Ranking CM Punk’s top 10 matches of his career
By Morgan Jayne
4. CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan – Over The Limit, WWE, 2012
CM Punk and Daniel Bryan first crossed paths in Ring of Honor in 2002, when Punk, however, their best and most famous encounter came in WWE in 2012, 10 years after they first wrestled one another. Punk was the current WWE Champion, and Bryan was coming off a feud with World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus, who beat Bryan to win the championship at WrestleMania 28. Heading into the Over The Limit PPV, Punk’s next challenger was to be decided by a series of Beat the Clock matches, and Bryan emerged victorious.
The Over The Limit match was among the best of both men’s storied careers and mirrored their earlier battles in Ring of Honor. They produced magic with both wrestlers working a more grounded, technical style, a specialty of both, however, most notably of Bryan. What stands out from this match is the limb work from both Punk and Bryan. Punk worked over Bryan’s leg while Bryan worked over Punk’s ribs, and both men sold the effects all match long. However, the only flaw of this overwise perfect match is the finish. Bryan has Punk locked into the LeBell lock submission before Punk follows over and has Bryan’s shoulders down for the three count; however, Bryan still has the hold locked in, and Punk taps as the ref counts three.
Punk is declared the winner; however, due to Punk tapping, Bryan believes he is the winner. This finish was used to set up a future rematch. Despite the lousy finish done for storytelling purposes, this match is a technical masterpiece from two of the best wrestlers in the world.
3. CM Punk vs. Samoa Joe III – ROH All-Star Extravaganza II, Ring of Honor, 2004
The third Punk and Joe match of their 2004 trilogy occurred at ROH’s All-Star Extravaganza show. With neither Punk nor Joe gaining a victory in their previous matches, Punk requested that their third match have no time limit; however, a second stipulation was added, if Joeweres were able to beat Punk, Punk would never receive another ROH World title shot for the duration of Joe’s reign.
In the match, Punk wastes no time applying the strategy he used against Joe in the past: the headlock. Joe tries to counter the headlock, but Punk uses his quickness to prevail. Punk’s momentum does not last long as Joe’s strikes wound the challenger. With an open wound on his head, Punk employs a new strategy; he knows to damage Joe, he must also hurt himself. Twenty minutes into the match, the two go back and forth, countering each other’s moves and holds. The desperation of both men is on display as Punk tries every flash pin he can but fails to get the pinfall. Joe goes so far as to use the ropes as leverage during a pinfall, which is uncharacteristic of the fighting champion. In the final moments, Joe hits Punk with a German suplex, Dragon suplex, and choke combination. Punk’s spirit isn’t weak, but his body is as the referee calls for the bell. In the final match of their 2004 trilogy, Joe finally gets his win over Punk.