August 19, 2025, is a day that lives in infamy within theWWEUniverse as the day thatCM Punkwalked out on the company moments before Monday Night Raw went on the air and a day following his final televised match with the company, the Royal Rumble. He was old, hurt, and tired of working with WWE enough to walk away from the wrestling business.
Fast forward to a decade later, the year is 2024 and, miraculously, not only is the former WWE Champion out of retirement as an active wrestler, but as a WWE Superstar. Granted, it came after a highly publicized stint in AEW riddled with controversy and backstage brawls, but that’s semantics. What is most important is the fact that at age 45,Punk is still delivering quality, classic matchesunder the WWE banner, just as he was doing more than a decade prior.
For fans who want to look back at the type of in-ring action that earned CM Punk the right to call himself “best in the world”, these are some examples of his best performances.
10CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre - Strap Match
WWE Bash at Berlin 2024
Let’s kick this list off with the most recent match and one thatis already being touted as CM Punk’s best match since returning to the WWE. It’s certainly a vast improvement from their previous match at SummerSlam if nothing else. While good in its own right, the tension between Drew McIntyre and CM Punk had felt minimized and overshadowed by the presence of special referee, Seth Rollins.
Their rematch in a Strap Match for Bash in Berlin had no distractions. Just a strap in between two men who couldn’t stand each other. Some will say the match type is hindered by the four corners stipulation, and that’s understandable. Still, though, that doesn’t stop their shared intensity from making this one of the more violent contests of the new era in WWE.
9CM Punk vs. Randy Orton
WWE WrestleMania 27
2011 would prove to be the breakout year for CM Punk in WWE, but before that breakout would commence, he’d have his biggest WrestleMania bout yet when hehe gave Randy Orton one of his best matches. This match would be a few years removed from Orton costing Punk his first World Heavyweight Championship at Unforgiven 2008, and months from Punk costing Orton his own title opportunity at Royal Rumble 2011.
For fans who followed this feud that quietly simmered for years, it was rewarding tofinally see these two fiendish personalities lock horns. With or without the backstory, the match proved to be a showcase worthy of the Showcase of the Immortals. For two men who hadn’t locked up often in their career, their chemistry was crisp and it helped that it was in front of an energetic Mania crowd.
8CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. The Miz - Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match
WWE TLC 2012
It’s easy to forget this triple threat TLC match for the WWE Championship, keeping in mind how eventful TLC 2012 was as a show. It was the night that The Shield had their debut match in one hectic TLC Match, AJ Lee turned on John Cena during a thrilling Ladder Match with Dolph Ziggler’s Money in the Bank case on the line, and Big Show retained the World Heavyweight Championship by hitting him with a ridiculously large steel chair. Needless to say, a lot happened at TLC and that made it easy for the WWE Championship match to be overshadowed.
That being said, that doesn’t change just how utterly fun this match is to watch. One notable turning point that turns the match from an entertaining match to a surprisingly suspenseful must-see ladder match iswhen CM Punk gets handcuffed to the ring. The match’s final moments become a race against the clock as he tries to think outside of the box to free himself in time to save his WWE Championship.
7CM Punk vs. John Morrison
WWE ECW, September 4th, 2007
While not quite as significant as the infamous Summer of Punk, the summer of 2007 on ECW television was dominated by the Straight Edge Superstar’s feud with the then-newly-rechristened John Morrison over the World Championship. Punk was practically the Shaman of Sexy’s sole contender for his entire reign, yet struggled to defeat him PPV after PPV, until one fateful night in September to remember on free television.
Punk hadone final shot at the ECW Championship, and he made it count to win his first title in an electric bout. This is a match that in hisBest in the Worlddocumentary, Punk touts asthe one where his and Morrison’s chemistry truly clicked, and it’s easy to see why. All the right pieces fell into place through each transition and the two men fired off on all cylinders.
6CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho
WWE WrestleMania 28
Speaking of getting overshadowed, that was kind of the running theme of CM Punk’s WWE Championship run. Despite its historic significance as among the longest ever,there was always a bigger marquee attraction above himon the card that often stopped him from so much as main eventing PPV events, let alone getting a proper spotlight. WrestleMania 28 was no different, as his WWE Title defense against Chris Jericho shared a card with The Rock vs. John Cena for the first time ever, and Triple H vs. The Undertaker inside of Hell in a Cell.
