be called #1 contender last night, having one a “Beat the Clock Challenge”, defeating Jerry Lawler in under 3 minutes, beating the previous clock holder’s time, Randy Orton. Even though these two have fought before, for many wrestling purists, this is a dream match. CM Punk and Daniel Bryan are two of the absolute best wrestlers in the world, and any time they face each other, it’s a show-stealer. Considering the WWE title is on the line this time around, this match already has the makings of a “Match of the Year” winner. Bryan and Punk are both at the tops of their games right now, and are two of the most over performers in the entire company. With the added importance of the championship being on the line this time (previous matches were non-title), I see both of these guys going out of their way to not only steal the show, but make this a very memorable match. Expect the Raleigh crowd to be divided down the middle when these two face off in what should be a very stiff, hard-hitting and possibly high-flying affair.
The second match made last night will, unfortunately, not be as good. At the end of the night, WWE General Manager John Laurinaitis called John Cena out to the ring to tell him who his next opponent will be, despite having an injured arm at the hands of Brock Lesnar at Extreme Rules. In the middle of an attack by Lord Tensai and Sakamoto, Laurinaitis announced Cena would face Laurinaitis himself at Over the Limit. While it is only a 1-on-1 affair right now, expect that to change over the next couple of weeks. Although Laurinaitis is an experienced wrestler, he has been retired for several years and will not be able to believably hold his own against Cena in a standard match. I am expecting some kind of “Extreme Rules” or “Street Fight” stipulation added to the match, or it possibly being turned into a handicap match, with Lord Tensai and possibly Sakamoto as Laurinaitis’ partners.
