#1 CM Punk
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I don’t think anyone can be shocked that the Best in the World is on here. Even after walking away from the business three years ago, fans still chant Punk’s name every chance they get.
The Straight Edge Savior was, like Bryan, well-liked when it comes to the indie fans. Making his debut on WWECW in 2006, Punk made sure to let the fans know that he’s different from the rest. He lived a Straight Edge lifestyle. No alcohol and no drugs, just a punk lifestyle and pure aggression.
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Punk gained a following quickly, and over the years was able to evolve his character multiple times throughout his career, changing anytime something got a little stale. His heel turn went over very well, as the “Straightedge” lifestyle went well with the “I’m better than you” attitude.
One of the biggest moments of his pre-pipebomb career was his feud with Jeff Hardy, targeting the Hardy’s drug use in multiple promos. Punk began to get personal with people when on the mic, and would eventually form the Straight Edge Society, coming out to shame the WWE Universe on a weekly basis on their dependence on drugs and alcohol.
That’s where fans truly began to understand what they were getting with Punk. His promos weren’t the same old things everybody else was saying. It seemed...real whenever he had a mic in his hand.
At a certain point, this couldn’t be ignored, as he was sidelined with an injury and was moved to commentary for a time. Hitting line after line every week for three months, Punk came back immediately targeting John Cena, something the fans couldn’t help but eat up.
A few months after ‘Mania, Punk dropped the infamous pipebomb. Punk began venting frustrations that many wrestlers and fans alike felt. He attacked the booking and creative teams, citing backstage politics as for why the people who deserve better can’t get over.
He then went on to attack John Cena for being an overrated wrestler, which again, the WWE Universe got behind. Punk became the Voice of the Voiceless. When fans were upset about something, Punk was the one to point it out, and he was able to use that to take himself to the top of the WWE.
After winning the title at Money in the Bank 2011, Punk “left the company,” stating he was going to take the WWE title to ROH and other indie promotions, a tactic he used in his final days as ROH champion, claiming he was going to take the ROH World Title to WWE.
For two weeks Punk was off TV, and a new WWE champion was crowned in his rival John Cena. However, the same night he won the new belt, Punk came back with a new theme song in “The Cult of Personality” by Living Colour.
That theme notified the fans that CM Punk had finally achieved the status of the “Top Guy.” His multiple transformations from the Straight Edge Punk to the leader of the SES, to the leader of the New Nexus, had led him to be the Voice of the Voiceless. The man of the people.
Looking back on it, it was amazing to watch the fans find someone they could put their faith into. Someone who wanted change, not for change’s sake, but for the betterment of the wrestling culture.
It’s hard to say if there will ever be someone that will match the connection Punk had with the people, I definitely can’t see it happening anytime soon. It’s three years later, Cult of Personality is still synonymous with him, and his name still echoes throughout any stadium WWE superstars perform in.
Truly no one is as beloved as the Second City Saint, CM Punk.
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