Credit: WWE.com
Ranking the top 10 matches of CM Punk during his time with the WWE.
It’s been over two-and-a-half years since CM Punk graced a WWE ring and in that time much has changed within the company. Multiple titles have changed hands and been created, the brands have once again split, and wrestlers who were just prospects during Punk’s time have now emerged as stars. Within this new crop of talent, the overall product inside the ring has improved and there have been a number of great matches since The Straight Edge Superstar’s departure.
However, for every great match that the new era superstars put out there, Punk can throw one of his many to match them. During his tenure with the WWE, Punk was always one of the most consistent performers, churning out classic match after classic match for the better part of five years. No matter who the WWE could throw into the ring with Punk, he always seemed to find a way to make the match work. He had the ability to make even the more pedestrian workers look like top flight pros and he never did anything in the ring halfway.
Punk’s classic’s started even before he came to WWE. Between his bloody battles with Chris Hero in IWA Mid-South, to his Ring of Honor wars with Colt Cabana, Austin Aries, and Samoa Joe, Punk had no problem performing at the highest level even when only in front of a couple hundred people. His trilogy with Samoa Joe alone was some of the best wrestling the sport has ever seen.
So it was no shock to see him rise to the level of stardom that he eventually did when he finally made it to the big leagues. There are probably about 30 matches that could be mentioned but I’ve narrowed it down. Ahead we count down CM Punk’s top 10 best WWE matches.
10. Money in the Bank Match – Wrestlemania 24
Going into Wrestlemania 24, Punk was seen as a rising prospect. Competing on the ECW brand and shortly after dropping the ECW title a few months prior, Punk won a MITB qualifying match and made it into the briefcase match for the second straight year. After coming up short a year earlier, he made his 2008 inclusion count, snatching the briefcase in a match that also featured Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, John Morrison, Mr. Kennedy, Carlito, and MVP. Some pretty good names there, huh?
This match is what everyone expects out of the MITB match, a violent spot-fest, but this one pulled it off with grace. This match, which opened one of the better Wrestlemania’s of all time, featured non-stop savagery and set the tone for the rest of this historic card. If you could turn a train wreck into a piece of art, that’s what the MITB match was at ‘Mania 2008.
Punk would make the most out of the briefcase win, as he was drafted to RAW 3 months later and wasted little time cashing it in on Edge on his first appearance after the draft. This wasn’t just a major win for Punk, it was the win that put him on the map and firmly entrench him as a main event, World Champion, type of player.
9. CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho – Payback 2013
I go back and forth with this match and their battle at Wrestlemania 28 as to which one is better. Obviously, the Mania one was the bigger stage but for me, this was the better match. Punk returned for this match after taking two months off after his war with The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 29 and it took place at the Allstate Arena just outside of Chicago, Punk’s home.
These two already had a long history against each other. After not exactly crossing paths for the first few years of Punk’s WWE career, they ended up embroiled in a very bitter, personal feud for the first quarter of 2012. This led to their first pay per view match at the aforementioned Wrestlemania 28 and then in a brutal Chicago Street Fight at Extreme Rules in April. Punk won both and always seemed just a tiny bit ahead of Y2J when they’d square off.
So when Punk made his return against Jericho at Payback the following year, the Chicago crowd was molten hot for him. The match itself was brilliant. It was a culmination of all their prior material as the two matched clever counters and innovative reversals to the other’s finishing moves over and over again through their 21-minute tilt. This was their last televised match and it was a terrific way to end their rivalry.
8. CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio – Survivor Series 2011
There are definitely better in-ring matches than this one between Punk and ADR, but this match was an example of how a simple story line could work out so well. Add that to the fact that this night contained one of the most feel-good moments in Punk’s career, it needs to be on the list. Working with Del Rio in front of a red hot crowd at Madison Square Garden, the two engaged in a very technical, hard-hitting bout for the WWE Championship.
Through the Summer of 2011, Punk was the consensus most popular wrestler on the roster, so much so that even Triple H’s attempt to bury him at Night of Champions with a loss was only met with more fanfare for Punk. When the crowd speaks, occasionally the WWE brass listens, and that’s what happened here. Punk strong-armed his way into the match with Del Rio, the same man who took the belt from him three months prior via a MITB briefcase cash in.
