CM Punk’s return to WWE has sent shockwaves throughout the company. Punk is a polarizing figure who has made enemies with numerous people in multiple promotions.
That being said, he is also a fantastic wrestler and one of the best storytellers in professional wrestling history. He brings an edge to any feud he is involved in and makes it must-watch television.
The Second City Saint didn’t waste much time getting into some worthwhile feuds once he made his return. His work opposite Drew McIntyre has been great, and seeing their back and forth got the wheels spinning.
What rivalries of Punks are the best? He has had many feuds but which of those should be considered the greatest? Let’s take a look below.
CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy (2009)
In 2009 CM Punk was growing stale as a babyface. He had gotten positive fan reactions since debuting with the company, but he wasn’t given a lengthy rope in which to create.
He had a world title run but he was booked to look weak. A second MITB victory got a groan from many expecting the same old song and dance, but that was not the case.
Cashing in on Jeff Hardy, after a brutal Ladder Match, was a stroke of genius by Punk. By praying on a babyface champion he immediately turned himself heel. This turn allowed him to be more creative with his character and create some compelling television, with Hardy.
Their matches, throughout the summer, were always fantastic and the promos were some of the more personal ones in company history. It was a great feud that catapulted Punk to the top of the company.
CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho (2012)
Winning the WWE Championship, at Survivor Series 2011, was the start of a special run for Punk. However, he needed to have a great feud to start it off on the right foot, and that’s where Chris Jericho came in.
When Jericho returned, fans were elated to see Y2J at the Royal Rumble, but that feeling was dashed. The returning Jericho was a spiteful man who claimed his status as The Best In the World. A status that Punk disagreed with and thus sparked a highly entertaining rivalry.
Both men were dynamite on the stick which resulted in great promos. Jericho continuously needled at Punks straight edge lifestyle driving him insane. It was a great way to add intensity to the feud that only those two could bring.
Add to that some great matches, at WrestleMania and Extreme Rules, and you have one of the best rivalries of Punk’s career.
CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar/Paul Heyman (2013)
The mentor/mentee relationship between Punk and Heyman has been well documented. Heyman was the only man, in the company, who went to bat for Punk.
He saw the potential in the Second City Saint that no one else did. Since then, Heyman and Punk have been a team on and off-screen. That is why Heyman’s betrayal of Punk was so devastating for us all.
After Heyman cost Punk the MITB the two engaged in a war of words that trumped all else. The two slang every vicious barb they could at each other and just when things were swinging Punks way, a Beast entered the arena.
Brock Lesnar was a natural addition to the feud. He allowed Heyman to have a proxy able to get physical with Punk. The two were opposites of one another but, when in the ring, they produced one of the best matches in company history.
It was a match that capped off an intensely person rivalry.
CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio (2010)
After conquering Jeff Hardy, CM Punk continued his flawless heel work when he decided to go up against a one Rey Mysterio. Mysterio was a great protagonist for Punk as he was one of the biggest babyfaces in the company.
It was easy to get sympathy against the Luchador and there was tons of it when Punk involved Mysterio’s family.
Who doesn’t remember the amazing SmackDown promo when Punk creepily sang Happy Birthday to Mysterio’s daughter? It was a scene straight out of a horror movie and a movie that showed Punks versatility.
Outside of the wonderful build Punk and Mysterio had some fantastic matches. From WrestleMania to Over the Limit they engaged in a tremendous trio of bouts that were unique and showcased the talent of each man.
CM Punk vs. Randy Orton (2011)
CM Punk and Randy Orton were the perfect pairing. An indie underdog with a superiority complex and a man who was given every chance by the office. Punk remained in the villain role during the feud but that was right in his wheelhouse.
His underappreciated schtick was justified but he pushed it so much that everyone was tired of hearing from him. It was the perfect character to go up against the Apex Predator.
Orton was getting a lot of support, from the audience, during this run. His got the cheers but was still able to maintain his vicious streak. It was the perfect way to counteract Punk’s holier-than-thou persona and it helped to create some great television leading up to their matches.
Their feud led to two great matches. A WrestleMania match with an amazing finishing sequence and a must-watch Last Man Standing Match at Extreme Rules.
CM Punk vs Vince McMahon, HHH, John Laurinaitis (2011)
CM Punk will forever be a man who goes against the grain. In any company he has been a part of he has run into problems with the office at some point during his run. In WWE he made a career out of doing this when he entered into some great rivalry with those running the show.
It began with Vince McMahon, who was a natural heel for Punk to attack. McMahon was the man behind the decisions that disenfranchised the Second City Saint.
His segments with McMahon blurred the line between reality and fiction expertly. They were must-see moments that evolved to include both HHH and John Laurinaitis.
HHH and Big Johnny stepped into McMahon’s role and continued the back-and-forth with CM Punk. The promos gave Punk ample amount of time to cut down The Authority. It was the best part of WWE programming and led to a dream match between Triple H and CM Punk.
CM Punk vs. John Cena (2011, 2012,2013)
John Cena will forever be known as the greatest rival of CM Punk’s career. He was the subject of the infamous pipe bomb that put Punk on the map. He represented everything that Punk hated about WWE and was the focal point of Punk’s vitriol.
Big Match John was more than up to the task of trading barbs with Punk. Their in-ring segments were always fantastic and focal points of programming. Both men were justified during these promos which helped to blur the lines.
CM Punk and John Cena were joined at the hip for the most important parts of Punk’s first run. When there was a big program to be had, Cena was the foil for Punk.
He was the perfect squeaky clean babyface to go up against Punk’s antihero persona. CM Punk’s career wouldn’t be the same if he didn’t have John Cena.
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