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After repeatedly suffering sneak attacks at the hands of The Wyatt Family, CM Punk & Daniel Bryan will battle Bray Wyatt’s dangerous disciples, Luke Harper & Eric Rowan, at Survivor Series on Sunday, Nov. 24.
The intriguing matchup pits four of WWE’s most dynamic and relentlessly physical competitors in the same ring and, at the same time, may just shed some light on why The Eater of Worlds has made enemies of the popular Superstars.
How to watch Survivor Series | Watch video preview the all-star tag match
Punk and Bryan’s trouble with the sinister trio began weeks ago on Raw when Wyatt spearheaded two separate — and seemingly random — assaults. First, The Wyatts sent WWE’s “Yes!” man to the hospital with a vicious beating backstage. Then, the clan targeted The Best in the World the same night, downing an outnumbered Punk in the ring. The ever-cryptic Wyatt took little responsibility for his team’s actions, instead insisting the “devil” made him do it. But who exactly is this devil in question?
Subsequent attacks, however, have proven less successful. Chair in hand, a still-bandaged Bryan rescued The Second City Saint from another blitz by the backwoods brawlers on the Nov. 4 Raw. Later that week on SmackDown, Punk returned the favor, aiding The Beard after Wyatt and Rowan interrupted his match against Harper.
Since the onslaughts began, the WWE Universe has gained precious little clarity on Wyatt’s endgame. Regardless of their motivation, the Family is now left to face WWE’s all-star pairing at the 27th annual Survivor Series — a tent-pole event that boasts a long history of dream teams such as Punk & Bryan.
Though The Straight Edge Superstar is quick to proclaim himself a “lone wolf,” he and Bryan have more in common than either Superstar might freely admit. Both competitors spent years honing their craft around the globe before arriving in WWE, and both Superstars — with eight combined World Championships between them — have ascended to the top of WWE despite the objections of company brass. Now, a common enemy in the form of The Wyatt Family rounds out their list of similarities, creating a very dangerous tandem to be sure.
Whether their shared disdain for the creepy faction will be enough to topple Bray Wyatt’s brutish monsters remains to be seen. Since their arrival, the towering henchmen have forged an incredible path of destruction, and Harper has given both Bryan and Punk tough challenges in singles competition. What will happen when it’s an all-out two-on-two war at WWE’s fall classic? Find out by watching Survivor Series, which airs live on pay-per-view Sunday, Nov. 24, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
BOSTON — Thanksgiving may be days away, but after not only surviving, but prevailing in, a dangerous brawl against The Wyatt Family at WWE’s fall classic, The Best and The Beard have plenty to be thankful for.
Despite competing at an immense size disadvantage and having to contend with the ringside presence of Bray Wyatt, the potent combination of CM Punk & Daniel Bryan dealt a huge loss to Luke Harper & Erick Rowan at the 27th annual Survivor Series.
See photos of the high-impact fight
At just under 17 minutes, Punk hit the GTS on Harper to score the winning pinfall. Though the victory was undoubtedly gratifying to The Second City Saint and WWE’s “Yes!” man, it was anything but easy.
For weeks, the wicked trio’s sneak attacks have decimated the popular Superstars, with The Eater of Worlds blaming their actions on “the devil” and urging Punk and Bryan to “run.” The Wyatt Family laid out Punk & Bryan as recently as two days ago on SmackDown, but on the Survivor Series Kickoff, The Best in the World made clear that he and Bryan were not afraid of their opposition but, rather, eager to scrap.
And what a scrap it was. To the sounds of the sold-out T.D. Garden chanting “Yes!” and “This is awesome!” the contrasting styles — Harper and Rowan’s ferocious fisticuffs, and Punk and Bryan’s technique — played out in an evenly fought contest. Sitting in his trademark rocking chair, Wyatt watched on as his lurching monsters mauled their smaller opponents in the early goings, despite Punk and Bryan’s best efforts to strike and move.
The Best and The Beard did land a series of double-team maneuvers, including a double dropkick and an homage to The Hart Foundation’s Hart Attack, but a savvy distraction by Rowan gave Harper time to regain composure and drop Punk with a massive boot to the face.
From there, the Wyatt Family members’ backwoods brawling style took over in impressive form.
The unkempt Harper sank in his alligator roll and planted Punk with a Michinoku Driver. Even though the WWE Universe in Boston rallied The Best to make a tag, Bryan’s subsequent flurry — though effective — was all too brief. A top-rope hurricanrana attempt was blocked by Harper and reversed into a devastating sit-out powerbomb, and Rowan launched Punk over the ropes to the floor.
With Wyatt yelling, “This is all your fault, Daniel,” Rowan repeatedly slammed The Beard and cut off the ring, booting Punk off the apron and, in the process, preventing him from making a tag.
Things looked especially bleak for The Best and The Beard after Harper dropped Bryan with a half-nelson suplex. Moments later, however, Harper ran into a head kick by Punk, and Bryan — galvanized by a chorus of “Yes!” — tagged in The Second City Saint.
Re-energized, Punk leapt into a springboard clothesline, connected with his knee in the corner and even dove onto Rowan and Wyatt on the floor. In the bout’s final moments, Rowan helped Harper escape a GTS, but thanks to a well-timed Running Knee Strike by Bryan on the red-bearded brawler, The Best was able to muscle Harper up for a match-winning GTS.
Now that Punk and Bryan have defeated his henchmen, the WWE Universe is left to wonder about the next move from the cryptic Eater of Worlds.