Again, this was a solid tilt. Del Rio worked Punk’s left arm brilliantly and Punk was on a tear through their 17 minutes in the ring. Del Rio battled tirelessly to avoid the GTS only to get caught in the Anaconda Vice for an almost immediate tap-out. Punk’s post-match celebration of jumping into the NYC crowd still gives me the chills and it proved even further that Punk was the people’s choice. This win would touch off a record-breaking 434-day reign for Punk as champ and essentially carry the WWE through 2012.
The only thing wrong about this match was the “main event” which preceded it—a tag match pitting John Cena and The Rock vs. The Awesome Truth.
Photo Credit: WWE.com
7. CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy – SummerSlam 2009
In one of the more compelling feuds in Punk’s career, he and Jeff Hardy waged war over the World Heavyweight Championship through the summer of 2009. Like many feuds that involved the heel side of Punk, this was personal, as he attacked Hardy’s past drug indiscretions. As the battle intensified, so did their matches.
After taking the belt from Hardy by cashing in his second MITB briefcase at Extreme Rules, they would then battle in three consecutive pay-per-views. The first one was at The Bash and ended when Punk disqualified himself. Hardy then exacted some revenge by taking the belt back at Night Of Champions. And the feud culminated with their ultra-violent TLC match at Summer Slam.
Hardy, the master of TLC had the advantage in this one. But on this night, Punk would not be denied. In his hatred of Punk, Hardy went to the extreme way too many times and it eventually cost him and his body could no longer go. Punk retrieved the belt to become champion again and the following week ended Hardy’s WWE career in a cage match. Unquestionably one of Punk’s most emotional feuds and they’re SummerSlam clash was the perfect send off for Hardy.
Photo Credit: WWE.com
6. CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan – Money in the Bank 2012
Right in the middle of Punk’s historic WWE Championship reign, he ran into the buzz saw known as Daniel Bryan. These guys were no strangers to each other when they met up again in the WWE. They had tangled in three different indy organizations as younger wrestlers and were both highly touted prospects. The summer months of 2012 featured a lot of the Bryan-Punk-AJ Lee feud and it was arguably the best thing going in the company. The in-ring work, there was no question as to whether that was the best or not.
Their match at Money In The Bank was the blow off to this underrated feud and it was the most violent of everything they’d done up to that point. The match, billed as a no DQ match was 28 minutes of pure mayhem between two guys who very clearly mat wrestlers first, brawlers second. Building off that theme, the two almost seemed uncomfortable wielding weapons early on but that changed rather quickly as the two wore out a kendo stick on each other. The stiff shots with the stick and with a chair echoed through US Airways Center in Phoenix.
The only downside to the match was the inclusion of AJ Lee as the guest referee. Her antics were just completely pointless and she once again proved that she’s a far better wrestler than lackey. This is a feud that at present day would make a wrestling fan’s mouth water and even then was pretty close.
Credit: WWE.com
5. CM Punk vs. The Undertaker – Wrestlemania 29
Heading into Wrestlemania 29, The Undertaker was 20-0 at the event. Punk, knowing the work he had cut out for himself pulled every heel tactic possible on Taker leading up to their match. The worst of his cringe-inducing actions was his mocking of the death of Paul Bearer and stealing his vaunted urn. This was heel hall of fame-worthy stuff. Absolutely brilliance from Punk.
The intensity of the hatred between the two men was evident in their Mania clash. Punk repeatedly insulted The Dead Man throughout with slaps and taunts and Taker fought back with some massive power moves. The back and forth of this match was unreal and it legitimately seemed like Punk was going to do the unthinkable. I could not believe that Taker kicked out after Punk drilled him with the urn.
But in the end, it was Taker moving to 21-0 at Mania but Punk proved that he was still very much in his prime. The two men saved a Wrestlemania that would of have been awful had their match not happened and reminded every wrestling fan that Punk deserved to be in the Mania main event that he was always promised and never got.
4. CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan – Over the Limit 2012
In April of 2004, Punk and Bryan met up in a match at Ring Of Honor: Reborn in which Bryan was victorious. They were seen as two of the best, young wrestling prospects in the country. The idea that eight years later, the two would meet up on a WWE pay-per-view for a world championship was absurd. But that’s exactly what happened at Over the Limit 2012.
This was the first of three PPV matches in a row (unfortunately the middle one also included Kane) that was very easily some of the best wrestling of 2012. The Money In The Bank match was a No DQ slugfest but this match was their masterpiece. It was an absolute mat classic, with both men digging deep into their move-sets to pull things out that they would rarely ever use again.
