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WWE News WWE News: Punk not in Royal Rumble match?, plans to steal show with Ziggler, addresses "rumored" WM28 opponents (w/VIDEO)
Jan 27, 2012 - 3:05:46 AM
WWE champion C.M. Punk says he will not be in the Royal Rumble match at Sunday's PPV. Punk's comment to Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com follows WWE's marketing on Monday's Raw that "every Superstar is eligible for the Rumble," which seemed to indicate top champions could be in the Rumble.
"I'm a little bummed - actually I'm a lot bummed - I'm not in the Rumble this year. I think the last two years, I was a big part of the Rumble and I made the thing damn entertaining," Punk said.
Punk said his goal will instead be to steal the show with Dolph Ziggler in their WWE Title match. "My job this year is to make my match more entertaining than the Rumble," Punk said. "And, I think I'm in there with a guy who has the same mindset as me. I think Dolph is one of the best guys on the roster, but he's not the Best in the World, so it's going with me."
Asked about a potential WrestleMania opponent with a chance to break news, Punk brushed aside the question, saying, "I don't know," before joking about "rumors" of The Undertaker, Triple H, Chris Jericho, or even Andre Dawson, which was a jab to Helwani.
Caldwell's Analysis: Unless Punk's first comment is a set up for a storyline twist/swerve or protecting the outcome of his title match, Punk not being in the Rumble, even as WWE champion, would seem to counter the newly-introduced Rumble marketing. If Punk's comment holds true, then it eliminates one possible Rumble storyline twist that will be in-play on Sunday.
Video: Punk's WWE-specific comments pick up at the very end of a 30-minute interview with Helwani below.
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