WWE: 10 Things for Which CM Punk Will Be Remembered in Wrestling

Before I begin, I'd like to announce the results of my Mr. Money in the Bank competition article I held over the weekend. Edge had won with 61 percent of the votes, with CM Punk getting 14 percent, Kane getting one percent, Shelton Benjamin getting 14 percent and Other getting nine percent.

Last Sunday at the second annual Money in the Bank pay-per-view, the departing CM Punk defeated the Champ John Cena in a critically acclaimed contest to be crowned the new WWE Champion. Only a mere hour following his historic victory, the contract of the Second City Savior expired at midnight, leaving the company without a definitive World champion.

At this point, all signs point to Punk taking some time off for the near future, as he has since denied all reports of signing a lengthy, lucrative contract with Vince McMahon. However, this doesn't stop Punk from keeping his presence known, most recently being his surprise appearance at an independent show and at the Comic Con over the weekend.

With another main event player biting the dust, it's time to analyze the storied career of CM Punk, reliving his brightest and darkest moments during his five-year tenure in the WWE. These highlights will include 10 things Punk will forever be remembered for, including a handful of history-making moments.

Only one can hope Punk makes his anticipated return to pro wrestling sooner rather than later, as without him, the WWE will be left without the buzz, excitement and controversy that we've had yet to experience before the beginning of this angle in a very long time.

Visit my Web site at Next Era Wrestling for more of GSM's writings, along with WWE/TNA news, recaps and more. Follow me on Twitter @SAVE_US_GSM.  

Straight Edge World Champion

At the start of his career, CM Punk could only dream of one day becoming a World Heavyweight Champion in the WWE. After two years of scratching and clawing his way up to stardom while competing on the ECW brand, Punk's potential was finally realized following his historic Money in the Bank victory at WrestleMania 24.

While retaining possession of the briefcase for nearly three months, Punk was eventually drafted to Monday nights as apart of the 2008 WWE Draft. The following week on RAW, the Straight Edge Superstar shocked the world by cashing in his briefcase to capture his first World Heavyweight Championship from Edge on June 30th.

With this win, Punk solidified himself as the only Straightedge World Champion in WWE history, a lifestyle in which he chooses to avoid alcohol, drugs and smoking. This fact would soon become relevant a year later during Punk's genius heel turn, scolding the audience and his rival Jeff Hardy for the excessive use of this aforementioned substances.

Making Undertaker "Submit"

Two years ago, CM Punk was fresh off his TLC victory over Jeff Hardy at 2009's SummerSlam event, enjoying his third reign as World Heavyweight Champion on the SmackDown brand. After expunging the Charismatic Enigma from the WWE, Punk moved his attention to the returning Undertaker as the next contender in line for his title.

During the conclusion of their World title bout in the main event of WWE Breaking Point in September, Undertaker locked in his patented Hell's Gate submission hold on Punk, who eventually tapped and forfeiting his belt to Taker in the process.

However, following the contest, SmackDown General Manager Teddy Long reemerged to proclaim the match officially restarted due to the Hell's Gate maneuver being banned nearly a year prior by Vickie Guerrero. Punk immediately slapped on his Anaconda Vise submission, with referee Scott Armstrong calling for the bell even though the Deadman never officially submitted in a recreation of the Montreal Screwjob.

Technically, Undertaker never submitted, but it's in the books that Punk won via submission. Say what you must, but I've been led to believe Taker has never lost a match in this form in the span of his 20-year career, making the Straightedge Superstar the one to officially do so. 

Faction Leader

Although CM Punk is a much better singles competitor, he has been involved in a number of factions during his tenure in WWE. Whether it be taking the role of a leader or a follower, Punk has significantly made an impact in every stable he has taken part of.

During his days as a member of the ECW roster, Punk was forced to choose between the ECW Originals, which consisted of Tommy Dreamer, Sabu, Sandman and Rob Van Dam, and the brash New Breed, which included Elijah Burke, Marcus Cor Von, Matt Striker and Kevin Thorn. Initially, Punk turned "heel" by going with the New Breed, only to turn on them and join the ECW Originals in their fight for respect for the remainder of 2007.

