CM Punk or Big Show: Who Deserves to Be the Top Guy in WWE This Month?

CM Punk and Big Show are the WWE’s two top titleholders. Punk, as WWE champion, holds the No. 1 belt, while Show, as world champion, holds the No. 2 strap.

This week Punk topped the WWE’s power rankings, knocking off Big Show for the first time in three weeks.

But after this past month, does he deserve to be the top guy? 

Punk and Show have both been able to keep their titles over the past 30 days. But looking at a few of the factors used for WWE’s power rankings—victories, quality of opponents, momentum, in-ring dominance—who really comes out on top?  

Victories

According to The Internet Wrestling Database, since, and including, Hell in a Cell on October 28, Punk has wrestled in five televised matches, compiling a 3-2 record.

Show had seven televised matches, racking up an impressive 6-1 record. These include tag team matches for both men.

Punk loses this category to Show easily. Punk won 66 percent of his bouts to Show’s 85 percent.

But given that Show physically dwarfs Punk, it’s not surprising he has won more matches. Had Punk competed in two more bouts, he may have evened things out.

Quality of Opponents

Punk faced Ryback three times, John Cena twice and Kane once. Show has faced Sheamus four times and William Regal twice. He faced Kofi Kingston, The Great Khali and Team Hell No one time each.

This one lands in favor of Punk.

Between Cena and Kane alone are 15 WWE, ECW and world title reigns. There are eight among Show’s opponents. (WWE.com)

Most of Show's opposition have been easy victories, but not because of Show.

Kingston and Khali are nowhere near the same league as Show. He was destined to win those bouts before the ink was dry on the contract. Team Hell No were made to look like a welcome mat. 

And despite Regal’s lifetime of achievements, he’s been semi-retired for the past two years.

Sheamus has been a wonderful opponent for Show. The bouts between the two have extremely physical encounters. 

Momentum

Punk appears to have lost momentum over the past month.

He only pinned Ryback at Hell in a Cell due to Brad Maddox. He lost on consecutive Monday Night Raws to Cena. He won at Survivor Series due to outside interference.

His lone solid win in the past month has been this past Monday against Kane. (Profightdb.com)

Show has seen momentum swing in his favor. The only match he has lost in the past 30 days was to Sheamus by disqualification.

Even with the quality of his opposition lower than Punk’s, Show’s winning streak propelled him to the top of the WWE power rankings for three weeks. Punk languished below Sheamus and Ryback.

In-Ring Dominance

In the past 30 days Show has easily dominated in matches over Punk.

His 6-1 record speaks for itself. In his six victories, Show has won by pinfall. He has not been pinned on television since winning the world heavyweight title at Hell in a Cell. (Profightdb.com)

By comparison, Punk has been pinned in both of his losses, but has won his three victories by pinfall as well. Two of those three victories have been because of outside interference.

Since being booked to face Ryback at Hell in a Cell, Punk has become the classic version of a heel that has to cheat to hang on to his title. He deserves better.

Conclusion

With only the past 30 days as a measuring stick, Punk has not been anywhere near as dominate in the ring as Show has been.

He’s been turned into a sneaky coward while Show has finally become the monster heel he always seemed destined to be.

But looking past the 30-day window, it can’t be denied that Punk has been the more dominant of the two.

Punk’s WWE Championship reign has now edged past "Macho Man" Randy Savage and will soon eclipse Cena as well.

According to WWE.com, his 373 days makes him the second-longest reigning champion of the past 25 years.