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#9 CM Punk - 2012
CM Punk instantly became the most popular superstar in all of WWE after his infamous 'Pipe Bomb' promo in 2011.
For the next 12 months, CM Punk was the hottest star in wrestling. While his aura slowed down for a while after the 'Summer of Punk' ended, and even though as WWE Champion he still played second fiddle to John Cena, Punk was still WWE's and all of wrestling's most popular superstar.
And that is why his heel turn on the 1000 episode of WWE RAW was all the more shocking. It was one of those shocking heel turns to come out of nowhere to as their had been no build up to it. As The Rock was about to ly into the Big Show with the People's Elbow, Punk sprung into the ring with a clothesline, followed by a Go To Sleep.
Punk justified his actions the following week when he said he was tired of people like Cena and Rock overshadowing him when the WWE Champion should be the focus of the company.
Teddy Long snaps when Swerve Strickland's race is brought up HERE
