October 3 , 2012 Main Event results The October 3 , 2012 Edition of Main Event is a Professional wrestling television show of the WWE , it was taped at the BOK Center in Tulsa , Oklahoma on October 2 , 2012 . Summary . WWE Main Event kicked off on ION Television in grandiose fashion with a crucial WWE Tag Team Tournament Match and a history - making clash pitting WWE Champion CM Punk against World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus . The non - title Champion vs . Champion Match also marked the first time the two Superstars have squared off with one another . Following the landmark premiere of WWE Main Event on ION Television , the WWE Universe can be certain of one thing : Wednesday nights just got a lot more explosive . WWE Champion CM Punk ’ s quest for respect highlighted the debut main event of ION Television ’ s newest weekly extravaganza . Before the contest , The Second City Saint emphasized the fact that he has defeated John Cena four times in the past year but still does not garner the respect he expects , so defeating the “ other ” champion would satisfy him . Sheamus retorted by telling Matt Striker of his own plans to silence the WWE Champion with a boot to the face . As the contest got underway , it quickly became crystal clear why these two ring warriors carry the most coveted prizes in sports - entertainment . Sheamus ’ strategy consisted of using his brute strength to keep the WWE Champion at bay , while Punk ’ s resiliency and agility frustrated the powerful Celtic Warrior on numerous occasions . Momentum swings were fairly even and many near falls kept WWE Universe members on the edge of their seats . Watching from ringside with an equal blend of arrogance and trepidation was Paul Heyman , hoping his guy — CM Punk — would emerge victorious . During the course of the battle , Punk accidentally pulled off one of the turnbuckle covers , leaving the steel support exposed . As the match wore on and the two champions clashed seemingly to a stalemate , The Straight Edge Superstar noticed the exposed turnbuckle . When The Great White moved to execute the Brogue Kick , Punk ducked and tripped his opponent head first into the unprotected steel . Immediately going for the pinfall , the WWE Champion grabbed Sheamus ’ tights for extra leverage and the victory . Punk ’ s win marked the first time since April 23 , 2012 , that Sheamus has been pinned — only the second time all year . It took an exposed turnbuckle and a questionable pinfall tactic for Punk to secure the win , a fact that the World Heavyweight Champion emphasized in a post - match interview . CM Punk may have defeated The Great White , but his dubious methods may not earn him the respect he demands . In an interview with Matt Striker , The World ’ s Largest Athlete revealed that he will go one - on - one with his rival , Randy Orton , next week on WWE Main Event . Big Show acknowledged it would be each Superstar ’ s first appearance on ION Television , but threatened that it would be The Viper ’ s last . The stakes could not be higher on WWE Main Event ’ s debut as Santino Marella & Zack Ryder battled Justin Gabriel & Tyson Kidd — the latest bout in a tournament that will determine the No . 1 contenders to the WWE Tag Team Championship . The WWE Universe in Tulsa ’ s BOK Center and watching around the world on ION Television witnessed a highly athletic and competitive tag team match . The tournament — with the winners set to face the Tag Team Champions , Team Hell No , at WWE Hell in a Cell — has highlighted the importance of tag team competition and it was certainly on display on WWE Main Event . Each of the agile and gifted Superstar tandems did their respective best to sway momentum in their favor , but ultimately it was the devastating Cobra that enabled Ryder & Santino to advance in the tournament .