'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
CM Punk's tenure with WWE was definitely full of ups and downs. But it was also filled with multiple championship wins. While Punk's run with the company ended on a rather sour note, one cannot deny the fact The Second City Saint established his place as a fan favorite.
A former WWE and World Heavyweight Champion, CM Punk has always been a box office attraction regardless of his status in WWE. Throughout his WWE career, CM Punk has been involved in multiple non-championship feuds, most of which he helped make memorable in his own right.
Championship wins, in general, are always rated higher than non-title wins in the professional wrestling business. However, there have been cases when non-title wins have felt equally important and relevant compared to a championship victory.
The Undertaker's undefeated streak at WrestleMania, which is mostly comprised of non-title victories, is a pure example of this. The Deadman's former rival CM Punk has also experienced wins of such a high caliber, without the inclusion of a title. Punk was a Superstar who managed to master the art of making non-title wins feel equally crucial.
Throughout his WWE career, CM Puk has registered some of WWE's biggest non-title victories on his resume. With that being said, here are five such examples from CM Punk's prestigious WWE career.
#5. CM Punk wins the Money in the Bank briefcase, 2009
At WrestleMania 25, CM Punk won his second ever Money in the Bank briefcase. Punk qualified for the Money in the Bank ladder match when he defeated John Morrison and The Miz, securing his place at The Grandest Stage of Them All.
At the event, CM Punk made history by becoming the first-ever superstar to win two Money in the Bank ladder matches. Punk's win also meant that he was the only superstar to win the match for two consecutive years.
After a few unsuccessful cash-in attempts, CM Punk finally saw an opening and capitalized after Jeff Hardy's hard-fought win over Edge. Punk's successful cash-in of the Money in the Bank on The Charismatic Enigma meant that the former became a two-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Both CM Punk's Money in the Bank wins are key parts of the evolution of his WWE career.
#4. CM Punk gets one over on Rey Mysterio in their heated rivalry
Around the 2009-10 period, CM Punk was one of the most talked-about WWE Superstars. Courtesy of his Straight Edge gimmick, Punk established himself as one of the most "hated" superstars on the main roster.
Following the path of the gimmick, CM Punk went on to form his own faction called the Straight Edge Society. The former World Heavyweight Champion added Luke Gallows and Serena to the group and during the early stages of 2010, feuded with Rey Mysterio.
Throughout the majority of his career, CM Punk has switched back-and-forth between being a babyface and a heel. The former WWE Champion proved he was comfortable adapting to any given gimmick. Similarly, Punk also lived up to expectations with his Straight Edge character.
During his feud with Mysterio, CM Punk tormented Mysterio's family and made things personal. At WrestleMania XXVI, Mysterio would beat Punk in a crucial match, but that wasn't the end of the heated rivalry between the pair.
At the Extreme Rules pay-per-view, CM Punk avenged his loss to Mysterio and got one over the Master of the 619. However, Punk's win came courtesy of outside interference from the SES's newest member, Joey Mercury.
#3. CM Punk conquers Chris Jericho at Payback 2013
Off the back of a devastating loss to The Undertaker at WrestleMania 29, CM Punk decided to go on a hiatus from WWE. His heated rivalry with The Deadman concluded with The Phenom taking his beloved urn back from Punk.
CM Punk's absence prompted Chris Jericho to host an edition of The Highlight Reel with Punk's manager Paul Heyman. Jericho questioned Punk's absence from WWE, which once again led to a conversation regarding who the "Best in the World" was between the two.
To put the argument to rest, Jericho issued a challenge to CM Punk for a match at Payback, which Heyman accepted on behalf of his client. Over the next few weeks, Heyman continued to take action on behalf of Punk. He would also sign the contract for Punk and agreed to the match against Y2J.
Shortly afterward, on an episode of SmackDown, another one of Heyman's clients, Curtis Axel, defeated Jericho following interference from Heyman. Heyman distracted Jericho by playing CM Punk's music and continued the mind games.
Eventually, CM Punk made his return as a babyface at the WWE Payback 2013 pay-per-view, for his first face run in a while. The former WWE Champion secured a huge victory over Jericho upon his return after hitting the GTS twice on his opponent.
#2. CM Punk handed The Shield a surprising loss
During the peak of CM Punk's WWE Championship reign, The Shield made their debut on the main roster and made an immediate impact. On their first night, the faction helped CM Punk to retain his title at Survivor Series 2012.
Another successful title defense for Punk soon followed at TLC, courtesy of The Shield. Shortly afterward, it was revealed on WWE television that the trio of Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins were working as mercenaries for Punk.
Following losses to The Rock and The Undertaker, CM Punk once again switched his character and turned babyface. With Punk providing a helping hand to Daniel Bryan in his feud against The Wyatt Family, The Shield decided to set their sights on the man they once worked for.
The turn of events led to a 3-on-1 Handicap Match between CM Punk and The Shield at WWE TLC 2013. Surprisingly, the former WWE Champion defied the odds and secured a huge win over The Hounds of Justice.
Following a miscommunication between The Shield, Reigns accidentally hit a spear on Ambrose and created an opening for CM Punk. Punk capitalized on the scenario and left The Shield fuming with his victory.
#1. CM Punk wins his first-ever Money in the Bank briefcase
Two years after the Money in the Bank concept was introduced by WWE, CM Punk made history by capturing his first briefcase at WrestleMania XXIV. Punk qualified for the traditional ladder match by beating Big Daddy V on ECW.
At WrestleMania XXIV, CM Punk won the Money in the Bank ladder match when he trapped Chris Jericho's leg and retrieved the briefcase. The win in 2008 marked Punk's first MITB win and he followed up by winning his second consecutive briefcase the year after.
CM Punk cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on June 30th on then-World Heavyweight Champion, Edge.
The Rated-R Superstar interrupted a Jim Ross speech and claimed that neither the World Heavyweight Championship nor the WWE Championship would be defended on RAW. At the time, both the WWE Champion, Triple H, and the World Heavyweight Champion were part of the SmackDown roster.
As Edge proceeded to exit the arena, the WWE World Heavyweight Champion was assaulted by Batista. This created an opening for CM Punk, who rushed down to the ring and cashed in his first Money in the Bank contract.
Following a Go To Sleep on Edge, CM Punk captured the World Heavyweight Title. Therefore, it could very well be said that Punk's first Money in the Bank briefcase win remains his biggest non-title victory in WWE.
Do you love to play crosswords, Wordle or other exciting games? We'd like to connect with you. Fill the form here!
