#30. CM Punk
Achievements/Accolades:
- 5-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time ECW Champion
- 1-time Intercontinental Champion
- 2-time Money in the Bank Winner (2008, 2009)
- 1-time ROH World Champion
Opinions:
“CM Punk piled up the accolades on the independent wrestling scene before making the jump to WWE in the mid 2000s. While it took him a few years to really hit is stride, his run at the top of the company was historic. He broke down barriers for Vince McMahon to trust independent wrestlers to draw serious money for WWE. He may have been one of the most controversial WWE superstars that we’ve seen in recent memory, but he definitely left a mark on the company where fans chant his name to this day. I thought he may have had an opportunity to make the Top 25 on this list.” — Jay Alletto
“Throughout this entire process I have tried to remain as objective as possible, but I have to acknowledge that CM Punk is my favorite wrestler of all time. A workhorse in the ring, and a magician on the mic, “The Straight Edge Superstar” has been the most captivating star in the WWE since Stone Cold Steve Austin. Not only do I think he is the greatest talker of all time, but his ability to tell a story is second to none. Something personified by his match with John Cena at Money in the Bank in 2011, which is not only my favorite match of all time, but epitomized everything that is great about professional wrestling. A storyline that had fans on the edge of their seats, unbelievable promos that left everybody guessing, and an instant classic of match. I may have let my love for Punk get in the way, but I think he is deserving of a spot higher than #30.” — Matt Burgess
“Listen, I don’t like CM Punk. Never did. Probably never will. But, I will admit that he is one of the best wrestlers to ever step foot in a WWE ring and I think not only did he do a lot during his time in WWE, but his impact within the company will remembered forever. Without WWE taking a shot in the dark with Punk, I don’t know if guys like Daniel Bryan or Seth Rollins would be placed in the position they were put in and I don’t know if guys like Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Shinsuke Nakamura, Samoa Joe, etc. would even get a second look. So as far as a impact standpoint, CM Punk certainly changed the business for the better, in many ways, with his in-ring work and his fight for the “underdogs” within the wrestling business. But it doesn’t mean I have to like it.” — Eron Ramadanov
