The Complete History of the WWE Championship - Part 17

CM Punk (November 20, 2011 - January 27, 2013)

CM Punk's second WWE Championship reign lasted a mammoth 434 days

434 days. That is the length of CM Punk's second WWE Championship reign, a record in the modern era.

Few would have expected in November 2011, that Punk's title challenge to Alberto Del Rio on the under-card of the 2011 Survivor Series would be the beginning of a record-breaking Championship reign.

Indeed. Those heady days of July 2011 were fast fading into memory when Punk finally got his one-on-one rematch with Del Rio, three months after he dropped the strap at SummerSlam 2011. Punk was less over than he had been during the summer, following a run of three consecutive pay per view defeats.

His title win was a surprise, particularly as Del Rio had only won the strap the previous month. However, Punk's win was well received and took in memorable title encounters at TLC in a Triple Threat Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match versus Del Rio & The Miz and versus Dolph Ziggler at the 2012 Royal Rumble.

Punk had regained his mojo and he was next put in a feud with Chris Jericho whom he KO'd inside the Elimination Chamber before defeating him again in singles battles at WrestleMania and Extreme Rules. Although the bouts were decent, Jericho was not a credible threat to the title.

However, Punk's reign truly stepped up a gear when he was pitted opposite former World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan during the summer. He contested sterling battles with Bryan at No Way Out, Over The Limit and Money in the Bank.

Punk was next pitted against John Cena in varying scenarios but overcame the former champion on RAW, SummerSlam in a triple threat with Big Show and Night of Champions in September.

Punk edged past the previously unbeaten Ryback at Hell in a Cell on October 28, 2012, in a match where the referee, Brad Maddox low-blowed Ryback to gift Punk the win.

"The Best In The World's" 434-day relationship with the title finally ended on January 27, 2013, when he was defeated by The Rock.

Punk actually did win the match after The Shield interfered, but Vince McMahon ordered a restart that saw "The People's Champion" win his first WWE Championship in a decade.