*Note: This article is strictly the history of CM Punk and John Cena in matches they have battled against each other and together. Any important promos may have been mentioned, but were not included for video.
If I missed any matches, which is very possible considering there are so many, let me know. I tried to compile all I could. Any big battle royals or tag team matches (such as 12 men) were left out. These were matches that mostly focused on Cena and Punk. Enjoy!
Hello everyone, I’m back and breaking down a great match taking place on RAW’s 1000th episode next week. John Cena says he will cash in his briefcase for a shot at CM Punk’s WWE Title.
Cena wanted to play it fair, because that’s the kind of guy Cena is.
In breaking down this match, I will preview the history between two of WWE’s biggest stars.
John Cena vs. CM Punk (The Beginning)
Wrestlemania 22 in Chicago. Punk’s hometwon…but who exactly is CM Punk? At the time, Punk was in WWE developmental, getting a shot at the big stage…sort of.
Punk was one of Cena’s gangsters for his special entrance, riding a limousine while holding a machine gun.
What makes this moment special is that these two met up before without even knowing it.
Look at all that’s happened since Wrestlemania 22.
Look at all that’s happened since Wrestlemania 22.
John Cena vs. CM Punk – RAW November 23, 2009
John Cena vs. CM Punk (First Singles Matches)
Punk had never faced John Cena before, but was making a special appearance on RAW for the Thanksgiving special.
Punk was a Smackdown regular who had been in the World Heavyweight Title hunt the whole summer.
A victory over Cena, or even just a strong showing would make Punk look strong here, and the latter is exactly what happened.
Punk lost, but put on a great match with the WWE Champion at the time.
John Cena vs. CM Punk – RAW December 14, 2009
In their second ever match against each other, this match did the opposite of the first one. It made CM Punk look weak.
After winning a Slammy, Punk cut a promo before facing Cena.
In other words, we all knew he was going to lose.
This was purely to make Cena look strong after losing to Sheamus at TLC for the WWE Championship.
John Cena vs. CM Punk – RAW June 7, 2010
Fast forward to 2010! It was time for an episode of RAW where the viewers got to choose the matches! Cena was given three potential opponents to face. The crowd could vote for CM Punk, Rey Mysterio, or Jack Swagger.
We all know the voting is rigged, but Punk would’ve been the best choice anyway.
Punk was almost at the end of his run with the SES, as he had already been shaved by Rey Mysterio in their feud.
The ending to this RAW was one of the most interesting ever, as the Nexus interfered and attacked both Cena and Punk. Lead by Wade Barrett, the Season 1 NXT rookies left a path of destruction. No winner in this one.
John Cena vs. CM Punk (The Nexus Era)
John Cena vs. CM Punk – RAW January 1, 2011
As soon as Cena thought he was done with the Nexus for good, CM Punk returned with the evil bunch that tortured Cena for months. The new group consisted of David Otunga, Husky Harris, Michael McGillicuty and Mason Ryan.
Punk had attacked Cena with a steel chair twice already after being on commentary, and came out as the new leader of the Nexus when they announced they were under new leadership.
After Punk took control of Nexus from Barrett, and Punk initiated each member of the Nexus, Punk and Cena ended up facing each other on January 1, 2011. Mason Ryan was introduced to the Nexus, and won
Punk the match by kicking him in the face, ending the match in a DQ.
Punk and the Nexus then proceeded to attack Cena, and initiate Mason Ryan.
John Cena vs. CM Punk – RAW February 7, 2011
Cena would then be the guest referee for a match between CM Punk and Wade Barrett to determine if the Nexus or the Corre would participate in the Royal Rumble.
Due to Cena trying to disqualify both, the Corre and the Nexus ended up both competing in the 2011 Royal Rumble.
This would be bad news for the Nexus, as Cena got the better of them yet again.
After eliminating the whole Nexus, Cena would then eliminate CM Punk, ending his over 20-minute Rumble match appearance.
A little over a week after the Royal Rumble, John Cena would take on CM Punk in a singles match once again. John Cena took out his frustrations on Punk this time, delivering a low blow to Punk.
Jerry Lawler then gave Cena a chair to help fend off the new Nexus. Despite all this, CM Punk still walked out with yet another victory over John Cena.
John Cena vs. CM Punk – RAW February 14, 2011
It was another week of John Cena vs. CM Punk in a singles match! Why? As Michael Cole explained, “there must be a winner.”
This match was the opener of the show, and provided a great ending that was very unique. Punk threw a chair in the ring, distracting the referee, and then received a wrench from a Nexus member, smashing it over Cena’s skull.
The referee didn’t see a thing, as Punk hit the GTS on Cena for the victory. Some said they were thankful that Cena vs. Punk was finally over, but I thoroughly enjoyed every match between the two.
Punk and Cena have great in-ring chemistry despite their different wrestling styles.
John Cena and Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk and R-Truth – RAW May 23, 2011
Fast forward, and we see CM Punk feuding with Rey Mysterio, and John Cena feuding with R-Truth.
Yet, a tag team match was made with Bret Hart as the guest referee. It would be John Cena and Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk and R-Truth.
Two feuds collided, but this time, Cena was finally on the better end with help from Bret Hart.
Mysterio hit the 619 on Punk with Hart planting the sharpshooter on Punk as well.
Mysterio would then do a springboard leg-drop on Punk for the victory heading into Capitol Punishment.
