Top 10 CM Punk Matches of all Time
CM Punk, the Straight Edge Superstar, the Best in the World, captivated the wrestling audience for 15 years before calling it quits and heading over to the UFC. Throughout his wrestling career Punk had some spectacular matches against opponents such as Samoa Joe, John Cena, and Daniel Bryan that proved why, for several year, he was the Best in the World!!!!
Jeff Hardy captured the World Heavyweight Championship off CM Punk in July of 2009, and Punk was out for revenge and what better way to get revenge than to beat Hardy in his specialty, the Ladder Match. In the main event of Summerslam 2009 CM Punk left Hardy battered and bruised and walked away with the belt in tow, after a well-fought, entertaining match which is well worth a watch.
This is Punk's only true Wrestlemania main event, and it was an absolute banger of a bout. After losing the WWE Title to The Rock, Punk needed to prove he was still the Best in the World and he would do this by taking Undertaker to his limit at Mania XXIX in April 2013. This wasn't Undertaker's longest, nor best Wrestlemania match, but what it was, was interesting. Punk proved to be a different, yet viable contender to Taker and his streak, and after a match in which Punk was as equally superior, and 22 minutes later, Taker finally managed to put the the Chick Magnet away with a Tombstone Piledriver, taking his streak to 21-0.
This was the 4th match of the Punk/Cena rivalry, and is one of the best matches of 2012. John Cena, to this point had never beaten CM Punk and wanted to show the WWE Universe that he was capable of this seemingly impossible task. Punk, however, wanted to keep hold of his WWE Title, something which he had been holding for the better part of 10 months, and was not willing to let go anytime soon. The two went back and forth hitting multiple finishers but it was a bridging Suplex by Cena that ended the match, as with both men's shoulders on the mat the result was a draw. CM Punk escaped with the belt and left Cena wondering how he could possibly defeat him.
10) Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk- Capital Punishment 2011
In an exciting 15 minute contest CM Punk and Rey Mysterio put on the highlight match from a pretty poor show, in a highly anticipated match which saw them lock horns for the first time in over a year. The match was fairly even, with the ending continuing this theme, with Mysterio countering a GTS into a 619 only for Punk to counter Rey's finisher and finally connect with the GTS for the finish. This was Msyterio's last impressive WWE match, and would be the start of Punk's rise to greater things.
In an exciting 15 minute contest CM Punk and Rey Mysterio put on the highlight match from a pretty poor show, in a highly anticipated match which saw them lock horns for the first time in over a year. The match was fairly even, with the ending continuing this theme, with Mysterio countering a GTS into a 619 only for Punk to counter Rey's finisher and finally connect with the GTS for the finish. This was Msyterio's last impressive WWE match, and would be the start of Punk's rise to greater things.
9) Money in the Bank Ladder Match- Wrestlemania XXIV
This ladder match was the match that enabled the world to finally recognize CM Punk for what he was, a star. On the Grandest Stage of the All, in front of over 74,000 fans, and in a match that featured Chris Jericho, MVP and Shelton Benjamin, CM Punk was able to face the odds and come out on top. Punk captured the coveted briefcase for the first time and proved himself to be among the best in the company.
8) CM Punk vs. John Morrison- ECW, September 1st 2007
Back in September 2007, CM Punk was an ECW mainstay, and had been for around a year and didn't seem to be going anywhere special, that was, until, September 1st 2007. On this date, Punk was given a shot at ECW Champion John Morrison, and he took it, ending the night as Champion, and going on to hold the belt for four months. This was a great encounter and a sign of what was to come for Punk....success.
7) CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan- Over the Limit 2012
CM Punk and Daniel Bryan, two Indy darlings, and two of the best wrestlers at the time had never gone on-on-one in a WWE ring. The fans would soon get the match they were after, when at Over the Limit 2012, Bryan would become number 1 contender to Punk, and his WWE Title. This match lasted 30 minutes but came to a controversial end when Bryan had clamped in the Yes Lock, only for Punk to roll over and pin Bryan's shoulders to the mat to get the pinfall victory, however, whilst doing so Punk was tapping out. This was the best 'wrestling' match of Punk's 435 day reign, as well as being the only entertaining bout on the show.
6) Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk- Summerslam 2009
Jeff Hardy captured the World Heavyweight Championship off CM Punk in July of 2009, and Punk was out for revenge and what better way to get revenge than to beat Hardy in his specialty, the Ladder Match. In the main event of Summerslam 2009 CM Punk left Hardy battered and bruised and walked away with the belt in tow, after a well-fought, entertaining match which is well worth a watch.
