'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
2. Money in the Bank 2011
Let's rewind to one of the earliest PPVs of the decade, Money in the Bank 2011. The event was advertised as CM Punk's last WWE match and he was challenging John Cena for the WWE Championship. Vince McMahon threatened to fire Cena if he loses and allows Punk to leave WWE with the title. The hype paid off as CM Punk and John Cena wrestled in one of the greatest matches in pro-wrestling history.
Trending
The event had two Money in the Bank ladder matches. The SmackDown match was won by Daniel Bryan who scratched and clawed his way to victory. The Raw match was won by Alberto Del Rio. The main story was built around Del Rio and Rey Mysterio who were the final two on the ladder before Del Rio tried unmasking Rey forcing him off the ladder and won the match. The Miz and Sin Cara suffered injuries during their respective matches. Both matches were amazing with painful-looking spots and great moments.
Will John Cena beat Ric Flair's record? A former WCW Champion thinks so HERE
Mark Henry and Big Show had a match that continued Henry's Hall of Pain run. Kelly Kelly retained her Divas Title against Brie Bella in a 5-minute match. Finally, Randy Orton lost his World Championship against Christian. A stipulation was put in place that if Orton got disqualified, he would lose the title.
The entire match consisted of Christian trying to anger Orton into getting himself disqualified. This eventually developed into a string of false finishes until Christian spit in Orton's face. This caused the Viper to kick Christian in the groin. As a result, Orton was disqualified and Christian won the World Championship Title. An angered Orton then RKO'd Christian twice through the announce table.
Finally, the main event. CM Punk received one of the loudest reactions ever during his entrance and John Cena received equally loud boos. The match went back and forth with both superstars getting near falls for about 25 minutes. John Laurinaitis and Vince McMahon then came out to ringside to distract Punk as Cena locked in an STF.
Vince signaled for Laurinaitis to ring the bell even though Punk hadn't tapped, referencing the Montreal Screwjob. Not wanting a tainted victory, Cena attacked Laurinaitis outside the ring. But as he re-entered the ring, Punk hit him with a GTS and won the match. Vince then put on an announcer's headset and asked Del Rio to cash in his contract. Punk fended off Del Rio and escaped with the WWE Championship through the crowd as Vince looked on.
This moment of Punk blowing a kiss to Vince as he escapes with the WWE Title will forever remain one of the greatest moments in WWE history. This paved the way for a whole new generation of stars as WWE moved away from their traditional big guy obsession and pushed smaller athletic guys as main event stars. Money in the Bank 2011 will always remain a milestone in the history of WWE.
