CM Punk is arguably the most divisive and polarising figure in recent WWE and wrestling history, but his impact on the business can not be disputed.
From his early work with Ring of Honor where he became a standard bearer for the promotion to his recent brilliant storyline with MJF in AEW, Punk has excelled wherever he has been. Nowhere was that more clear than during his nine years in WWE from 2005-2014, where he became one of the biggest stars in the industry despite many doubters.
2011 saw the “summer of Punk” and one of the best ever WWE title victories at Money in the Bank for the Straightedge superstar.
Punk's pipe bomb set the wheels in motion for an epic title win
As most readers will know and remember, Punk dropped his infamous worked-shoot “pipe bomb” on the June 27th episode of Raw, where he outlined his many problems with WWE and its management, one of whom was WWE Champion John Cena.
Punk claimed he, not Cena, was the best in the world which kickstarted that moniker for him in the years that followed. He should have been the top guy, the guy headlining WrestleMania and getting all the outside perks that come with it.
Punk’s contract had just been extended in real life but it was very close to expiry. In storyline, it remained unsigned and he signalled his intent to leave the company with the WWE title. It just so happened his contract expired at midnight on July 17th, just after Money in the Bank was due to finish. The location of the event? Just outside Chicago, Punk’s home city.
Cm Punk
After Vince McMahon attempted to both stop the match and then placate Punk, the match went ahead and the stakes could not have been higher.
In a pulsating contest that went over 33 minutes, Punk and Cena showed why they were the two top guys in the company as well as their undeniable in-ring chemistry. They were so different but did share some similarities at the end of the day.
At the match’s conclusion, Vince tried to repeat the 1997 Montreal Screwjob with Punk locked in Cena’s STF submission hold. Cena stopped crony John Laurinaitis in his tracks, but as he retuned to the ring he was dropped with a GTS by Punk.
Take a look below at Punk’s mega WWE title win and all that followed after (shared on Twitter by @WrestlingNewsCo)
VIDEO: CM Punk wins the WWE title from John Cena
It was a brilliant storyline that was sadly scuppered soon after
The hometown crowd reaction. The shock from the commentary team. The stark realisation of what has just happened from Vince McMahon (sells it very well). Punk is the perfect devious anti-WWE character, and an anti-hero to rival anyone since Stone Cold.
As mentioned in the comments left on the clip alongside praise for the moment itself, WWE made a mess of the storyline in weeks. Punk “left” WWE, Cena won a tournament to crown a new champ, and then Punk returned just two weeks after his exit.
Punk beat Cena again at Summerslam only to lose his title to Alberto Del Rio, who cashed in his Money in the Bank contract after a returning Kevin Nash attacked the champion. It made little sense.
CM Punk
CM Punk
CM Punk
Where does this rank amongst the best title wins?
It is certainly one of the most memorable and epic title wins of all time, but how does it compare to the likes of Stone Cold, Daniel Bryan and the like down the year?