CM Punk: 10 Reasons the Straight-Edge Superstar Is a Future WWE Hall of Famer

CM Punk has only been with the WWE for five years so far, and as a result, some would say that means that he's far from a lock for the WWE Hall of Fame.

But that just isn't true.

The Rock was only with the company full-time from 1996 to 2003, and I think it's safe to say that he's going into the Hall of Fame one day. Even someone like Brock Lesnar was only with the company for a couple of years, but he could be headed for the Hall one day, too.

And I'd bet my bottom dollar that Punk will join them there. Eventually.

Here are 10 reasons why CM Punk is a future WWE Hall of Famer.

10. Ability to Work as a Heel, Face or Tweener

The mark of a true superstar is his ability to work as both a baby face and a heel.

That's where someone like John Cena struggles, but it's where CM Punk succeeds.

Punk is incredibly believe as an uber-heel, but he's also able to work as a bona fide baby face or in that anti-hero tweener role. It really doesn't matter what position the creative team puts him in--Punk is going to shine much like The Rock, Stone Cold and Triple H have.

A complete wrestler has to be multi-dimensional, and if Punk isn't considered multi-dimensional, then I don't know who is.

9. Koko B. Ware Is in the Hall of Fame

If someone like Koko B. Ware can be elected to the Hall of Fame, then CM Punk should already be in it, too.

Enough said.

8. His Gimmicks

Most wrestlers fail to get one gimmick over, but CM Punk's done it with three.

He started off on ECW as a straight edge baby face, whose only addiction was professional wrestling, and he quickly became one of the most popular stars on that brand. Then, he turned heel in 2009 and adopted the "Straight Edge Society" gimmick, working as a cult-like leader who thought he was better than everyone else because he didn't drink, smoke or do drugs.

Finally, Punk transitioned into his current gimmick, that of an anti-hero/tweener who speaks his mind and does whatever he wants (like a heel) but is still cheered by the fans (like a baby face).

Not many wrestlers can say that they were able to generation huge reactions during their career, and even fewer can say they did it as face and heel with multiple different gimmicks.

But Punk can.

7. His Worked Shoot

There are moments when you just know that someone is going to be a big deal.

When "Stone Cold" Steve Austin cut his Austin 3:16 promo at King of the Ring in 1996, we knew it. When Kane debuted at Badd Blood: In Your House in 1997, we knew it. When Chris Jericho made his WWF debut by interrupting The Rock in 1999, we knew it.

And when CM Punk cut that epic worked shoot promo back in June, we knew was going to transcend from a guy with a good WWE resume to one of the all-time greats.

6. He's Consistently Good

When I started compiling this list, one though kept popping into my head: "I can't really recall a time when CM Punk wasn't fun to watch."

Ever since Punk started with the WWE in 2006, I don't remember seeing him wrestle a match and thinking "Oh, that sucked," watching him cut a promo and thinking "Man, he can't work the mic" or seeing him adopt a new gimmick and thinking "Wow, that gimmick's gonna flop."

I'm sure there have been times when Punk was a little stale or boring or when he botched a moves, but those are few and far in between.

Quite simply, Punk has been consistently good from the moment he stepped into a WWE ring, and that's certainly a rarity these days.

5. He's Got a Ton of Time Left

CM Punk is 33 years old, which means that you're damn near retirement in the NFL or the NBA, but not in the WWE.

Professional wrestlers typically enter the primes of their careers in their late 20s to mid-30s, and that's exactly where Punk is. He's at the top of his game right now and likely will be for at least four to five more years.

If he keeps going strong until then and possibly beyond--like guys such as Triple H, The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels--then there's no telling what types of accolades he'll rack up by the time he hangs up his boots for good.

Punk could be approaching the double digit mark for World title reigns, have a Royal Rumble win under his belt and have headlined a couple of Wrestlemanias by then.

4. Merchandise Sales and Popularity

CM Punk's popularity has absolutely skyrocketed this year.

He was always pretty over with the crowd, and in my own experience at live events, he sold a solid amount of merchandise for someone who was hardly ever really booked like a top guy.

But when Punk cut that phenomenal promo back in, he became one of the WWE's most popular superstars seemingly over night. The WWE was essentially forced to start booking Punk in that anti-hero/face role, and it didn't take long for Punk to become the company's No. 1 merchandise seller.

Yes, Punk ousted John Cena from the top spot.

If he can maintain that high level of popularity for another few years, the push and title reigns that come along with it will almost assuredly send him to the Hall. 

3. His Promos

What can I say about CM Punk's promo abilities that you don't already know?

Nothing really, so let's just reiterate.

Punk is undoubtedly the top mic worker currently in the WWE, he's the most believable talker I've ever seen and he's able to be funny and/or serious depending upon the situation.

There here have been very few workers in the history of the business who are as good as Punk is on the mic, and though someone like The Rock has done it for a longer period of time, Punk is certainly working his way up the list of wrestling's great all-time talkers. 

2. Wrestling Ability

CM Punk can flat-out wrestle.

Those who followed Punk before he came to the WWE--more specifically, in Ring of Honor--already knew that he could go really go in the ring. But, aside from his 2009 feud with Jeff Hardy, Punk rarely got a chance to prove just how good he was on the world's biggest stage, the WWE.

That was until 2011, when Punk got not one but two huge chances to wow his fellow wrestlers, WWE officials and the fans with his matches against John Cena at Money in the Bank and SummerSlam.

Those two bouts sum up just how phenomenal Punk can be in the ring when he's simply given an opportunity to prove himself.

Obviously, two matches don't define a career, but the more matches Punk has like the MITB one, the closer to the Hall of Fame he gets.

1. His Resume

Here is a list of CM Punk's accomplishments in the WWE:

One-time ECW Champion

One-time WWE Champion

Three-time World Heavyweight Champion

One-time World Tag Team Champion

One-time Intercontinental Champion

Two-time Money in the Bank match winner

19th ever Triple Crown Champion 

Five-Star match: John Cena vs. CM Punk at Money in the Bank 2011 (according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

Obviously, Punk has had a remarkable first five years in the WWE, and if he keeps progressing at this rate, then there's no telling where he might end up.

He might have twice the amount of World title reigns and who knows what else by the time he finishes with the WWE.

But even if he doesn't add anything to that list of accolades, he's already got enough to ensure him a spot next to the likes of HBK and Bret Hart in the Hall of Fame.