With CM Punk’s return to wrestling and his struggles with the AEW Title, plenty of fans have come back to enjoy him again. Wrestling remains the number one source of sports entertainment even in 2022 and CM Punk played a huge part in keeping wrestling alive during a tumultuous time.
CM Punk’s best matches showcased his best qualities, from the fantastic in-ring prowess to his pipebomb performances on the mic. The current generation of wrestling fans would be doing themselves a disservice if they don’t watch some of his best matches.
VS Austin Aries (ROH 2005)
All legends start somewhere, and CM Punk’s first big push as a serious wrestler was the infamous “Summer of Punk” run which began with his victory against Austin Aries at Ring of Honor’s Death Before Dishonor 3 event. It was the first time CM Punk showcased his amazing in-ring psychology and scathing promos to a huge audience as a World Champion.
Redditor u/dvvheaven sums up Punk’s heel turn best with “I love this promo so much. To this day I’ve never seen a hardcore babyface turn into the most hated guy in the company with only one promo.” It was this playing of emotions that led to CM Punk’s future success.
VS Samoa Joe (ROH 2004)
Of course, while the Summer of Punk was a year away, young Phil Brooks was already brawling with legends like Samoa Joe in 2004. The trilogy of matches he held with the Samoan legend is some of the most iconic in ROH’s long and esteemed history. This one-hour time limit draw cemented both as big deals in wrestling.
It was here that Punk would prove he could work with the best of them, even before his big main push. CM Punk wasn’t quite video game cover level yet, he was on his way.
VS Rey Mysterio (Extreme Rules 2010)
Rey Mysterio may not have been as high profile as Punk’s other matches with industry legends, they were still marvels of in-ring work. Throughout his matches, he’s often faced fellow submission specialists or musclebound monsters like Brock Lesnar who he had to fight with wits as much as physical skill.
Rey Mysterio was more nimble and unorthodox than he was, leading to some truly interesting matches. reality TV stuff the WWE was doing in the early 2010s, this was a refreshingly brutal rivalry.
VS Jeff Hardy (Steel Cage Match on Smackdown 2009)
CM Punk and Jeff Hardy were both stars with fantastic reputations, but their outlook and lifestyles could not have been any more different. This was seen best during their feud in 2009 when CM Punk would bring his Straight Edge Society persona up against the Charismatic Enigma, a man who is known to have personal demons when it comes to substance abuse.
This made the feud feel real in an uncomfortable but compelling way. Ascinematic display of wrestling perfection between two rising legends of the ring.
Elimination Chamber 2011
Elimination Chamber 2011 has CM Punk participate in a six-way match with several amazing wrestlers, which means the fact that he stands out is even more impressive. Being able to take out the likes of Randy Orton and John Morrison and then hold his own against the then invincible John Cena was shocking for audiences
Redditor u/OCKoopa has a glowing review of the match and how it elevated Punk’s career, saying “Man that was a good year. I loved that storyline for Punk.” With how important 2011 was for CM Punk’s superstar status, Elimination Chamber was only the start of Cena and Punk’s fantastic feud.
VS Brock Lesnar (SummerSlam 2013)
When Brock Lesnar returned to the WWE in 2012, he dominated the scene and eventually defeated the likes of John Cena to maintain a staggering 504-day reign as Universal Champion. The year before he started that run, he fought CM Punk at SummerSlam 2013.
Redditor u/Imaginary_Tour9286 praises the match by saying “Punk really gave Lesnar a fight like no one else to that point since Lesnar came back.” In an era when the Beast was borderline invincible, CM Punk gave him one of the hardest fights of his entire career, and fans wouldn’t soon forget.
VS Chris Jericho (Payback 2013)
Chris Jericho and CM Punk are both arrogant wrestlers with amazing mic skills and in-ring talent to prove it. Both have also had little personality change be they face or heel. So it was no wonder that the two would butt heads, and one of the best matches they held took place in CM Punk’s home state of Chicago.
As u/kb1117 fondly re, “CM Punk crowd pops in Chicago are a rare kind of crowd response you really don't hear anymore. They just hit differently.” CM Punk’s victory would further cement his status as Chicago’s wrestling hero.
VS The Undertaker (WrestleMania XXIX 2013)
The Undertaker has had thousands of matches under his belt, but of all them, the Streak matches are the most important. The Streak, despite not being associated with any “real” title shots, was something that iconic wrestlers tried to break. The Undertaker went more than 20 years without a loss at WrestleMania and Punk was the 21st attempt to snap that record.
CM Punk gave the Dead Man a run for his money, and it made for some fantastic television. It was incredibly emotional, and Punk’s cheap attacks and mocking of Paul Bearer’s legacy gave the usually beloved wrestler a ton of heat. Both new and old fans united in their cheering for the Undertaker. As u/MVacc224 states “I was there live. Possibly still the best match I’ve ever seen in person. My dad was with me & he’s been a fan since Bruno was a champ, even though he was marking out.”
VS Daniel Bryan (Over The Limit 2012)
CM Punk and Daniel Bryan are without a doubt two of the most influential wrestlers of the 2010s. Their reigns as WWE Champions completely changed the game. CM Punk’s infamous pipebomb promo lifted the veil on kayfabe in a way that nobody had done before. Years later, Daniel Bryan would mark the first time in a long time that fans actively dictated who they wanted to win in the WWE.
These two legends clashed in 2012, and it was as fantastic as anybody could have expected. It even evoked memories of promotions such as Ring of Honor. It was pure wrestling goodness, and people loved it. As an anonymous Redditor states “This match was a classic ROH match in a WWE ring. At least that's what it felt like to me as someone who watched both of them since 2004."
VS John Cena (Money In The Bank 2011)
Although the match itself was amazing, this isn’t why it’s considered by many to be CM Punk’s best match of all time. The build-up to his amazing victory over John Cena was incredible. Starting with the infamous pipe bomb, he would dissect not just John Cena, but the WWE at large. Not since Triple H’s shoot interview with JR in 1999 was the business so blatantly called out, and fans loved it.
WWE, for their part, gave CM Punk the win, and the image of him blowing a kiss at Vince McMahon and leaving with the belt, as audiences crowded him, remains iconic to this day. u/SiphenPrax sums it up best by saying “This is one of the greatest WWE matches of all time, the crowning achievement for both CM Punk and John Cena's careers when it came to their best matches, and it ended up changing the WWE for the next 10 years”