INDIANAPOLIS — It may have been the most contentious ending to a Survivor Series main event since Mr. McMahon changed the course of WWE history 15 years ago on a cold Montreal night.
In a turn of events that floored the WWE Universe, CM Punk retained his WWE Title against Ryback and John Cena in a Triple Threat Match when WWE NXT competitors Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns hit the ring and brutalized Ryback. Swarming the mighty beast like a pack of vicious jackals, the three young stars of WWE’s developmental system smashed Ryback through an announce table, enabling The Straight Edge Savior to pin Cena and sneak away with his championship. ( FULL RESULTS) But why did Ambrose, Rollins and Reigns target the human wrecking ball? And was their support of CM Punk intentional? ( PHOTOS OF AMBROSE | PHOTOS OF ROLLINS | PHOTOS OF REIGNS)
Those questions were posed by outraged WWE fans across all of social media moments after the outrageous outcome of WWE’s fall classic, but answers were harder to come by. After all, CM Punk and his nauseating underling Paul Heyman hightailed it out of Indianapolis as soon as they got their grubby hands on their golden prize. But who wouldn’t point fingers at this loathsome pair?
Sure, Punk was quick to disassociate himself from Brad Maddox, the fame-obsessed former WWE official who helped him defeat Ryback at WWE Hell in a Cell in a desperate attempt to get on Mr. McMahon’s radar. Yet few believed The Straight Edge Superstar had no prior connection to this slimy hanger-on, which will make it all the more difficult for the WWE Champion to wash his hands of these three thugs.
So why did the WWE NXT competitors do what they did? Was it an anti-Ryback-centric plot designed to target the destructive Superstar and make the boldest possible statement? Much the same way the villainous Nexus battered Cena more than two years ago, these new faces may have sought to make a similar impact at the expense of the fastest-rising star in WWE. More than that, the trio could have arrived just to raise hell in WWE. If they can disrupt the final contest of one of WWE’s biggest events, what else are they capable of?
It’s impractical to ignore the power of Punk’s influence. The Voice of the Voiceless long ago proved he was capable of leading wayward Superstars when he captained The Straight Edge Society in 2010. If any competitor is capable of bending young minds to meet his needs, it is CM Punk.
Or maybe Paul Heyman is the one to blame. Infamous for guiding his ragtag ECW roster like a charismatic cult leader, the mad genius has gained a reputation for earning the loyalty of a small group of competitors known as “Paul Heyman guys.” CM Punk admitted to being one. So did Brock Lesnar. Is it possible that Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins are, in fact, “Paul Heyman guys”?
For now, all we can do is speculate. But one thing is for certain: When Punk and Heyman arrive in Dayton, Ohio for Monday’s Raw, they will have a lot of explaining to do.
As for Ambrose, Rollins and Reigns? Answers may await Monday at 8/7 p.m. CT on USA Network.
INDIANAPOLIS — It may have been the most contentious ending to a Survivor Series main event since Mr. McMahon changed the course of WWE history 15 years ago on a cold Montreal night.
In a turn of events that floored the WWE Universe, CM Punk retained his WWE Title against Ryback and John Cena in a Triple Threat Match when WWE NXT competitors Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns hit the ring and brutalized Ryback. Swarming the mighty beast like a pack of vicious jackals, the three young stars of WWE’s developmental system smashed Ryback through an announce table, enabling The Straight Edge Savior to pin Cena and sneak away with his championship. ( FULL RESULTS | PHOTOS) But why did Ambrose, Rollins and Reigns target the human wrecking ball? And was their support of CM Punk intentional? ( PHOTOS OF ROLLINS | PHOTOS OF AMBROSE | PHOTOS OF REIGNS)
Those questions were posed by outraged WWE fans across all of social media moments after the outrageous outcome of WWE’s fall classic, but answers were harder to come by. After all, CM Punk and his nauseating underling Paul Heyman had little to say to WWE.com moments after they got their grubby hands on their golden prize. ( WATCH) But who wouldn’t point fingers at this loathsome pair?
Sure, Punk was quick to disassociate himself from Brad Maddox, the fame-obsessed former WWE official who helped him defeat Ryback at WWE Hell in a Cell in a desperate attempt to get on Mr. McMahon’s radar. Yet few believed The Straight Edge Superstar had no prior connection to this slimy hanger-on, which will make it all the more difficult for the WWE Champion to wash his hands of these three thugs. ( WATCH ROLLINS & REIGNS IN ACTION)
So why did the WWE NXT competitors do what they did? Was it an anti-Ryback-centric plot designed to target the destructive Superstar and make the boldest possible statement? Much the same way the villainous Nexus battered Cena more than two years ago, these new faces may have sought to make a similar impact at the expense of the fastest-rising star in WWE. More than that, the trio could have arrived just to raise hell in WWE. If they can disrupt the final contest of one of WWE’s biggest events, what else are they capable of?
It’s impractical to ignore the power of Punk’s influence. The Voice of the Voiceless long ago proved he was capable of leading wayward Superstars when he captained The Straight Edge Society in 2010. If any competitor is capable of bending young minds to meet his needs, it is CM Punk.
Or maybe Paul Heyman is the one to blame. Infamous for guiding his ragtag ECW roster like a charismatic cult leader, the mad genius has gained a reputation for earning the loyalty of a small group of competitors known as “Paul Heyman guys.” CM Punk admitted to being one. So did Brock Lesnar. Is it possible that Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins are, in fact, “Paul Heyman guys”?
For now, all we can do is speculate. But one thing is for certain: When Punk and Heyman arrive in Dayton, Ohio for Monday’s Raw, they will have a lot of explaining to do.
As for Ambrose, Rollins and Reigns? Read on to find out what WWE.com learned about these WWE NXT competitors.
Seth Rollins is the first ever WWE NXT Champion, having won a tournament to crown the inaugural titleholder. This native of Davenport, Iowa, came into NXT with a sterling reputation from his work on the independent circuit and immediately made an impact in WWE’s developmental system. Perhaps the word best used to describe Rollins would be “chaotic.” His in-ring style is calculated, yet frantic. Employing a combination of high-risk maneuvers and devastating strikes, Rollins’ offense is spectacular and elicits show-closing ovations.
Dean Ambrose is every bit as effective as Rollins, but there's something slightly off about this dangerous competitor. From the moment he marched onto the scene, WWE NXT fans were unable to take their eyes off Ambrose. Fearless, wild and always unpredictable, the iconoclast more than lived up to his reputation as a world-class competitor and infamous troublemaker.
In October last year, Ambrose created quite a stir when WWE champion CM Punk appeared at NXT for an autograph signing. Ambrose decided to verbally assault Punk on the microphone, resulting in a raucous and unforgettable scene when The Straight Edge Savior challenged Ambrose that evening. The 30-minute showdown between the two physical competitors blew away the lucky fans who witnessed it.
Like his fellow WWE NXT standouts, Roman Reigns is a fierce competitor and an exceptional athlete. Inside the ring, Reigns is a heavy hitter, and he is just as aggressive outside the ring. The powerhouse always acts with a sense of purpose, depicting power and commanding respect. Put simply, Roman Reigns views himself as the most valuable commodity in NXT.
As for why these three men interfered in the final bout at Survivor Series? Answers may await Monday night on Raw at 8/7C.