The Best Moments Of Punk: Part 2
Aaaand we’re back for the second wave of the best moments of CM Punk’s WWE run (go to part 1). We already reminisced about his live contract negotiation, his commentary skills and his penchant for destroying birthdays.
But we have 5 more big-time moments. So let’s do it!
6) Livening Up The Royal Rumble
It was 2010, and the leader of the Straight-Edge Society was #3 in the Rumble. Already in the ring, were Dolph Ziggler and Evan Bourne. Well, they weren’t there long. Punk eliminated them quicker than Vince eliminated Adam Rose’s push.
As the crowd noticed Punk’s in-ring solitude, Punk’s valet and Straight Edge Society cohort Serena grabs the mic and hands it to Punk.
What happens next is a little piece of wrestling gold. Ever the zealot, Punk seizes the moments before #4 enters to spew out his Straight Edge rhetoric. Because “Anyone can be saved”.
WWE Royal Rumble 2010 The Royal Rumble Match por EmilMoeller
Then, of course, #4 came out. But even though JTG lasted very long in WWE, his stay in the Rumble was only 25 times greater than Santino’s record.
Ah, so Punk is alone again… more rhetoric. And the crowd starts getting it!
I couldn’t find a decent video of this but, in short, Punk was by himself two more times in the match and continued his promo after eliminating the next entrant, in the same exact tone as “before I was so rudely interrupted”. He also managed to make Beth Phoenix (a surprise entrant) look like a million bucks by selling some moves for her after she eliminated The Great Khali.
EDIT: Thanks to Dominique Dumas, there’s now a video above. Go to 3:55 for Punk’s entrance. Or 10 seconds earlier, for Evan Bourne’s always worth watching Shooting Star Press.
7) Entering Chicago
As the Summer of Punk heated up, came the time for his WWE Title shot against WWE Champion at the time (all the time!), John Cena.
The great thing about this match at Money In The Bank 2011 was not only that Punk was once again getting into high gear, not only that his rebel, controversial approach was getting him some huge doses of heat, but also that the match was in Chicago.
(If you stumbled upon this article by accident, Punk is from Chicago. But keep reading, pro wrestling is filled with fascinating stories.)
Chicago means Punk is God. And Cena isn’t. In this metaphor, Cena would be a politician, who came from banking, and eats smoothies he makes live on YouTube from kittens and babies.
Well, see Punk’s entrance for yourself:
Cena’s entrance? Think One Night Stand 2006 vs. RVD.
8) “Your Arms Are Just Too Short To Box With God”
Set up your rewinder to January 2013. Punk is booked to defend his WWE Title against The Rock at the Royal Rumble.
This match had all kinds of relevancy attached to it:
– Punk had been champion for over 400 days (putting him only behind old guard references Sammartino, Backlund, Morales and Hulk-something…)
– The Rock, Hollywood’s favorite sequel-saver, was coming back to vie for the title after holding it last in 2002
– and Punk had laid out Rock a few months earlier, after he announced he was booked to fight the champion at the Rumble.
The promos between the two couldn’t have exposed the contrast between them any more. They pitted The Rock’s nursery rhymes, live concerts and canned hashtag creators with Punk’s authentic, personal approach of calling his nemesis out on his faults or reputation.
Perhaps the most remembered line from their exchanges is the one that lends its title to our #8. Take a look at the video below.
For my money, start at 9:45, which is when Punk comes back from Rock’s schtick. The line comes at 11:15. But the whole video has entertainment value.
9) Grammar Slam
If you’re a Punk fan and you’ve never heard of Grammar Slam, you’re in for a treat, especially if you know Punk on Twitter – and the ease with which he points out common spelling mistakes.
Which was at least in part why popular website Nerdist recruited him to take part in a series of videos, where he picks apart the oh-so-annoying mistakes that wrestling fans make in the angry letters they send him.
Your gone a like this:
10) Great Wrestling Matches
I have to take the final number to highlight Punk’s contributions to the in-ring department.
While I would not put him at the same level of, for example, Daniel Bryan (even though not by that much), I would submit that “distance” between them is pretty much irrelevant, as Punk has amassed a world-class collection of great matches, by combining his technique with his storytelling skills.
If you’ve seen him against the likes of Bryan, Jericho, Cena, Undertaker and Lesnar, you know he delivers the kind of match you’re still talking about the next day.
Before I leave you with what was in my opinion a seamless match he had with Brock Lesnar, I just want to say #ThankYouPunk and, whatever he decides to do, I hope he gets his rest. He’s earned it.
What are your favorite moments? I’m pretty sure I left some good stuff out, so don’t be afraid to remind me.
