MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In a contest pitting ECW's youngest, most competitive blood against one another at Unforgiven, newly anointed ECW Champion CM Punk defeated Elijah Burke in the Straightedge Superstar's very first title defense. With the pressure of protecting the gold he's worked his entire life to secure, plus the added threat of his talented opponent and rival, Punk prevailed and sent a resounding message to the Land of the Extreme.
Just days ago, the Straightedge Superstar learned he would be defending his championship for the first time in front of a pay-per-view audience, giving Punk very little time to prepare for this all-important confrontation. Nonetheless, the ECW Champion came to Unforgiven just as he would any other encounter: wrists tightly taped, kick pads secured and ready for war.
Named No. 1 contender by ECW General Manager Armando Estrada, Burke foretold that he was the future of the Land of the Extreme, and that Unforgiven would be the realization of such a prophecy. However, defeating the Experience in the middle of the ring on Sunday night, CM Punk proved that whatever magic eight ball Burke had peered into earlier this week was clearly defective.
Not only that, but the ECW Champion also proved that if fans are looking for the individual to lead ECW into the future, they should look no further than the Straightedge Superstar.
Pick up CM Punk's Tattoo T-shirt...
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In a contest pitting ECW's youngest, most competitive blood against one another at Unforgiven, newly anointed ECW Champion CM Punk defeated Elijah Burke in the Straightedge Superstar's very first title defense. With the pressure of protecting the gold he's worked his entire life to secure, plus the added threat of his talented opponent and rival, Punk prevailed and sent a resounding message to the Land of the Extreme.
Just days ago, the Straightedge Superstar learned he would be defending his championship for the first time in front of a pay-per-view audience, giving Punk very little time to prepare for this all-important confrontation. Nonetheless, the ECW Champion came to Unforgiven just as he would any other encounter: wrists tightly taped, kick pads secured and ready for war.
Named No. 1 contender by ECW General Manager Armando Estrada, Burke foretold that he was the future of the Land of the Extreme, and that Unforgiven would be the realization of such a prophecy. However, defeating the Experience in the middle of the ring on Sunday night, CM Punk proved that whatever magic eight ball Burke had peered into earlier this week was clearly defective.
Not only that, but the ECW Champion also proved that if fans are looking for the individual to lead ECW into the future, they should look no further than the Straightedge Superstar.
