CM Punk became one of the greatest WWE Champions of all time and The Straight Edge Savior had backing from fans in his early WWE career. Let's revisit, CM Punk's first 10 WWE pay-per-view matches, ranked from worst to best!
It became abundantly clear that CM Punk was going to have a successful career in WWE. Punk was popular on the independent scenes, and once he joined WWE in 2006 and was a member of the ECW brand his popularity skyrocketed.
Nonetheless, Punk's in-ring work was exceptional, and he fit into WWE's style of wrestling straightaway. Some of his early pay-per-view matches were brilliant and others were forgettable. Moreover, The Straight Edge Savior was involved in a plethora of gimmick matches, and he did a magnificent job in those types of matches, that he competed in for the first time.
10 CM Punk Vs. Johnny Nitro - Vengeance: Night Of Champions, 2007
At Vengeance: Night of Champions, CM Punk was due to clash with Chris Benoit for the vacant ECW Championship but Benoit no-showed, and unbeknownst to WWE at the time, it was because of the horrific double-murder suicide. Stepping in for Benoit was Johnny Nitro, who was drafted to ECW in the supplemental draft.
Fans chanted "We Want Benoit" throughout the contest, and Nitro and Punk did a decent job but it wasn't the greatest of matches between the two. Punk failed to execute his patented GTS with Nitro countering it. Ultimately, Nitro captured the ECW Championship, after he nailed Punk with Moonlight Drive on the ring apron.
9 CM Punk, Tommy Dreamer & The Sandman Vs. The New Breed - One Night Stand 2007
The rivalry between The ECW Originals and The New Breed continued well after WrestleMania 23 with CM Punk added to the mix. At One Night Stand 2007, Punk teamed up with The Sandman and Tommy Dreamer to face off with The New Breed's Elijah Burke, Matt Striker, and Marcus Cor Von in a six-man tag team tables match.
The New Breed dominated the early exchanges of the match, but The Sandman introduced a kendo stick and he swung it at Cor Von. Dreamer nailed Burke with a piledriver, and Punk secured the victory by suplexing Striker onto Burke through the table from the top rope.
8 CM Punk Vs. John Morrison - The Great American Bash 2007
Once again, CM Punk and the rechristened John Morrison collided for the ECW Championship at The Great American Bash 2007. Punk was hellbent on finally getting his hands on the ECW Title.
This rematch was better than their Night of Champions encounter, and the match was fast-paced. Morrison tried to earn a cheap victory by rolling up Punk and holding the ropes for leverage. However, The Straight Edge Savior was going for his trademark clothesline from the apron but Morrison kicked him the knee, retaining the ECW Championship in the process.
7 CM Punk Vs. Bobby Lashley Vs. Hardcore Holly Vs. Rob Van Dam Vs. Test Vs. Big Show - December To Dismember 2006
December to Dismember 2006 was one of the worst pay-per-view events in WWE history. The main event was an Extreme Elimination Chamber match with Big Show defending the ECW Championship against CM Punk, Bobby Lashley, Test, Rob Van Dam, and Hardcore Holly.
The Second City Saint was an overwhelming favorite to win the title, and he was the first to emerge for his pod by joining Holly and RVD. Punk had a brief cameo, but fans booed and were not happy as Van Dam eliminated Punk first from the match with a Five-Star Frog Splash.
6 CM Punk Vs. John Morrison - SummerSlam 2007
For the third pay-per-view in succession, CM Punk and John Morrison faced off in an ECW Championship match, this time SummerSlam 2007 was the stage. Punk has a remarkable record at The Biggest Party of The Summer, and he was hoping to take the ECW Title home in his debut match at SummerSlam.
Just like their previous matches, Morrison grounded Punk down with submission holds. Unfortunately, they did the best they could with the time they were allotted with Punk failing to capture the ECW Championship yet again.
5 Royal Rumble Match - Royal Rumble 2007
CM Punk is one of the greatest wrestlers to never win a Royal Rumble match which is quite astonishing in itself. The Second City Saint made his Royal Rumble match debut at the 2007 Royal Rumble.
Punk entered the match 11th, and he lasted a remarkable 27 minutes in this contest. Moreover, Punk only managed one elimination as he aided seven other wrestlers to eliminate Viscera. Unfortunately, The Great Khali brought his campaign to a halt, and Khali was a man on a mission as he eliminated another six competitors.
4 CM Punk Vs. Elijah Burke - Unforgiven 2007
CM Punk finally got the better of John Morrison to become the ECW Champion, and Punk defended his newly won championship against Elijah Burke in the opening match at Unforgiven 2007.
Burke was aggressive in the early stages of the match, and he landed hammer blows on Punk and utilized submission holds. However, despite dominating the majority of the match, The Straight Edge Savior caught Burke off-guard and retained the ECW Championship with a roll-up.
3 Team DX Vs. Team Rated-RKO - Survivor Series 2006
Survivor Series 2006 marked CM Punk's first pay-per-view, and it was a night to remember. Team DX captained by Triple H and Shawn Michaels led The Hardy Boyz and Punk to battle with Team-Rated RKO comprised of team captains and World Tag Team Champions Edge and Randy Orton, as well as Gregory Helms, Mike Knox, and Johnny Nitro.
It was a dominant performance from start to finish as Team DX registered a clean sweep over Team Rated-RKO. Punk was over with the fans, who chanted his name, and he got in on the act by forcing Nitro to submit to the Anaconda Vise.
2 CM Punk Vs. Elijah Burke - Judgment Day 2007
At Judgment Day 2007, CM Punk collided with Elijah Burke in his first singles pay-per-view match. Burke had the advantage as The Second City Saint's ribs were taped, and the match went back and forth.
Punk and Burke had an underrated gem of a match, and they have magnificent chemistry together. Burke eventually nailed Punk with the Elijah Express but Punk managed to reach the ropes. Nonetheless, Burke tried to go for it again but The Straight Edge Savior countered it with GTS bringing an end to an outstanding match that almost went 20 minutes long.
1 CM Punk Vs. Mr. Kennedy Vs. Jeff Hardy Vs. Edge Vs. Matt Hardy Vs. Randy Orton Vs. Finlay Vs. King Booker - WrestleMania 23
CM Punk made his WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania 23 in the opening contest, taking part in the third Money in the Bank ladder match. It was a star-studded field with Punk, Mr. Kennedy, Jeff Hardy, Edge, Matt Hardy, Randy Orton, Finlay, and King Booker all looking to become Mr. Money in the Bank.
This was arguably the greatest Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania, and Punk was busted wide open early on after Edge threw a ladder to his head. Orton executed a picture-perfect RKO off the top of the ladder which was outstanding. Nonetheless, Punk was tantalizingly close to retrieving the Money in the Bank briefcase but Kennedy knocked him off with a ladder and won the match.