Fast forward two years later, Punk finds himself without a direction following his loss of the World Heavyweight Championship. Continuing his mini-feud with R-Truth, Punk introduced the re-debuting Luke Gallows, who had since went straightedge to distance himself from his former Festus persona. They were joined by the fan-turned-manager Serena, who then became collectively known as the Straightedge Society.

After the crumble of the SES in the final months of 2010, the Straight Edge Superstar found himself on the receiving end of a trade to RAW in an exchange for Edge. An injury sidelined himself temporarily, returning to feud with John Cena and take leadership of the falling Nexus, to bring us the CM Punk we've grown to admire today.

It's a true shame that the latter two stables went on to failure following lack of direction, with both factions leaving so much to be desired. It still confuses me as to why the current Nexus was never given a proper send-off, but then again, who cares? 

A Variety of Looks, Same Gimmick

Throughout his career, CM Punk has adapted to a variety of different looks that have effected his overall character at that point of time. Punk had always been used to his signature long, dark hair for a majority of his life, before having it eventually shaved off by rival Rey Mysterio at last year's Over the Limit.

In order to spare himself the embarrassment, Punk would soon deem a black SES mask days later on SmackDown, covering his chrome dome before his inevitable unmasking at the hands of Big Show last July. For a lengthy period of time, Punk attempted to grow his hair back, before giving us the short, slicked back look we've witnessed for the past few months.

However, through thick and thin, Punk has always stayed true to his realistic straightedge persona. Whether portraying a heel or a face, the Second City Savior has always found a way in getting the crowd either behind him or against him with his preaching tactics, especially during his time spent on SmackDown.

On a side note, it's quite rare to find a Superstar these days that keeps the same theme song throughout their entire career, as Punk has been successful in entering to infamous "This Fire Burns" by Killswitch Engage since day one. I challenge you readers to find another Superstar who fits this bill that had a lengthy tenure with the company, was given a significant push, and kept the same version throughout his entire career! 

Fastest Triple Crown Champion in History

In WWE, the Triple Crown is a symbolic honor to win by becoming either WWE Champion or World Heavyweight Champion, Intercontinental Champion, and World Tag Team or WWE Tag Team Champion. Before CM Punk, Diesel, a.k.a. Kevin Nash, held the record at 227 days.

On January 19, 2009, CM Punk defeated William Regal in a no-disqualification match to win the Intercontinental Championship, certifying his Triple Crown status. Punk also won the World Heavyweight and World Tag Team Championships with Kofi Kingston upon his drafting to RAW in 2008. 

Two-Time Mr. Money in the Bank

In his debut on the Grandest Stage of Them All, CM Punk came close to capturing the Money in the Bank briefcase at WrestleMania 23, but no cigar. It wasn't until next year that Punk would find himself successful at WrestleMania 24, hoisting the MITB briefcase high above his head in Orlando.

The Straight Edge Savior would go on to win his first World Championship in June, holding the title for a solid two months. Being a wild card at WrestleMania 25 didn't stop Punk, however, from kicking Kane off the ladder and claiming his second Money in the Bank.

This cash-in would lead to his genius heel turn in the summer of 2009, defeating Jeff Hardy for the World Heavyweight Champion and kicking off the brilliant Punk character we still witness to this day. Had it not been for these two consecutive wins, we may have never seen Punk ever come close to a World Championship. 

Color Commentator

Last October, CM Punk was sent packing to Monday nights due to a trade initiated by the anonymous RAW General Manager, all in order to expunge Edge from RAW. Following the Bragging Rights pay-per-view, Punk was sidelined with an injury that required some time off from in-ring action.

However, in order to keep his character alive on RAW, Punk was placed alongside Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole on color commentary for the remainder of 2010. As stated by Punk last month in his shoot promo, no one could touch him on commentary, cause he was just that damn good.

