What if CM Punk hadn't left WWE in 2014?

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CM Punk - One of the biggest WWE stars of this generation

On the night after Royal Rumble 2014, CM Punk walked out of WWE following a meeting with WWE boss, Vince McMahon, which he had requested to express his dissatisfaction with how he was being booked in the promotion, amongst other issues.

McMahon was unsuccessful in allaying Punk's concerns and Punk left, seemingly never to return.

But what if CM Punk hadn't left WWE? How would Punk's career in the company have worked out and what would the effect have been on WWE itself?

#4 No disappointing UFC run

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CM Punk was humbled in his two-fight UFC career

CM Punk's chosen career post-WWE was a martial arts career in UFC. However, his initial MMA fight versus Mickey Gall at UFC 203 was a disaster. Punk was completely overwhelmed by the younger, faster, stronger, much more skilled Gall. He was submitted just over two minutes into the fight.

The legendary former WWE Champion was no match for a legitimate fighter. To most people's surprise, UFC President, Dana White gave Punk another chance.

Although he fared better, lasting the full time limit with the equally inexperienced, Mike Jackson, in a sense this performance exposed weaknesses far more.

Fifteen minutes of watching Punk fight showcased that he lacked the stamina, punching power and any skill on the ground in offence or defence. Two years after his first fight, Punk was no closer to being a UFC success. At almost 40 years old at the time of writing, he never will be.

If Punk had never left WWE, this embarrassing episode of his career would not have occurred.

#3 No WrestleMania 30 title win for Daniel Bryan

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WrestleMania 30 was Daniel Bryan's night

In one of the less favourable outcomes of CM Punk remaining with WWE is the likelihood that the famous Daniel Bryan WWE Championship victory at WrestleMania 30, would surely never have happened.

The organisation, prior to Punk's departure, had planned to book him, not Bryan in a match with Triple H on the show. This was part of the reason why Vince McMahon was not forthcoming when it came Punk's views on how he was being booked in their now infamous backstage meeting. In McMahon's eyes, a match with his legendary son-in-law at the year's biggest event was as high profile as it gets.

Bryan defeated Triple H at WrestleMania to insert himself in the WWE Championship match versus Batista and Randy Orton which he also won.

Had Punk stayed, Bryan would have remained firmly in the mid-card. Could WWE have decided to put Punk in the same position where he could have had an opportunity to wrestle for the title?

What is abundantly clear is that WWE fans would have rejected a singles match between Orton and Batista. WWE would have to have inserted someone else into it. Could a Punk-Triple H encounter have served the same purpose as the Bryan-Triple H match? It is eminently possible. Punk is the only other wrestler whom fans would have accepted in that spot other than Bryan.

#2 CM Punk would have won more World Championships

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CM Punk - Surely would have added to his tally of World Championships

As stated in the last slide, there would have been an excellent chance that CM Punk would have added to his World Championship tally as soon as WrestleMania 30.

Whether that would have occurred or not, what is unmistakable is that Punk would have added more titles to his resume in the four and a half years since his departure.

Men like Bray Wyatt, Jinder Mahal, Kevin Owens, Finn Balor and Dean Ambrose have all reigned as Champion in the years following Punk's departure. It seems highly unlikely that all of these men would have been World Champion had Punk remained with the company. Punk could easily have been inserted into any of these men's title feuds as he was and is a much bigger star and legitimate Champion.

Punk's presence in WWE would also probably have saved its audience from witnessing epic Brock Lesnar title reigns with minimal defences.

Punk's five World title reigns would have greatly expanded to at least 10, without question.

#1 CM Punk would have main evented WrestleMania

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CM Punk - Would have added at least one Wrestlemania main event to his resume

CM Punk never main-evented WrestleMania during his eight-year spell with the company, despite being WWE World Champion at WrestleMania 28. That show was closed by the first time ever dream bout between John Cena and The Rock, much to Punk's chagrin. His title bout with Chris Jericho occurred earlier in the card.

However, had Punk not left in 2014, there would have been every chance, he may have ended up in the WrestleMania 30 main event in much the same way Daniel Bryan did instead.

From there, the subsequent WrestleMania main events have been Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns, Triple H vs Roman Reigns, Undertaker vs Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns once again.

WWE's desire for Roman Reigns to be their number one babyface is strong, despite the audience's steadfast refusal to accept him in that role.

If WWE had the popular Punk at their disposal, there is little doubt he would have been inserted into one of those matches in Reigns's place. With no other viable contenders to Reigns, WWE have persevered.

Even if Punk turned heel, then there is still a great chance he would have wrestled in the main event as well, most likely taking Triple H's spot in the main event of Wrestlemania 32 versus Reigns.

However, you look at it, one thing is for certain; had Punk not left WWE, the company itself would have benefited enormously from retaining a bonafide superstar on its roster and saved itself from the many disappointments they have endured attempting to insert ill suiting superstars into the main event. What is also, without doubt, is that Punk's already legendary career would have been further enhanced had he not left the promotion, with additional title reigns and Wrestlemania main events. Perhaps one day it will be.

Meet the man who called CM Punk the softest man alive HERE