5 Strange booking decisions in SummerSlam history

#2 Alberto Del Rio cashes in on CM Punk (2011)

WWE cooled off the hottest angle of the summer with unsettling ease.

CM Punk may currently be embroiled in a legal mess, losing friends, fans and fights, but a few years ago in 2011, he was the talk of the wrestling town. His story going into Money in the Bank was a huge breath of fresh air in the WWE at that time. It felt real and organic, something people can get invested in. Punk walked into the arena with his hometown crowd of Chicago giving him the response of an all-conquering hero, and he did just that. He beat John Cena in an instant classic and ran off into the night of Chicago, title in hand. It was a masterclass from two elite performers and remains the last WWE main roster match to receive five stars from Dave Meltzer.

He "left" WWE for a week or so, before returning to challenge John Cena, who had won the WWE title in Punk's absence, to a title unification match at SummerSlam 2011. CM Punk won and the Summer of Punk looked to roll on but in a completely stupid and unnecessary swerve, Kevin Nash emerged and ruined everybody's night by Powerbombing the undisputed WWE Champion. As a result of this assault, Mr.Money in the Bank Alberto Del Rio cashed in his briefcase on a downed Punk. WWE ruined the entire Summer of Punk angle by concluding it with Alberto Del Rio as WWE Champion.

Post-SummerSlam, it was John Cena who would challenge Del Rio for the WWE Championship while Punk ended up feuding with Kevin Nash and Triple H. WWE risked completely ruining CM Punk permanently before he was rescued by a fulfilling WWE title victory over Del Rio at Survivor Series, to begin his 434-day reign as WWE Champion. WWE took the hottest angle during the summer of 2011 and ruined it for everybody. They did the exact same thing the previous year, but it was even worse.