Layla

CM Punk has been on a campaign for respect. The on-screen character has lambasted WWE at every turn for giving priority treatment to other superstars instead of the reigning WWE champion. This week, though, it's hard to argue that Punk had the spotlight that a champion deserves. He was featured in the main event of Raw in a tag team match, was part of the centerpiece attraction of the debut episode of Main Event on Wednesday and main evented tonight's Smackdown in a match against Dolph Ziggler.

If WrestleMania is the fiscal end of the WWE“season,” then Extreme Rules is the first PPV of the new year - it certainly felt that way, with seemingly several new wrinkles being tested out. In what can be described as a “perfect storm” of a stellar Chicago crowd, excellent matches with several clever finishes, refreshing commentary and WWE rarities including violence, blood and referee assault, WWE's Extreme Rules Pay Per View certainly delivered....

On Monday's Raw, Daniel Bryan earned the right to face WWE Champion CM Punk at Over the Limit. On tonight's Smackdown, Bryan lost to World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus. Bryan has now lost to Sheamus in three consecutive singles title matches -- WrestleMania, Extreme Rules and Smackdown. That doesn't seem like the way to build a challenger for the company's top prize. Bryan and Punk have proven on multiple occasions they're capable of stealing any show, and that mindset will surely carry over to Over the Limit, when they'll focus on the story they're telling in the ring rather than the one playing out outside of it. But even so, in the eyes of the general viewing public, what chance does Bryan stand against Punk?

WWE has a long track record of revising its own history. Former enemies all of a sudden are best friends, a certain former world champion has been erased completely from history, and the list continues. But Monday night on Raw, general manager John Laurinaitis took it upon himself to not only rewrite WWE history, but also that of All Japan Pro Wrestling, where Laurinaitis competed as Johnny Ace from 1990 to 2000. Laurinaitis claimed to be the greatest star in the history of Japan, comparing his impact on the industry to the careers of Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin and The Rock rolled into one. In all honesty, I think Hollywood Stalker Ichikawa is even a bigger star in Japan than Laurinaitis was during his heyday.John Laurinaitis rewrites wrestling history to build feud with John Cena on WWE's Monday Night Raw Believing his own hype, Laurinaitis said it's those skills that will enable him to beat John Cena at Over the Limit later this month.

Anyone who thinks WWE officials don't view Daniel Bryan and Kane as key players in the company obviously didn't watch Friday night's Smackdown. The Tag Team Champions were featured on the show from top to bottom and brought some humor and light-hearted fun to the show. Many have questioned the decision to hot-shot this team to the titles ahead of other teams who were being built up, ala the Prime Time Players, but I personally applaud WWE for striking when the iron was hot. A comedy-based gimmick like the one Bryan and Kane are doing could just as easily flop as succeed, but these two have embraced the situation and created gold -- as well as bronze.

There isn't much about the problems created by the brand split, or lack thereof, that hasn't been said. But as preparing for Sunday's Hell in a Cell, there have been a lot of theories floating around, and one of the prevalent ones has left me shaking my head. It doesn't directly relate to tonight's Smackdown, but it highlights one of the problems of the not-really-split split brands. Dolph Ziggler's Money in the Bank contract allows him a World Heavyweight Championship match at the time of his choosing.

Western High's girls won their seventh straight Baltimore indoor championship at the 5th Regiment Armory yesterday, and Mervo, having lost last winter, won its sixth city boys title.All Western did, while piling up 195 points, was quadruple the score of its nearest competitor, winning all but one of the 11 events.Western took the title for the seventh time, the same number of times the title has been up for grabs.Mervo was nearly as impressive on the boys' side, gaining revenge for losing to City College last year, the only time it hasn't come out on top in the meet's history.

Landover -- Most rock fans think of Eric Clapton as a guitar hero -- and rightly so. Having been celebrated for his fleet-fingered solos ever since his days as a Yardbird (when "Clapton Is God" was familiar graffiti in London's club district), he has built an unparalleled body of work, inspiring a generation of apostles and imitators.But playing guitar isn't the only thing Clapton does well. In fact, after hearing him before a capacity crowd at the Capital Centre last night, it's tempting to suggest that he is a singer/songwriter first, and a soloist second.

TAKE THE D.C. Metro in from New Carrollton from now through Sunday, and if you get off at the Smithsonian stop you'll ride the up escalator into Samarkand. It'll be packed, hot, dusty, bustling -- just like the real thing. Musicians from Kabul might be playing their urban, courtly ballads, maybe the romantic one of Layla and Majnun. Or, nearby, Almas Almatov might be singing his songs from the windswept Kazakh steppes, songs of lonely horseriders, laments that echo the eerie throat-singing of the Altai Mountains.

One night a year, it's a guarantee that every championship in WWE will be defended. At Night of Champions, seven men and women will put their gold on the line against a barrage of challengers. Some are looking to settle a score; others are simply seeking opportunity. Ring Posts' Arda Ocal and Adam Testa take a match-by-match look at this Sunday's pay-per-view in Boston. Here is what they have to say:   Randy Orton vs. Dolph Ziggler Arda: This match is a blessing for many reasons.