The Greatest Moments of John Cena vs. CM Punk Rivalry Ahead of WWE Night of Champions
At WWE Night of Champions, John Cena and CM Punk will revisit their iconic rivalry as the undisputed WWE champion continues his retirement tour.
It has been 12 years since their last one-on-one match during the Feb. 25, 2013 episode of Monday Night Raw. Nevertheless, fans could still see glimpses of the chemistry that made their storied feud special when they interacted in this year's men's Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber matches.
The two wrestled for the first time on Nov. 23, 2009, in a forgettable encounter that ended like most of Cena's matches in the late 2000s. However, their rivalry became an all-timer two years later when they famously battled for the WWE Championship.
It was the ultimate clash of styles because Cena was the prototype for WWE's ideal wrestling superstar, and Punk was his antithesis. One was the poster boy for the company, and the other was an indie darling who clawed his way up to the biggest stage in the industry.
You couldn't ask for a more stark contrast than the clean-cut and jacked All-American from West Newbury, Massachusetts, and the tattooed, straight edge demagogue from Chicago. They were polar opposites, but they created must-see television as rivals.
WWE will try to recapture some of that magic again at the event where they competed in their last pay-per-view match in 2012. In the meantime, these are the greatest moments of their feud so far.
CM Punk Cuts 'Pipebomb' promo, WWE Raw June 27, 2011
1 of 5The Pipebomb is one of the most divisive yet wildly popular promos ever, and it's integral to Cena and Punk's rivalry.
That may sound like an exaggeration, but some consider it vastly overrated while others cite it as the segment that reignited their love of pro wrestling. More importantly, it was a star-making moment for The Second City Saint that raised his profile to insurmountable heights and altered his career forever.
Although he and Cena also feuded during his time as the leader of The Nexus earlier that year, the build to Money in the Bank 2011 changed everything. One week prior, Punk defeated Rey Mysterio and Alberto Del Rio to become the number one contender for the WWE Championship.
The Voice of the Voiceless also declared he would win in his hometown and revealed his contract was set to expire.
The next week, he appeared wearing a "Stone Cold" Steve Austin t-shirt to cost Cena his match against R-Truth and returned to the top of the ramp to cut an epic promo that blurred the lines between reality and fantasy.
The Pipebomb is one of the most influential moments in pro wrestling history. More to the point, it's when a misfit from Chicago dared to challenge the establishment and its top star, and claimed the moniker "The Best in the World."
John Cena vs CM Punk, Money in the Bank 2011
2 of 5The main event of Money in the Bank 2011 is widely considered the best match of this feud.
The atmosphere in the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, was electric when Punk came home to a partisan crowd and clashed with Cena for the WWE Championship. It was everything you would want out of a major title match on PPV.
The Straight Edge Superstar's contract status added unpredictability to the perfect wrestling storyline, steeped in drama and high stakes. So much so that viewers remained on the edge of their seats throughout and bit on every false finish.
The Chicago crowd elevated this incredible match into an instant classic, but Cena and Punk were also at the top of their game. It was hard to imagine WWE could possibly let someone leave the company with its top prize at that time, which made the outcome and aftermath even more satisfying.
That lasting image of Punk jumping over the barricade with the belt in hand as he blew Mr. McMahon a kiss before he ran off into the crowd was flawless.
CM Punk Returns to WWE, Raw July 25, 2011
3 of 5The Summer of Punk was far from perfect, but the Chicago native's return on July 25, 2011, was awesome.
During that episode of Raw, Cena defeated newly crowned WWE champion Rey Mysterio. Afterward, Punk reemerged with the title he won at Money in the Bank and confronted him to close the show.
This was the first time that his now trademark static played before he debuted Living Colour’s "Cult of Personality" as his new theme song. Of course, the popular hard rock single would become his signature theme for the rest of his career.
This staredown also defined this rivalry following the lead-in to their highly acclaimed PPV main event. Punk's return eventually took some unnecessary detours, but this moment still gives us goosebumps.
John Cena vs. CM Punk, Raw 1000
4 of 5While it isn't as highly regarded as some of their other matches, Cena vs. Punk from Raw 1000 is arguably among their most famous showdowns.
The 2012 men's Money in the Bank winner used the briefcase to call his shot at the monumental episode of WWE's flagship series and attempt to end Punk's 239-day reign. However, Cena made history as the first wrestler to cash in and fail to win the championship of their choice.
In retrospect, the spot on the 1,000th episode of Raw cemented their rivalry as one of the greatest feuds of that era. This was their first match since their series of bouts in 2011, and it largely felt like a way to acknowledge how prevalent their feud had become.
It also proved how reliable this matchup was during a time when WWE was still trying to find something that could rival the success of the Attitude Era. It's no wonder the company would still revisit it 13 years later.
John Cena vs. CM Punk, WWE Raw Feb. 25, 2013
5 of 5Cena vs. Punk’s last one-on-one contest from the Feb. 25, 2013 episode of Raw is one of the best television matches of all time.
After The Rock ended The Second City Saint's historic 434-day reign as WWE champion at the Royal Rumble, he challenged the 2013 winner to a No. 1 Contender's match. In hopes of earning a rematch against The Great One at WrestleMania 29, Punk delivered the performance of a lifetime.
Both men dug deep, pulled off moves they don't routinely use, and withstood each other's signature moves. It was a big deal that Punk was desperate enough to use a piledriver at the time because WWE banned the maneuver in 2000 due to safety concerns.
Cena ultimately secured the win and headlined the event with The Rock again. Meanwhile, Punk entered a feud with The Undertaker and stole the show.
Many fans wondered what could have been if the two competed in the main event at The Showcase of the Immortals instead. Nevertheless, their last title match is considered one of the greatest Raw matches ever.