5) CM Punk vs. The Undertaker- Wrestlemania XIX
This is Punk's only true Wrestlemania main event, and it was an absolute banger of a bout. After losing the WWE Title to The Rock, Punk needed to prove he was still the Best in the World and he would do this by taking Undertaker to his limit at Mania XXIX in April 2013. This wasn't Undertaker's longest, nor best Wrestlemania match, but what it was, was interesting. Punk proved to be a different, yet viable contender to Taker and his streak, and after a match in which Punk was as equally superior, and 22 minutes later, Taker finally managed to put the the Chick Magnet away with a Tombstone Piledriver, taking his streak to 21-0.
4) CM Punk vs. John Cena- Night of Champions 2012
This was the 4th match of the Punk/Cena rivalry, and is one of the best matches of 2012. John Cena, to this point had never beaten CM Punk and wanted to show the WWE Universe that he was capable of this seemingly impossible task. Punk, however, wanted to keep hold of his WWE Title, something which he had been holding for the better part of 10 months, and was not willing to let go anytime soon. The two went back and forth hitting multiple finishers but it was a bridging Suplex by Cena that ended the match, as with both men's shoulders on the mat the result was a draw. CM Punk escaped with the belt and left Cena wondering how he could possibly defeat him.
3) CM Punk vs. Samoa Joe II- ROH, October 16th 2004
The only non-WWE match on this list, CM Punk vs. Samoa Joe II could be classed as the best Ring of Honor match in history. Punk and Joe were, at the time, the best ROH had to offer and they knew it. They put everything out there and fought so valiantly that neither man could get the win. The match went to a 60 minuted time limit draw enabling Joe to retain the ROH Title, a prize Punk didn't get his hands on until June 2005. If you can watch this match, do so, it is a 5 star contest.
The only non-WWE match on this list, CM Punk vs. Samoa Joe II could be classed as the best Ring of Honor match in history. Punk and Joe were, at the time, the best ROH had to offer and they knew it. They put everything out there and fought so valiantly that neither man could get the win. The match went to a 60 minuted time limit draw enabling Joe to retain the ROH Title, a prize Punk didn't get his hands on until June 2005. If you can watch this match, do so, it is a 5 star contest.
2) CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio- Extreme Rules 2010
This match was a rematch from Wrestlemania XXVI, and yet again, CM Punk was after revenge, and he got it. In this match Punk had his hair on the line, and wasn't willing to lose it, not yet anyway, and he had the aid of the Straight Edge Society to ensure that Mysterio would not be using the shaver that night. In my personal favorite match of 2010, Punk was able to keep Mysterio at bay by planting him with a GTS and taking the rivalry to 1-1. Technicality, high-flying, storytelling...this match had it all.
This match was a rematch from Wrestlemania XXVI, and yet again, CM Punk was after revenge, and he got it. In this match Punk had his hair on the line, and wasn't willing to lose it, not yet anyway, and he had the aid of the Straight Edge Society to ensure that Mysterio would not be using the shaver that night. In my personal favorite match of 2010, Punk was able to keep Mysterio at bay by planting him with a GTS and taking the rivalry to 1-1. Technicality, high-flying, storytelling...this match had it all.
1) CM Punk vs. John Cena- Money in the Bank 2011
So, here we are at number one, and you guessed it, the best CM Punk match of all time is his contest with John Cena at Money in the Bank 2011. This was the match that took Punk from a struggling Nexus leader to a top level superstar and the match that earned him the Best in the World nickname. Punk entered the match to one of the loudest reactions in history, out wrestled Cena, won via pinfall, and left the Allstate Arena as the new WWE Champion. Millions around the world were satisfied, not because Cena lost the belt, but because Punk had genuinely made it.
So, here we are at number one, and you guessed it, the best CM Punk match of all time is his contest with John Cena at Money in the Bank 2011. This was the match that took Punk from a struggling Nexus leader to a top level superstar and the match that earned him the Best in the World nickname. Punk entered the match to one of the loudest reactions in history, out wrestled Cena, won via pinfall, and left the Allstate Arena as the new WWE Champion. Millions around the world were satisfied, not because Cena lost the belt, but because Punk had genuinely made it.
What is your favorite CM Punk match? Please comment below, like, and come back soon as we take a look at the Horsewomen on NXT!!!
Comments
Post a Comment