WWE: Why the Best Is Yet to Come in the Career of CM Punk

Once upon a time, CM Punk was an under-appreciated and poorly booked superstar. Dwelling in ECW and overcoming obstacles just to be the brand's champion, Punk was one of those cool guys to root for under the radar. Punk wasn't a big-time name in the company like John Cena or Randy Orton, but his fans certainly felt like he could belong there. All that he would need was that chance.

Then, Punk was given a Money in the Bank briefcase. Fans were excited at the idea of a guaranteed title match, but it didn't necessarily guarantee a title win. It was just the fourth such briefcase in WWE history and, while the previous three had been cashed in successfully, they were done by just two people: twice by Edge, and once by Rob Van Dam in a pro-ECW environment.

That is why when Punk cashed in and became World Heavyweight Champion live on RAW on June 30, 2008, it really was a big deal. There was no Twitter to tweet what was happening. All that you hoped was that your buddy watched it, too, and that he was by his cell phone. If you were lucky, some guy had taped it and put in on YouTube to be watched over and over again before WWE removed it.

With the strap, Punk was now a world champion and in the same breath with the other titans of wrestling at that time. How would Punk measure up? His greatest test would likely come at Unforgiven in 2008, when Punk would be the first ever World Heavyweight Champion to defend in a Championship Scramble match. Punk would never make it to that match, being ambushed in the back and having his title go to a late substitute, Chris Jericho.

Losing the world title gave Punk some time to focus on rounding out his credentials. In the next year, Punk would become an Intercontinental and tag-team champion, becoming the quickest man to obtain Trriple Crown Champion status in WWE history. Punk had validated another chance at a world title run, but needed the crutch of the Money in the Bank briefcase once again.

The second time around, Punk cashed in on Jeff Hardy on June 7, 2009, just about three weeks before the one-year anniversary of the first cash-in. After becoming a heel and a DQ finish to his match with Hardy at The Bash, Punk would lose his title at Night of Champions, just seven weeks after his cash-in for the title. Four weeks later, Punk would earn a legitimate title win at the massive venue of SummerSlam in a TLC match, Hardy's specialty.

Six more weeks would pass before Punk lost his world title yet again to The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match.This would start a chain reaction for Punk that would send him to the lowest of lows on pay-per-views. Punk would not win another pay-per-view match until Extreme Rules the following year, even losing in a dark match before TLC in late 2009.

The hurting would continue in 2010, as Punk was left off the card completely for the first-ever Money in the Bank pay-per-view, an event based off the match he won twice. He was also kept off the card at Hell in a Cell 2010, despite being in a world title match the year before. Punk supposedly hurt himself after losing at Bragging Rights, but would return to commentary and then into a heel turn. There was no more Straightedge Society. Punk was joining forces with Nexus.

Punk has been on every pay-per-view this year so far, but did not win until Capitol Punishment in the middle of June. This would start the ball rolling for what would end up being called The Summer of Punk. Punk followed that win up with a victory in the No. 1 contender's match, announcing his contract situation with WWE after the match. Punk was suddenly a hot commodity and outside media even took notice. Money in the Bank 2011 grew to have a lot of hype surrounding the uncertainty of Punk's status with the company.

The match was fantastic and has to be a shoo-in for Match of the Year from anyone who has ever watched wrestling. Punk was finally WWE Champion, the title that is given to the wrestler who will be the face of the company. With Punk gone, WWE tried to move on and crown a new champion. Punk would return and the titles would be unified at SummerSlam, when Punk won once again over Cena. Suddenly, Punk had fallen victim to what had won him a title twice: the Money in the Bank briefcase.

Del Rio was WWE Champion, and Punk was nothing anymore. Fourteen weeks after that night, Punk finally gets his one-on-one rematch with Del Rio at Survivor Series. Since being pinned for his title in the final moments of SummerSlam, Punk has also been pinned at Night of Champions, Hell in a Cell and Vengeance just a week and a half ago. Punk has suddenly started yet another pay-per-view losing streak heading into an important singles match at the end of November.

With all that has happened to CM Punk over the years, why should his fans be so hopeful? Punk is now officially marketable. Even months after the Summer of Punk angle drew attention from a lot of media, Punk is still doing interviews with magazines and appearing on television shows. His shirts are now selling like they are John Cena shirts and the pop for his music is about as loud as any other babyface in WWE today.

Punk hasn't truly had that one defining reign with a world title and every reign seems to have some unusual occurrence that almost taints it in the history books. Punk's long-deserved lengthy reign is perfectly set up for happening at Survivor Series. Not only does it close up the woes for Punk that stemmed from Del Rio, but it will be smooth sailing into WrestleMania territory for Punk and a world title, something we have never seen before.

With John Cena being occupied with The Rock like hippies on Wall Street, Punk only has to fend off heels like The Miz, R-Truth and Del Rio, who can all be easily disposed of. He no longer has his hands around the throat of Triple H, who has his own problems with Kevin Nash. Punk's main rival is John Laurinitis, who is an interim GM and a watered-down version of Vince McMahon, if McMahon was screaming at a night club the night before.

Finally, CM Punk is getting the credit and gratitude that he deserves. That's what happens when a contract dispute becomes a storyline and a five-star match comes out of it. Now Punk can sit back and watch as his stock continues to rise in the company and his world title reigns become more meaningful and last longer. Beginning at Survivor Series in Madison Square Garden, the change is likely. MSG always gets a great title win and Survivor Series is a good venue for moments like these. The fit is almost too perfect.

In the coming months, Punk will continue to prove why he considers himself the "Best in the World," beginning by becoming WWE Champion, a perfect honor for the best in the world.