5 Former ROH World Champions who have achieved success in WWE

#1 CM Punk

Punk as the ROH World Champion

The very fact that even after six years after he walked away from the business, we are still talking about him and putting him atop of our list, goes on to show the kind of impact that CM Punk has left on the wrestling business. Punk had the shortest reign out of anyone in this list but it's still considered to be one of the most memorable title reigns in ROH history.

As mentioned before, Punk's series of matches against Samoa Joe for the ROH World Championship is regarded by many to be some of the best matches in ROH history. In some ways, the feud between the Second City Savior and the Samoa Submission Machine helped bring the promotion into prominence. Apart from Joe, Punk also had a heated rivalry with former ECW Superstar Raven.

After having a tryout match on Sunday Night Heat against Val Venis on May 9, 2005, Punk would sign a developmental deal with WWE. Punk defeated Austin Aries at Death Before Dishonor III to become the ROH World Champion.

Following his victory, Punk would turn heel, threatening to take the ROH title to WWE. In the weeks that followed, Punk would tease the ROH locker room and fans even going as far as signing his WWE contract on the ROH World Championship. The storyline involving Punk's shocking title win leading up to his departure from the company was referred to as "The Summer of Punk" (not the botched WWE version in 2011). Punk would lose the title to James Gibson (Jamie Noble) on August 12, 2005, in a Four Corner Elimination Match which also involved Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels.

Punk's final match in ROH on August 14, 2005, at Punk: The Final Chapter where he faced off against his long-time friend, Colt Cabana in a losing effort.

After scratching and clawing through the ranks for the initial part of his WWE run, The Chicago native finally rose to prominence during the summer of 2011 which saw him going up against John Cena for the WWE Championship. What followed next is history. Punk's pipebomb and his match against Cena at Money In The Bank 2011 is still considered by many to some of the best programs WWE has produced in the past decade.

Punk's 434-day reign as WWE Champion solidified his status as a main-event talent in WWE. After falling out with management, Punk would leave the company in 2014. The Chicago native recently returned to WWE programming as an analyst for WWE Backstage.