John Cena vs. CM Punk – RAW June 13, 2011
After this, Punk would go on to feud with Randy Orton, while John Cena would go on to feud with the Miz heading into Wrestlemania 27. Orton and Punk battled until their last match at Extreme Rules, as did Cena and Miz.
Fast forward to a 3-hour edition of RAW hosted by Stone Cold! It was WWE “All Stars” night on Long Island! I was there live to experience it all!
The main event was John Cena vs. CM Punk obviously, a week before the new WWE PPV “Capitol Punishment.”
It was a fantastic match that had the crowd dueling back and forth heavily.
Since Cena was feuding with R-Truth at the time, Truth played a huge part in Punk getting another victory over Cena, messing with a small member of the “Cenation.”
Truth took his hat, allowing Punk to pick up a distracted Cena for a GTS and the victory!
It was a great win for Punk, who needed momentum going into Capitol Punishment, taking on Rey Mysterio in a feud that was re-hashed…again.
John Cena vs. CM Punk – Money in the Bank July 17, 2011
John Cena vs. CM Punk (WWE Title feud)
Finally, the time when this feud got even better! CM Punk won a #1 contender match against Rey Mysterio and Alberto Del Rio, to take on John Cena for the WWE Championship at the Money in the Bank PPV. Oh yeah, and it was in Chicago!
Punk was threatening to leave the WWE for good, because his contract was about to expire.
This was a real-life situation that was developing, as we saw Punk drop the infamous “pipe-bomb” after attacking Cena, leaving him lying in the ring.
Punk would leave the WWE with or without the championship.
It was a great moment in WWE history, and it was taking place in front of a fantastic, loud Chicago crowd at the Allstate Arena!
The atmosphere couldn’t be greater, and it seemed Punk had to win in fear of a riot. It was a great match that lasted over 30 minutes, the crowd hanging on every move.
It seems every match between Punk and Cena gets better, the more matches these two have.
Vince McMahon came out, and we all feared the worse. Since it could’ve been Punk’s last match, would he screw Punk?
Cena then attacked John Laurinaitis, as Vince McMahon stopped calling for the bell. Punk took advantage and hit the GTS on Cena for the win. The crowd erupted, but Vince wasn’t done.
I expected Del Rio to cash in, as we all did. To my disbelief, Punk escaped and left with the title. It was a great summer angle for WWE that piqued so much interest.
John Cena vs. CM Punk – Summerslam August 14, 2011
Once Punk left with the WWE Championship, the show must go on! It was time to find a new WWE Champion.
At the end of a brief tournament, Mysterio beat the Miz for the title, only to be beaten by Cena in his first title defense. John Cena would head into Summerslam the WWE Champion.
That same night, CM Punk returned with a new theme song with the real title in hand, proudly raising it in front of Cena. Cena did the same with his.
Of course, there is only one way to settle this dispute, and that is for a Champion vs. Champion match to determine the actual WWE Champion. The new COO of the WWE, Triple H, would act as the guest referee.
The contract was officially signed, the verbal jabs were thrown, and it was bound to be an epic match in Los Angeles!
The match at Summerslam was called fairly by Triple H, until he missed the final pin where Cena’s foot was clearly on the rope.
Nevertheless, CM Punk was still the champion…but not for long.
Alberto Del Rio successfully cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase, after CM Punk was attacked by Kevin Nash.
John Cena vs. CM Punk – RAW August 21, 2011
Heading into RAW, CM Punk claimed he was the #1 contender because he last lost the title to Del Rio. Cena claimed that he was the #1 contender because Punk beat him for the title before Del Rio cashed in the briefcase.
This lead to a match between CM Punk and John Cena to see who would face Del Rio at the next PPV, Night of Champions.
Punk was distracted by Kevin Nash, costing him another title opportunity, as Cena picked up Punk for an AA and the win.
Alberto Del Rio vs. John Cena (c) vs. CM Punk – Hell in a Cell October 2, 2011
Cena would go on to feud with Alberto Del Rio, while Punk went on to feud with Triple H, and then the Miz and R-Truth.
Yet, as it always happens, Cena and Punk’s paths crossed once again.
Triple H announced that at Hell In A Cell, CM Punk would be added to the John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio match, making it a Triple Threat Match.
Both ended up on the losing end, as Del Rio was able to defeat them, taking Cena’s WWE Title.
Cena was locked out of the cage, and was unable to get back in.
A weapon was slipped in the cage to Del Rio by Ricardo Rodriguez, and he used it to pin CM Punk.
Wrestling Together (2012)
In 2012, both John Cena and CM Punk are babyfaces on the RAW brand. That’s still how it is today. Punk and Cena teamed together on several occasions, taking on the teams of Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger, and Daniel Bryan and Chris Jericho.
Cena and Punk lost to Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler after a distraction from Big Johnny, and lost to Bryan and Jericho after Jericho rolled up Punk.
While unsuccessful as a team, they did eventually get a victory by pinning the Awesome Truth.
CM Punk and John Cena vs. Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger
CM Punk and John Cena vs. Awesome Truth
CM Punk and John Cena vs. Chris Jericho and Daniel Bryan
Well, that’s it until this Monday! The next chapter of John Cena vs. CM Punk will go down in the history books, and it promises to be another great match with the WWE Championship once again on the line.
Will this lead to a match at Summerslam? Who knows! Cena and Punk’s rivalry continues to grow, and will grow as they battle as faces of WWE.
Single Leg TakeDown 