Even though CM Punk is long gone from the WWE, it's obvious that the fans think fondly of him. Perhaps a little bit too fondly if you're sick of the CM Punk chants that echo through the arena at least twice a month. But, this is a testament to the impact the Cult of Personality made during his time with the promotion.
He quickly became one of the top superstars in the world during his WWE run and a large part of that had to do with the excellent feuds he had with a number of the top stars before he left for the world of MMA and the UFC.
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Ever since he elevated his game from an upper mid carder to a legitimate main eventer, Punk never seemed to have a bad run. Today, we are here to explore the very best rivalries that he was a part of during his days as a professional wrestler.
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So, without any further ado, here are CM Punk's 5 best rivalries:
#5 CM Punk vs Brock Lesnar
When Brock Lesnar made his long-awaited return to the WWE, it was pretty obvious that Paul Heyman would be reprising his role as the Advocate to the Beast Incarnate. Knowing Heyman's past association with CM Punk, it was only a matter of time before The Best in the World matched up against Lesnar.
Things finally came to a head in 2013 when Punk and Lesnar got into it in one of the best feuds of the year. The only downside to this rivalry – and the only reason it doesn't rank higher – is that the pair only had one match.
That one match was a Match of the Year candidate at Summerslam 2013 where the Chicago native stepped up his game and took Brock to the limit like no one had since Lesnar's return to professional wrestling.
It was a great match, with Lesnar only coming out on top thanks to the interference of Heyman.
#4 CM Punk vs The Undertaker
When the time came to find a new opponent for The Undertaker's Wrestlemania Streak at Wrestlemania 29, Punk was chosen to face off against The Deadman. Punk made sure he took the opportunity to prove just how good he was.
He constantly pushed the limits of decency and drew some real heat on himself by using the death of Paul Bearer – The Undertaker's long-time manager and friend – and cementing his status as one of the best heels in the world.
He definitely backed it up in the ring as well, as Taker and Punk tore the house down in a great match that left audiences around the world completely and utterly satisfied. Sure, he might not have won but you don't need to win in order to make your star shine brighter.
#3 CM Punk vs Chris Jericho
In 2012 – the year before our previous two entries – CM Punk and Chris Jericho embarked on one of the most personally charged feuds ever. They faced off twice – at Wrestlemania and Extreme Rules – and a babyface Punk won both encounters but the matches aren't why this feud makes this list.
The major reason is because of the intense promos which were being cut week after week in the build up to these matches. Not only were both men vying for the title of Best in the World, but Jericho also brought Punk's family into the equation.
He took shots at the fact that Punk's family members were known to be battling with drug and alcohol related issues and went on to state that Punk himself would never escape that stigma despite being straight edge. The kicker for this feud is Jericho forcing alcohol down Punk's throat and also breaking a bottle of whisky over his head.
Like I said, it was an emotionally charged feud.
#2 CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy
The ultimate clash of lifestyles – CM Punk, the clean Straight Edge heel vs Jeff Hardy, the lovable party animal. Things got very personal very quickly between the two and they ended up having one of the best feuds of 2009.
It was a nasty rivalry which had a lot of shoot elements involved but it was most noteworthy for being the feud that propelled CM Punk into the main event scene for good. They clashed multiple times for the World Title, putting on some great matches, the best of which was a TLC match at Summerslam 2009.
It was exactly what Punk required to elevate his game into elite territory.
#1 CM Punk vs John Cena
It really just had to be this one. The rivalry that gave a platform for the infamous Pipe Bomb promo. The rivalry that gave us the WWE's first five-star match in over a decade at Money in the Bank on the night CM Punk's contract was actually, legitimately expiring, in front of a partisan Chicago crowd.
If the Jeff Hardy rivalry elevated Punk to an elite level, the John Cena rivalry made CM Punk a Wrestling God. There are no words to describe how good their match at Money in the Bank is. If you haven't seen it, go ahead and treat yourself.
