{"id":150792,"date":"2026-01-16T07:00:26","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T12:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=150792"},"modified":"2026-01-15T22:54:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T03:54:52","slug":"cm-punk-showcase-mode-punks-favourite-matches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2026\/01\/16\/cm-punk-showcase-mode-punks-favourite-matches\/","title":{"rendered":"Potential CM Punk’s Favorite Matches for WWE 2K26’s Showcase Mode"},"content":{"rendered":"

It seems as though we have our first details about the 2026 instalment of WWE’s hit video game franchise. According to Mike Straw at Insider Gaming<\/a>, the focal figure of WWE 2K26’s “Showcase Mode” will be the “Best in the World”, CM Punk.<\/p>\n

\n

EXCLUSIVE: I’ve learned that CM Punk will be the feature star for WWE 2K26’s Showcase Mode<\/p>\n

Read the full story with more details at Insider Gaming and in the Insider Gaming Apphttps:\/\/t.co\/7JVmrZC7b3<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mike Straw \ud83d\udd1c DICE Summit (@MikeStrawMedia) January 15, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In the above article, it’s outlined that the mode will include matches from three different categories, handpicked by CM Punk himself.<\/p>\n

“The first section has players relive some of Punk\u2019s favorite matches throughout his WWE career. There are also \u201cWhat If?\u201d matches that look at what could have been had Punk not left the company in 2014. And, lastly, fantasy matches will see Punk take on opponents that he never was able to face for one reason or another.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Below, we’ve taken a look at some of the matches that are likely to be included in the first category, as we pontificate over what could appear in a featured mode for the “Second City Saint”.<\/p>\n

CM Punk vs. John Cena, Monday Night RAW 2013<\/h2>\n

The first of three matches here was featured in an interview with Punk on the No Contest Wrestling Podcast<\/a>. Firstly, he went into detail about his “perfect match” with a man that many have deemed his “wrestling soulmate”, John Cena.<\/p>\n

On February 25th, 2013, CM Punk and Cena went toe-to-toe for an opportunity to face then-WWE Champion, The Rock, at WWE WrestleMania 29. He described this match as the duo’s “best televised match”, and it’s hard to argue against his point.<\/p>\n

Despite coming two years after their historic bout at WWE Money in the Bank 2011, the match that features the previously-banned Piledriver should absolutely be in this mode. If nothing else, Punk lists this as his favourite match, so it’s only right that it gets in.<\/p>\n

CM Punk vs. The Undertaker, WWE WrestleMania 29<\/h2>\n

In the same interview, Punk suggests a match from later in the same year. He described his match against The Undertaker as “as close to perfect as you can possibly get”. In a match reminiscent of the WWE 2K “Beat the Streak” mode, it would be fun for players to try to defeat the “Phenom”.<\/p>\n

It would be remiss of 2K to not include this match, considering the fact that there was a portion of the WWE Universe clamouring for Punk to be the one to beat The Undertaker’s streak in 2013.<\/p>\n

CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar, WWE SummerSlam 2013<\/h2>\n

Rounding out this interview, CM Punk mentioned his match against the “Beast Incarnate” from WWE SummerSlam, just a few months later.<\/p>\n

“The Best vs. The Beast”, as it was dubbed, saw both men taken to their limits in a brutal No Disqualification brawl. Punk’s been no stranger to violent matches in his storied past, so it should be no surprise to see this on the list.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy, WWE SummerSlam 2009<\/h2>\n

Four years prior, the “Voice of the Voiceless” was embroiled in an intense feud with Jeff Hardy. The duo put on a fantastic match at WWE’s “Biggest Party of the Summer” in a TLC match.<\/p>\n

They gave one another a brutal beating, and it would make a fun addition for players to dive into. Also, now that WWE and TNA have a working relationship, it seems likelier than ever that the “Charismatic Enigma” could appear in a WWE video game.<\/p>\n

CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre, WWE Bad Blood 2024<\/h2>\n

Finally, a more recent inclusion. After his incredible return to WWE in 2023, Punk became involved in a heated rivalry with the “Scottish Psychopath”, Drew McIntyre.<\/p>\n

The pair went back and forth with a trilogy of matches, with both men notching up a win before the blow-off at WWE Bad Blood. Their intense hatred of one another meant that there was only one way to resolve their feud: Hell in a Cell.<\/p>\n

There was a lot of pressure on WWE, CM Punk, and McIntyre to deliver a classic, as the stipulation had been underwhelming for the previous few years. It’s safe to say that they absolutely did, with their violent battle seeing both men covered in the other’s blood.<\/p>\n

\"A
Photo Credit: WWE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Punk hasn’t made his thoughts on the match public since it took place, but it’s hard to imagine it not being towards the top of the list of his favorite matches ever.<\/p>\n

In the next piece, we’ll take a look at some of the potential “What If..?” matches that CM Punk could’ve had if he’d not left WWE in 2014.<\/p>\n

Please join the discussion! Let us know which of CM Punk’s best matches you’d like to see included in WWE 2k26’s Showcase Mode.<\/p>\n

More From LWOS Pro Wrestling<\/strong><\/p>\n

Header photo \u2013 WikiMedia Creative Commons<\/a> \u2013 Stay tuned to the <\/i><\/em>Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>for more on WWE 2K26, CM Punk and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the significant news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.<\/i><\/em><\/amp-ad><\/p>\n

You can check out WWE programming on\u00a0<\/i><\/em>Netflix<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(Raw),\u00a0<\/i><\/em>USA Network<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(SmackDown),\u00a0<\/i><\/em>The CW<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(NXT),\u00a0<\/i><\/em>Tubi<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(WWE Evolve),\u00a0<\/i><\/em>A&E<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(WWE Superstar Sunday \u2013 Rivals, WWE LFG, and Greatest Moments), and\u00a0<\/i><\/em>Peacock<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(WWE Main Event, as well as archives and premium live event streaming). Follow WWE on social media to relive top moments and matches on\u00a0<\/i><\/em>YouTube<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>, and catch fast-paced action on X (<\/i><\/em>WWE Speed<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>).<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It seems as though we have our first details about the 2026 instalment of WWE’s hit video game franchise. According to Mike Straw at Insider Gaming, the focal figure of WWE 2K26’s “Showcase Mode” will be the “Best in the World”, CM Punk. EXCLUSIVE: I’ve learned that CM Punk will be the feature star for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5065,"featured_media":150867,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2192,25,4,3],"tags":[140,9611],"class_list":["post-150792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wrestling","category-raw","category-wwe","category-wwe-universe","tag-cm-punk","tag-wwe-2k26"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150792","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5065"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=150792"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150792\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":150868,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150792\/revisions\/150868"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/150867"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=150792"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=150792"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=150792"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}