He was even able to sneak-in wearing a vintage Colt Cabana shirt to the announcing desk! If the Second City Saint ever considers retiring from in-ring action in the future, I strongly suggest putting him on commentary alongside the returning Jim Ross.

Firing Jeff Hardy

During the summer of 2009, CM Punk and Jeff Hardy made SmackDown worth watching with their feud being the hottest program of the summer season. It all began when Punk cashed in his second Money in the Bank contract on Jeff Hardy at Extreme Rules, winning Hardy's World Heavyweight Championship in the process.

Coincidently, the rivalry would slowly turn Punk from a fan favorite into a preaching, sinister Straight Edge Savior, with the two competing in various matches on four consecutive pay-per-views. After trading a few wins, the feud came to a boiling point on the August 28th edition of SmackDown in a Steel Cage Match over the World Heavyweight Championship.

However, a stipulation was later added that the WWE was not big enough for both competitors, making the contest a Loser Leaves WWE match. Although the Charismatic Enigma came close, it was Punk leaving the steel structure victorious, thus banishing Jeff Hardy from the company.

Following the matchup, Hardy cut a promo on how it wasn't goodbye forever, only goodbye for now, before Punk would ambush him from behind with the championship belt. The moment would go on to win the "Shocker of the Year" award at the 2009 Slammys.

Ironically enough, Jeff Hardy would return to TNA a mere four months later, completely going back on his promise to the WWE. He would soon learn that Karma bites back, currently rendered inactive for his drug charges that Punk warned him of many times before.

Winning All 3 World Titles

Since his arrival in ECW in July 2006, CM Punk made it his goal to capture the ECW Championship while apart of the brand. Despite numerous previous losses, Punk was finally successful in a last chance 15 Minutes of Fame match with John Morrison in September the following year.

Nearly nine months later, CM Punk cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase on Edge in June 2008 to win his first of three World Heavyweight Championships as a member of the RAW brand. He would go on to defend his title against the likes of JBL and Batista for the rest of the summer.

Just recently, the Straight Edge Savior defeated John Cena at this year's Money in the Bank event to claim his first WWE Championship, becoming the second man in history to claim all three of WWE's World Championships, behind Kane. On a side note, Big Show has arguably has accomplished this task as well, but only won the WCW World Championship, not the WWE's version.

In addition to this numerous title reigns, Punk was also a former Ring of Honor World Heavyweight Champion down in the independent circuit.

Leaving with the WWE Title

For the past five weeks, CM Punk has single-handedly made Monday Night RAW once again must-see television, and as Punk would say, making the WWE "socially relevant" for the first time in years. Since the start of this angle, Punk has not only broken the fourth wall on numerous occasions, but he has also been successful in making the character of John Cena interesting, something I thought never again was possible.

With some help from Cena and Vince McMahon, CM Punk has become the most beloved professional wrestler in quite some time, despite his gimmick of being heel. Despite making his intentions of leaving the company clear, petitions have encircled the Internet in an attempt to keep Punk in his place at the top of the WWE, one of the reasons he was victorious last Sunday in the first place.

He was also successful in delivering one of the best wrestling matches of the year with John Cena, a near 30 minute encounter that the Chicago crowd absolutely went ecstatic for, especially in the final minutes of the bout. Punk found himself in a similar position as Bret Hart 14 years ago, where the Hitman was scheduled to retain his WWE Championship against Shawn Michaels before leaving for WCW the following week.

However, McMahon was afraid he'd embarrass the company such as many before him, so in a sinister fashion, the Montreal Screwjob was born. McMahon made his way down to the ring at Money in the Bank along with John Laurinaitis in an attempt to recreate history, but Cena made sure that was not to be.

To this day, I can not recall any other departing Superstar who made more of an impact on his way out than the current WWE Champion, CM Punk. GSM out.

Visit my Web site at Next Era Wrestling for more of GSM's writings, along with WWE/TNA news, recaps and more. Follow me on Twitter @SAVE_US_GSM.