CM Punk's Out on WWE Superstars

The rules of Money in the Bank are simple: the briefcase can be cashed in at any given time, up to one year, towards the World Title of the holder's choosing.

At New Year's Revolution, Edge cashed in and won his first WWE Championship against John Cena, who had just survived and retained his title in an Elimination Chamber match. By the rules of the MitB contract, John Cena was forced to defend his title.

Edge revolutionized the concept of capitalizing on opportune moments and would do it again on a historic night in Pittsburgh - against the Undertaker - to become World Heavyweight Champion. There's a saying, "What goes around, comes around" that reigned true on June 30, 2008 when CM Punk would cash in his MitB briefcase against Edge to become the new World Heavyweight Champion. However, greed exuded Punk when he decided to cash in against Jeff Hardy, the new World Heavyweight Champion, who did not hold it long enough to strap the title around his waist.

Punk has, since then, shown signs of a heel change. On the June 26th edition of Smackdown, CM Punk had a classic match against "The Guru of Greatness" John Morrison. The match saw many evasive maneuvers and extraordinary counters as The Shaman of Sexy attempted a Running Knee Strike to a seated Punk, but The Straight Edge superstar found a way to counter into a one-legged Boston Crab. As Morrison reached for the ropes to break the hold, CM Punk waited until the very last second to break the hold - a tactic practiced usually by heels. If that were not enough to prove his turn, after losing his match to John Morrison, Punk offered a congratulatory hand only to execute the GTS.

At The Bash, after being hit with the Twist of Fate and the Swanton Bomb, Punk escaped the three count by having his foot underneath the ropes - this is not a heel maneuver, but just knowing your surroundings. However, Punk favored and winced in pain over his left eye. His vision was obviously blurred and accidentally kicked the referee, thus ending the match.

But was Punk in pain or did he fear losing his title?

Another wrestler acted on a fake injury only to win a match - his name was Shawn Michaels. Backlash 2008, Michaels claimed that his leg was injured only to strike Batista out with the Super Kick and win the match. Michaels went on for weeks limping on his leg having everyone believe that his injury was legit. CM Punk, at a very disappointing conclusion to WWE Superstars, forfeited his match against Unified Tag Team Champion Edge, in a one on one match, because of his eye. In all the years of wrestling there has never been a superstar to forfeit a competition mid-match. Of course, there have been superstars forced to forfeit before a match due to much-needed surgery, but never over an eye. Not even when Shawn Michaels injured his eye after Chris Jericho smashed his face into the JeriTron 6000, did he ever forfeit a match. CM Punk fears losing his title and realizes once again that he does not have the stamina or the fortitude to contend against the competition in the World Heavyweight division.

Punk was seconds away to losing his title match against Jeff Hardy, his match against Edge, and lost his match against John Morrison. And with the crowds turning against him, Punk is becoming more desperate to gain pity from his fans and will continue to hold his eye in pain if he comes close to losing a match again.