Ranking CM Punk's Top 5 Best WWE Matches

By Thomas Brunt

With CM Punk's UFC career just about underway and him ruling out any possible returns to the company, I feel it's necessary to list my top CM Punk matches from his run in WWE.  


5. CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy at SummerSlam 2009

The feud CM Punk had with Jeff Hardy was perhaps the spring-shot Punk's career needed, that is until he got pushed down to midcard after a feud with the Undertaker that very year. I talk not just about this awesome match, but really more importantly the feud as a whole because in wrestling storytelling creates greatness. Despite being held back some ways by WWE, I feel this still played a big role in Punk's career. Now the match, of course was everything a main event should be, especially with it being a TLC match. There are many cool spots in this match, but the one Hardy did from the ladder to the announcer's table is probably the most memorable one. The Undertaker's return/post match attack to Punk, of course is always fun to watch over.

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4. CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam 2013

This match was a fantasy come true for many fans. It more than lived up to the fantasy. Ever since an unforbearing CM Punk shot what is known as the infamous promo on RAW in the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas perhaps longer than that since Punk was already a Heyman guy. Punk's mentioning of Lesnar made this more of a fantasy for fans. Unfortunately fans would have to wait at least 6 months for Lesnar to return to the company, and even longer for the two to cross paths in a WWE ring. This match more than delivered. The fact this was made a No DQ match certainly helped, and the amateur wrestling backgrounds.  Obviously Paul Heyman's involvement, as usual was great. That is until the feud became just Punk vs. Heyman as it was way longer than it needed to be.


3. CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho at Extreme Rules 2012

If you thought their match at WrestleMania was a show-stealer (besides following a classic Undertaker and Triple H match at that point) you are missing out on one heck of a match. Part of what made me want to rank this match here was this feud. It really captured who CM Punk was, as a wrestler. It got a bit personal, at times sure, but never went too far. As I said before what often helps make a match memorable is the storyline. The match was awesome, surpassing what was a solid WrestleMania bout. This would only show a preview of what these two would be capable of doing in ring together.


2. CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan at Over The Limit 2012

2012 was most definitely, well almost the year of CM Punk. After feuding with Chris Jericho and proving to be victorious each occasion, the straight-edge self proclaimed "savior" went on to battle it out with Daniel Bryan for a while. Besides the Fatal 4-Way for the World Heavyweight Championship match, this was the only saving grace of a lack-luster pay-per view. It's no secret the two have amazing in ring chemistry as we would get to see here in this match and later in the feud. Punk and Bryan put on a pure mat wrestling clinic from bell to bell. Do yourself a favor, and watch this one if you haven't.


1. CM Punk vs. John Cena at Money In The Bank 2011

This match was so awesome, it received the elusive 5 star rating from The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer. The crowd, being in Chicago was probably the most anti-Cena crowd, if not that then one of them. What made this a classic? For me it was the unpredictability the outcome had. You add that along with the amazing match this was, you have a 5 star classic.


Honorable mentions: 

#5 CM Punk vs. Randy Orton at Extreme Rules 2011 

#4  CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan at Money In The Bank 2012 

#3 CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio at Survivor Series 2011 

#2 CM Punk vs. Undertaker at WrestleMania 29 

#1 CM Punk vs. John Cena at Night Of Champions 2012


Peace be with you,
Thomas Brunt

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