Five all-time matches of CM Punk as WWE Champion ft. SummerSlam 2011 showdown against John Cena & more
(Courtesy : WWE.com)
CM Punk is back at the top of the mountain in WWE.
The landscape of WWE was significantly altered by just one episode of Monday Night RAW. The July 6 episode saw the return of CM Punk after months of absence.
The Best in the World took an injured Cody Rhodes’ spot and squared off against Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Championship. In a shocking turn of events, Punk emerged victorious, ending Zayn’s reign in just 9 days. With Punk holding the WWE title after 15 years, here is a look back at five of his iconic matches as the champion:
5. Ryback (2013)
CM Punk was chosen to be the catalyst to build up Ryback as a top star. The duo had an engaging rivalry that culminated on an episode of RAW in 2012. Punk had just recovered from a leg injury and still competed in a TLC match against Ryback.
The Best in the World overcame the odds and walked out with the WWE title still around his waist.
Also Read: WWE Grand Slam Champion: Explained & full list
4. Daniel Bryan (2012)
The rivalry between CM Punk and Daniel Bryan became more intriguing with AJ Lee’s romantic antics for both of them.
This led to a singles No DQ match between them at Money in the Bank 2012, which was a compelling showdown. In the end, it was Punk who emerged victorious, retaining his WWE title.
3. Chris Jericho (2012)
Chris Jericho’s shocking return to WWE in 2012 ignited a rivalry with CM Punk over claims of calling himself The Best in the World.
This led to a blockbuster match between them at WrestleMania 28 for the WWE title. The duo delivered an enthralling showdown, and Punk put down Y2J for the win to leave Mania with the belt.
2. The Rock (2013)
The Rock returned to WWE to challenge CM Punk for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble 2013. Punk seemingly won the match after a blackout gave The Shield an opportunity to attack The Rock.
However, Vince McMahon restarted the match, and The Final Boss delivered a thunderous People’s Elbow to end Punk’s record-setting title reign.
1. John Cena (2011)
After CM Punk left WWE with the World title, John Cena became the new champion, triggering his return. This led to WWE COO Triple H making a champion vs champion match for SummerSlam 2011 between them to crown the real titleholder.
Punk controversially picked up the win; however, an attack from Kevin Nash after that led Alberto Del Rio to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase and snatch the title from Punk.
CM Punk’s record-setting WWE title reign lasted for how many days?
CM Punk’s second WWE Championship reign lasted 434 days, making it one of the longest title reigns in WWE’s modern era.
Is CM Punk the current Undisputed WWE Champion?
Yes, with his win over Sami Zayn on the July 6, 2026, edition of Raw, Punk captured the WWE title once again.
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Nik O Conner is a long-time fan of professional wrestling. After dropping his Engineering regular studies in 2020, he decided to pursue his passion and became a writer. Over the last few years, he has written for multiple webs bringing a lot of skills and creativity to the table.