However, perhaps the lack of a spotlight served as a motivator to both men. While they weren’t the main event,they were on course to steal the show in one of the better matches of the night, and year for that matter. It was two of the WWE roster’s best technical wrestlers at the time in a personal feud that added another layer to the match. Honorable mention goes out to their No Disqualification rematch a month later at Extreme Rules, which is fun in its own right.
5CM Punk vs. The Undertaker
WWE WrestleMania 29
There was a time when The Undertaker putting his undefeated winning streak on the line was all it took to sell out a WrestleMania crowd, and a hungry challenger thinking they had what it took to end it all was all the storyline needed to gravitate interest. The timing of Paul Bearer passing away shortly before WWE WrestleMania 29, however, allowed the competitors the opportunity to twist that formula. Taker’s former mentor and manager passing away added a last-minute caveat to this storyline,giving Punk a proverbial bear to poke, thus adding intensity to their match.
The personal ingredient added a level of ferocity that’s rare to find in any Streak match. It truly felt like Undertaker was fueled, even blinded by hatred for a man who was eager to capitalize on Taker’s heightened emotions in hopes of securing a victory. The match is equal parts an exciting match and a final goodbye in tribute to The Deadman’s late manager.
4CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy - Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match
WWE SummerSlam 2009
While CM Punk would truly break out as a top star in 2011, it wasin 2009 that he truly started to feel like a big league main eventer. His (at the time) newfound turn to the dark side allowed him to play up his Straight Edge mentality whilst condemning Jeff Hardy for his struggles with addiction, which proved to be the most captivating storyline Punk would have at the time. It would culminate in the two main eventing the second-biggest show of the year.
Not only that, but they did so in Hardy’s signature TLC match. The match type had existed for almost a full decade at this point, but surprisingly,the two managed to find creative ways to introduce new elements into the matchto make for a wildly entertaining bout.
3CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan
Over the Limit 2012
Daniel Bryan and CM Punk were once consideredthe most unlikely candidates to become WWE’s top Superstars, but lo and behold, that’s exactly what they became. Neither man was one of the tall, jacked juggernauts that dominated WWE’s main event scene at the time, but they did shine and connect with audiences for two reasons: their personalities and their in-ring ability. It was always the case during their time on the independent wrestling circuit, and it was the case when they competed for the WWE Championship.
This was yet another night where Punk’s WWE Title bout did not main event the PPV, but it was another opportunity he had to steal the show. He had no problem doing so with a fellow Ring of Honor alumnus. The two slowly built to a crescendo throughout, leading to a clever finish that led to more entertaining title matches between the two for months to come.
2CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar - No Disqualification Match
WWE SummerSlam 2013
This is probablythe last great match-trulygreat match - that CM Punk would have before embarking on a near-decade-long retirement. While he’d still have about four months remaining until exiting the company, this would prove one heck of a match to go out on. In a final year where Punk was notoriously burnt out, he seemed visibly motivated in this match - perhaps the last time before his exit - and there’s no better motivator than staring down a former UFC Champion and WrestleMania main eventer from across the ring.
The free-range to use weaponry added a special caveat to the match whilePaul Heyman provided an X-Factor, but in the ring, the match was a simple David vs. Goliath tale. The outmatched underdog fighting tooth and nail fully aware the odds are out of his favor, but refusing to go down without a fight. It’s hard not to get behind a story like that in the ring.
1CM Punk vs. John Cena - WWE Championship
WWE Money in the Bank 2011
Anyone who saw the title of this list likely predicted this to take the top spot immediately. It’s the predictable option, yes, butsome things are predictable because they always stand out as the best option. This instance is no different. It’s a match and storyline that changed the trajectory for a lot of things in WWE, largely off the strength of this being as good as it is.
John Cena’s Best WWE Matches, Ranked
You can’t see him, but you can’t ignore his greatest matches. John Cena is approaching retirement, so it’s time to look back at his best bouts.
More importantly, this was a make-or-break moment for CM Punk. He was coming off the heels of his pipe bomb sparking immense, renewed interest in WWE from fans old and new, while also challenging for the title in his hometown against the company’s top star. One bad performance on this night could have ended Punk’s WWE career, but instead, it birthed a new superstar and gifted both men each other’s best match in the company. Hopefully, CM Punk will also be a part ofJohn Cena’s retirement tour, givingWWEfans another chance to witness their great chemistry.
