The rivalry between John Cena and CM Punk became one of the most intriguing rivalries in 2011. Arguably, WWE’s rivalry of the year, although Randy Orton and Christian’s feud over the World Heavyweight Championship dominated SmackDown, may have something to say about it. Nevertheless, Cena and Punk’s feud captivated audiences as both men are excellent on the mic, translating their mic skills into their superb matches.
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Cena and Punk clashed 15 times in one-on-one matches, including high-stakes WWE Championship matches. Their overall head-to-head ended with Cena prevailing 7 times, Punk triumphant six times, and a couple of draws to boot. However, some of their matches were more memorable than others.
Only their one-on-one WWE Championship matches and number one contenders’ matches for the WWE Championship are focused here, as they hold more significance.
The 17-time WWE world champion John Cena recently retired from professional wrestling after losing to Gunther on the December 13, 2025, edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event. However, the reigning World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk has declared that he isn’t retiring anytime soon. This article will revisit one of the all-time great feuds and pay tribute to the legacies of both men.
7. CM Punk Vs. John Cena – Raw 1000 (7/23/12)
Not many wrestlers announce beforehand that they’ll cash in their Money in the Bank briefcase. On Raw’s landmark 1,000th episode, John Cena challenged CM Punk for the WWE Championship. After many battles in 2011, Cena and Punk clashed for the first time in 2012. There was a caveat as The Rock declared that he’ll be challenging for the WWE Championship at the 2013 Royal Rumble.
The Straight Edge Savior and Cena had a decent match, but as soon as the match was going to get to the next level, Big Show interfered. Show attacked Cena, leading to Cena becoming the first Money in the Bank holder to fail and unsuccessfully win their championship match after a cash-in.
