5 Things you didn't know about CM Punk

CM Punk is a polarizing figure. While the majority of WWE fans love and still hope to see him back in the WWE ring one day, there is a good number of fans who hate him as well for walking out on the company the way he did back in 2014. But love him or hate him, you cannot debate that at one point of time, CM Punk was truly the 'Best in the World'.

While his wrestling career might not have come to the fairy tale ending that his fans would have wanted, nothing can take away from what he achieved in the business from 1999 to 2014. In so many ways, Punk was a trailblazer and what you see in WWE today is a direct result of his success in the years past.

And he also built up a rabid and loyal fan base during his time in the WWE. These fans might be obsessed with everything Punk but even then there are a lot of things that the everyday fan might not be aware of. Here are 5 things that you probably didn't know about CM Punk.

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#5. He was an extra for John Cena's entrance at Wrestlemania 22

Before all the fame and glory.

In 2006, CM Punk was still in WWE's developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling, but that did not stop the Chicago-born superstar from having his own Wrestlemania moment.

John Cena and Triple H were in the main event of Wrestlemania 22, fighting for the WWE Championship. And the WWE decided to give both of them extravagant entrances. So while 'The King of Kings' entered the arena on a throne and looking like Conan The Barbarian, Cena chose a gangster themed entrance for himself.

So out came a old school car with gangsters hanging on from the side holding guns in their hands. And guess who the guy hanging out from the vehicle and pretending to be a gangster was? CM Punk!

Ironically, Punk would have his greatest ever moment as a wrestler just 5 years later when he beat John Cena for the WWE Championship at Money in the Bank 2011, in the very same building! Talk about life coming full circle.

#4. What 'CM' stands for in CM Punk

CM Punk is one of the most recognizable names in wrestling.

This is a topic that has been debated over the years. And the answer tends to change depending on who you ask. But the most popular of them are Chicago Made, Cookie Monster, Chuck Mosley, Chick Magnet and Charles Montgomery.

Over the years, Punk has given it a number of different meanings over the years just for his own amusement. At his first ever UFC Q&A he stated that it stood for Chuck Mosley. For those who don't know, Mosley was the lead singer for the band 'Faith No More' which Punk was thought to be a huge fan of.

But earlier this year when Punk was asked the same question under oath at the a hearing in court, Punk claimed it stood for 'Chick Magnet'. That is the most definitive answer we can ever hope to get to this question.

#3. He was in TNA

CM Punk was in TNA during its early years.

Before coming to the WWE, CM Punk was most famous for his time in Ring of Honor and the epic rivalries he had there with the likes of Samoa Joe, Bryan Danielson, and Raven. But what most people don't know is that Punk spent a significant amount of time in TNA as well during his early years in wrestling. It is interesting because for the most part of the last decade, TNA was the biggest competition that WWE had.

Punk's TNA run would end in March of 2004, when there was dispute between the company and Punk. The dispute stemmed from the fact that TNA no longer wanted their contracted talent to work for Ring of Honor but Punk didn't want to quit working for ROH at that point of his career.

It is also worth noting that back in 2004 TNA was not the huge brand that it would go on to become a few years later. If this dispute had taken place a couple years later, Punk might easily have chosen to work for TNA. Thankfully, things worked out the way it did and Punk found himself in the WWE the very next year.

And yes, that is Mickie James in the photo!

#2. The meaning behind his tattoos

CM Punk has some pretty sweet ink.

One of the most striking features about CM Punk is the wide range of tattoos that adorn his body. They might look cool, and all of them have a meaning to CM Punk.

The most visible of Punk's tattoos is probably the Pepsi logo. It refers to the love he has for the brand and how it is the only beverage he consumes. Also there is the 'Straight Edge' on his stomach and 'Drug Free' on his knuckles referring to his drug-free, alcohol-free lifestyle.

Also, he has tattoos made as tributes to wrestlers. The 'No Gimmicks Needed' tattoo on the back of his left hand is a tribute to the late Chris Candido, who died in 2005. There are also the four ace cards on his left arm, which is a tribute to his trainer, Ace Steel.

#1. His infamous 2011 storyline had already been done in Ring of Honor

CM Punk left with the WWE Championship at Money in the Bank 2011

CM Punk's lasting legacy will forever be defined by his incredible run in 2011. He dropped his infamous 'Pipebomb' promo and later went on to leave the company with the WWE Championship at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view after beating John Cena.

This was easily the peak of Punk's career and was one of the hottest angles in WWE history. At that point, Punk became by far the most talked about wrestler on the planet and brought an excitement to the WWE that had been missing for years.

But what many fans don't realize is that Punk had already been involved in a similar storyline back at Ring of Honor in 2005. Punk was the ROH Champion at the time but had accepted WWE's offer to join the company.

As a result, Punk started to threaten the ROH fans that he would be leaving the company with the title. He even went on to sign his WWE contract on it. Ultimately though he ended up dropping the title to Jamie Noble before leaving the company.

While not completely the same, it is hard not to notice the similarities in both the storylines. Interestingly, both of these storylines were even named 'Summer of Punk'.