To begin 2012, we're starting a new Roundtable feature with PWTorch specialists/contributors answering a Question of the Day on a hot topic in the news or from a recent TV/PPV event. Check back throughout the week for our panel of PWTorch contributors offering their thoughts on the topic of the day.

Question of the Day 1/17: With the "deck stacked" against C.M. Punk after Raw, how will the Punk vs. Ziggler title match play out at the Royal Rumble? Also, is the timing right for WWE to put the WWE Title on Ziggler, or has that time not come yet?

Mike Cupach, PWTorch contributor

I can think of a dozen scenarios that can play out at the Royal Rumble and that’s what makes it so exciting for me. I can see Punk overcoming the odds and retaining, which is my number one prediction. I can see a flat-out screwjob with Laurinaitis fast-counting Punk. I can see whoever it is that Laurinaitis is always texting reveal him/herself to take out Punk while Laurinaitis is conveniently looking the other way. The other likely scenario I think may happen is Punk getting himself intentionally disqualified to stick it to Laurinaitis, thus setting up a re-match at the Elimination Chamber.

As for Dolph Ziggler, I am a huge fan of his and can’t wait for him to be at the top of the show. That said, I don’t think the Royal Rumble is the time to put the WWE Title on him. I really have no good reason to keep the title from him because I think he is ready and that he would be a good heel champion. I also don’t want him to get lost in the shuffle for WrestleMania while the focus is on Cena, Rock, Taker, and Triple H in the top spots. I would hold off his first reign for when he can be the focus of the promotion. (Read Cupach's alt. perspective review of Smackdown each weekend.)

Justin James, PWTorch contributor

One of the few things attracting me to this year’s Royal Rumble is the WWE Title match. I could definitely see Dolph Ziggler picking up a highly-tainted win and running with the title for a month or two as a trial period for him. It’s not his time for a long run because WrestleMania is looming. At the same time, I could see C.M. Punk managing to outwit John Laurinaitis to retain the title.

This has all the markings of a match that is going to feature a ref bump to bring out either a neutral referee or even a pro-Punk/anti-Laurinaitis referee. My nightmare scenario is Triple H getting involved to remove Laurinaitis from the match or from the “Interim Raw General Manager” slot entirely, and putting himself back on TV. (Read James's review of NXT and Superstars each week.)

Charles Cress, PWTorch Soup specialist

Ladies and Germs (see what I did there? That's what funny people say. That's how you know I'm funny), we are in the late '90's...again. Brodus Clay is a dancing machine complete with back-up dancers, R-Truth makes penis jokes, Mick Foley waddles around with his curly mullet hair helmet, and the "anti-hero" is rebelling against the corporate power structure. The problem is, the '90's were much better the first time around.

For one, where's Semisonic? "Closing Time" owns all other music made forever. And, I want an Oasis CD! Oh, this is about wrestling? Sorry. Anyways, all that other stuff I mentioned above is fine other than the "super hot" Punk vs. "The Man" storyline. It doesn't do anything for me. Come on, it couldn't be a more obvious copy of Austin-McMahon if it tried. The issue is John Laurinaitis isn't one-tenth the microphone man Vince is and Punk has no character. And, does anyone really want to see the inevitable Laurinaitis vs. Punk match? I don't know where this is going, but since this is apparently the '90's again, I'll say Punk wins and the next night on Raw, Laurinaitis and Punk have a Street Fight for the WWE Title, which Laurinaitis wins.

Oh, and Ziggles deserves a big belt. I don't think his character makes him believable enough to beat the top guys, but how about giving him a chance? (Read Cress's Alphabet Soup humor column on each week's Raw and Smackdown episode.)

Shawn Valentino, PWTorch specialist

It is difficult to predict the WWE Championship picture these days with the belt being exchanged like a hot potato. I have not enjoyed the C.M. Punk character the last seven months, but I feel that they should keep the WWE Title on him just to have some type of consistency and strength in the main event scene. The belt means absolutely nothing now, so I do not even care if it changes hands or not. The best way they can give meaning back to the WWE Championship picture is to book long reigns. I feel that Punk wins here because they want him to face Jericho in one of the main events at WrestleMania.

I do not feel that it is the right time to put the WWE Title on Dolph Ziggler because I would like to see a stronger build-up to his first meaningful reign. At the same time, like I said earlier, I simply do not care. The Championship seems to be something that everybody holds at some point or another, so, even if he does win, it will not matter. Hopefully, WWE focuses on stronger champions in 2012 and I would like to see both champions hold their respective belts to WrestleMania, even though I am not a fan of either character. (Read Valentino's regular "Magic, Memories, and Mania" column leading up to WrestleMania.)

Check back for Part 2 of the Roundtable on Wednesday.

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

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