Few names in the world of sports entertainment have garnered as much attention, passion, and debate as CM Punk, aka Phil Brooks.
It has been quite a journey to watch unfold. Starting as a controversial pro wrestler from his early career on the independent scene, all throughout his explosive run in ECW and WWE, to his contentious exit from the company and subsequent lawsuit, leading to his failed attempt at a UFC career, before being hailed as a savior with his return to AEW, only to nosedive in polarizing fashion with his firing, and now, divisive return to WWE, has certainly had many ups and downs.
In this analysis, we will take a look at Punk's track record in those three major companies (WWE, UFC and AEW) and see which ones he was the most successful in, and what the future might have in store for The Voice of the Voiceless.
CM Punk's First WWE Run: The Cult of Personality
CM Punk's WWE journey, spanning from 2005 to 2014, is a captivating narrative of rebellion, championship glory, and a profound connection with the audience. As we delve into the numerical landscape of Punk's win-loss records and his notable achievements, a multifaceted portrait of his WWE career emerges.
Punk made his debut as part of the ECW brand, quickly becoming one of the fan favorites. Although the crowd had accepted him early on, management had been hesitant to trust giving him the top spot on the roster. One such early incident that caused tension was when he was arguably the audience's preference to walk out of the Elimination Chamber match at ECW December to Dismember 2006 with the ECW Championship, only for Bobby Lashley to get that honor, instead.
Punk would eventually win the ECW Championship, but not even in the manner intended. He was scheduled to face Chris Benoit at Vengeance: Night of Champions in 2007, but Benoit was replaced by John Morrison, following Benoit's horrific double murder-suicide. Rather than go with the obvious conclusion to the match, WWE opted for Morrison to win the vacated title. They continued to feud for several months, with Punk eventually winning the ECW Championship (his first major accolade in WWE) on the September 4, 2007 episode of ECW on television.
Eventually, Punk outgrew his role as ECW champion and was poised for a run on the flagship program of Monday Night Raw, being drafted to the brand in 2008. With that also came his Money in the Bank briefcase he had won at WrestleMania XXIV, affording him an opportunity to challenge for any of the three world titles at any moment he so chose.
That would become an incredibly important decision as Punk cashed in his title match on Edge shortly after the 2008 Night of Champions event, successfully winning the World Heavyweight Championship and bringing that title to Raw.
Crowned a member of the upper-echelon, many fans saw this as a sign that Punk would continue to rise the ranks and become one of the company's most trusted talents and top stars. Unfortunately, he would sail rough seas, as his title run was haphazard and sloppy, frequently positioning him as a lesser champion than others and not allowing him the freedom he would later seek to be his true self.
Punk was given a second chance at this success the following year when he won Money in the Bank yet again, becoming the first Superstar to win it back to back years, as well as to successfully cash in and win a title both times. This time, however, he would turn heel by taking advantage of an injured Jeff Hardy following his win over Edge in a ladder match.
This would lead to Punk's character shifting to a "holier than thou" gimmick where he formed The Straight Edge Society—a faction revolving around his personal lifestyle of no drugs, alcohol, etc, but with a cult-like influence.
This was wildly popular and helped Brooks tap more into his true self and have more fun with the audience, rather than play the straight-laced babyface role that had grown stale. Punk would go on to have notable feuds with Superstars like Rey Mysterio during this time, before making another adjustment as the leader of The New Nexus.
In retrospect, this was largely a failure for all parties, but it would eventually lead to the most important aspect of Punk's first run in WWE.
On June 27, 2011, CM Punk cut the infamous "pipe bomb" promo on Monday Night Raw, badmouthing the company and blurring the lines between fiction and reality. It sent shockwaves through the wrestling world and is considered a masterclass in creating a moment that has stood the test of time.
Punk would go on to win the WWE Championship from John Cena as his contract status was an unknown, creating a sense that he would take the most important title in the company hostage and show up for other promotions, or worse.
This culminated in an epic contest at SummerSlam 2011, wherein Punk defeated Cena to become the undisputed champion, only for Triple H (as special guest referee) to facilitate Alberto Del Rio cashing in his Money in the Bank contract on Punk (following an attack by Triple H's friend, Kevin Nash), losing the title in a bit of poetic justice of a story that would continue to unfold even today.
Punk would never again reach such heights in WWE, even though he would stay a featured character.
In total, he would acquire 2 WWE Championship runs, three World Heavyweight Championships, 1 ECW Championship, a tag title run, an Intercontinental Championship, a few tournaments, 7 Slammy Awards, two Money in the Bank briefcases and many noteworthy matches, such as wrestling The Undertaker at WrestleMania 29.
His first run with the company would end with a loss at the 2014 Royal Rumble, after which he would leave WWE and take an extended absence from sports entertainment. It was an unsatisfying way to end his career, and for many years, it was assumed his story would have a lackluster finale.
Overall, Punk's win-loss record within WWE currently stands at 703 wins, 446 losses and 33 draws, according to CageMatch.net and 458 wins, 272 losses and 32 draws under the Internet Wrestling Database's records.
From the Squared Circle to the Octagon
CM Punk's venture into the brutal world of mixed martial arts under the banner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship was a daring move that garnered significant attention. His UFC career, however, was marked by challenges and controversy, revealing the stark contrast between the scripted narratives of professional wrestling and the unscripted brutality of the octagon.