And it wasn’t just mat wrestling. The two exchanged heavy, stiff strikes and from the looks on both their faces, they wanted it bad. It was like they had gone into the past and rekindled their indy prowess. There were no gimmicks, no tricks, and there was a classic roll-up pinfall out of a submission by Punk for the victory.
As much as it’s painful to think that you may never see these two square off again here’s a tiny glimmer of hope. Numerous reports have recently come out saying that the WWE has not closed the door on a possible return to the ring for Bryan. And if September 10th goes the way I think it will for Punk, he might have no choice to go back to wrestling. Yeah, it’s far-fetched, but we can dream.
WWE.com
3. John Cena – RAW, February 25th, 2013
It’s shocking that this match was given away for free and not saved for a pay per view. Simply put, Punk and Cena had one of the best in-ring rivalries in the history of the company. Their chemistry was undeniable and for anyone who says Cena can’t wrestle, check out this 26-minute gem from RAW. This is quite possibly the best match ever on RAW’s and very deserving of this spot on the list.
Quick background on this one. Punk’s 434-day reign as WWE champion ended when The Rock decided to grace the WWE with his presence at the 2013 Royal Rumble and defeated him. Cena, the winner of that night’s Rumble match took on Punk to see who would go on to face Dwayne at Wrestlemania 29 in the main event. Pretty much everyone knew how this would turn out, but it didn’t stop these two from putting on a classic.
This match had it all. It was filled with back and forth action, numerous near falls, big time spots, and featured an ultra-hot crowd in Dallas. Cena eventually sealed his ticket with a big win and would go on to Mania to have a massively disappointing main event bout with The Rock, while Punk tore the house down with The Undertaker. On this night, Punk, although being taken out of the main event scene that he carried for over 18 months, once again proved he was the consummate professional.
A booking with Brock Lesnar would be a perfect return scenario for CM Punk. (Photo Source: wwe.com)
2. CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar – SummerSlam 2013
Billed as “The Beast vs The Best”, the one match that these two men wrestled against each other was as good as anyone could’ve imagined. The psychology in this match was just perfect. Lesnar used his hulking to size to sling Punk around who took some insane bumps. And although Punk was being tossed around like a rag doll, he used his speed and cleverness to match Lesnar move for move. No matter how bad the beating from Brock got, Punk never gave in, and in fact looked like he was going to win.
Paul Heyman was also brilliant in this match. Normally the manager at ringside is just a nuisance but not Heyman on this night. When Brock was in charge, he looked on and applauded like a proud father. When Punk went on the offensive he acted like a disapproving one, constantly goading his former friend. Punk came so close to getting his hands on him only to get stopped by Brock on numerous occasions. Heyman’s actions are what made Punk look so good even in defeat. It legitimately looked like Lesnar would not have won this match if not for Paul.
In my opinion, this was the best match of 2013, the best match of Brock’s career, but only the second best match of Punks’.
WWE.com
1. CM Punk vs. John Cena – Money in the Bank 2011
Was there ever any doubt? This is simply one of the best matches in the company’s history. From the build up, to the crowd, and to the in-ring action, this battle between Punk and Cena hit every note perfectly. In the weeks leading up to Money in the Bank, Punk unleashed a series of promos that could be highly considered some of the best mic work the wrestling world has ever seen. In his rants, he insisted repeatedly that not only was he going to beat Cena for the WWE Championship at MITB, but he was going to take the belt with him shortly thereafter when his contract expired.
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So with the jewel of the company at risk of being removed from circulation, the importance of their match was at an all-time high, and you could tell the crowd knew it. Once again wrestling just outside his home of Chicago, Punk and 15,000 fans went to war with the ever underrated Cena. The atmosphere was electric from the outset, and the two men went back and forth in an instant classic.
It’s an absolute pleasure to see two guys right in the middle of their prime put it all on the line for the biggest title in the sport. Punk and Cena seemed to know what they were doing was special because the match got better and better as it played out over the course of nearly 34 minutes. Vince McMahon’s interference actually ended up helping the match, which is rarely said, and it allowed both combatants to look strong no matter the result. And that pop from the crowd when Punk won: goosebumps to this day.
A great feud, great storytelling in and out of the ring, and an absolute master class in professional wrestling highlighted CM Punk’s very best work with the WWE.
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