In 2016, Punk made his UFC debut at UFC 203, facing off against Mickey Gall. The bout ended in the first round with a submission victory for Gall. Analysts and fans alike scrutinized Punk's performance, noting the considerable skill gap between the relatively inexperienced fighter and his more seasoned opponent. In fact, UFC fight odds were never in his favor, across the board. The loss brought to light the immense challenges of transitioning from the world of scripted entertainment to the unforgiving reality of mixed martial arts.
Undeterred by the setback, Punk returned to the octagon in 2018 at UFC 225, where he faced Mike Jackson. The fight went the distance, lasting three rounds, and concluded with a unanimous decision victory for Jackson. This result further fueled the debate surrounding Punk's place in the UFC, with critics emphasizing his lack of formal training and experience in professional MMA. However, this loss was eventually overturned, after Jackson had tested positive for marijuana, improving Punk's record, but not by much.
Analysts, while acknowledging Punk's courage in stepping into the cage, pointed to technical deficiencies and the formidable skill level of his opponents. The consensus was that Punk's venture into the UFC was more symbolic of his personal challenges and pursuit of new horizons than a reflection of elite-level mixed martial arts competition.
Despite the controversy surrounding his UFC stint, Punk's journey in the octagon was a testament to his willingness to embrace challenges outside his comfort zone. The experience, while not resulting in a win on the record, provided valuable insights and contributed to Punk's narrative of fearlessness in the face of adversity.
As CM Punk returned to the scripted world of professional wrestling and embarked on new chapters in promotions like AEW, his UFC venture became a polarizing topic among fans and analysts. Some viewed it as a commendable effort to test one's limits, while others saw it as an ill-fated experiment that highlighted the complexities of crossing over from entertainment to the harsh reality of the fight game.
The Second Coming
CM Punk's arrival in All Elite Wrestling in August 2021 was a seismic moment that sent shockwaves through the wrestling world. After a seven-year hiatus from professional wrestling, Punk's return to the squared circle was met with immense anticipation.
There is much less to discuss within his run in AEW compared to WWE, as it only lasted a few months, overall, due to injuries and his quick exit from the promotion.
In fact, Punk wrestled a grand total of just 33 matches, ending with a win-loss record of 27 wins and 6 losses.
The sheer fact that he had returned at all was a spectacle and highlight for not just his career, but All Elite Wrestling itself. His first match took place at AEW All Out on September 5, 2021, wherein he defeated Darby Allin to start off a winning streak that lasted up until February 2, 2022 when he fell short against MJF at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Dynamite.
Many would consider his feud with MJF to be the peak of his run, culminating in their Dog Collar match at Revolution 2022, which Punk was victorious.
Punk's biggest accomplishment, though, would come at Double or Nothing 2022. There, he defeated "Hangman" Adam Page to win the AEW World Championship in a feud that would lead to the end of his status as a performer under Tony Khan.
Hurt feelings, miscommunication and a general distaste for one another came up after several promos between the two led to a widening divide between Punk and The Elite. Things only got worse when Punk suffered an injury just five days after winning the title, forcing AEW to change plans and crown Jon Moxley the interim champion at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door.
Punk did eventually make his return, facing Moxley in a match on Dynamite to determine the undisputed champion, wherein he came up short. This was surprising, but even more shocking was the decision to have that take place just days before All Out 2022, where Punk would win the title back from Moxley and suffer yet another injury.
On the same night, Punk spoke ill of The Elite on the post-event media scrum, which led to a backstage altercation that resulted in numerous suspensions and the title once again being vacated, only to wind up back around the waist of Moxley.
Punk underwent surgery to repair his left triceps and would return nine months later as the main attraction for the new program Collision, kicking off its premiere episode. Soon, he was referring to himself as the "real" world champion, carrying around another AEW World Championship belt that he claimed he never truly lost.
Unfortunately, yet again, problems would arise before any of this would see its proper conclusion.
At All In: London on August 27, 2023, CM Punk successfully defended the "Real World Championship" against Samoa Joe, but had also gotten into another backstage altercation, this time with Jack Perry. This led to a second investigation, wherein this time, Punk was terminated from his contract.
Once again, the world of pro wrestling assumed Punk's career would end with his dishonorable discharge from a promotion, rather than a more optimistic swan song.
WWElcome Home
CM Punk's return to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 felt like an impossible situation. Surely, out of everything out there, the least likely scenario would be that Phil Brooks would return to the company he had such vitriolic hate toward just months prior and for years, right?!
However, the Chicago crowd was once more privy to a huge pop and a major moment of the year when Cult of Personality came over the speakers and it was once again clobbering time.
To date, Punk has not yet stepped in the ring for a match. He has no feuds going on with any particular Superstars, though it has been teased that he will cross paths with Seth "Freakin" Rollins, which may indicate big plans to come.
Here at Smark Out Moment, he is considered the favorite to win the 2024 Royal Rumble and to go on to challenge Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40, to finally get the main event match that he's always wanted (albeit on Night 1 of the two-night extravaganza, which many don't consider the "true" main event.)
But so far, all fans know is what he said in his return promo: he's not here to make friends; he's here to make money.
At the very least, based on his previous experiences, it seems Punk does have a better track record of success in WWE than in UFC and AEW, and with so many amazing Superstars to work with like Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, Gunther, AJ Styles and more, the sky's the limit for The Second City Saint.
Time will tell how his second run in WWE ends, and what his overall win-loss record and list of accomplishments has to say about the so-called Best in the World.
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