10 Best CM Punk WWE Moments

10. Bringing Up Jeff Hardy's Troubled Past

In the 2009 Lottery Draft, Punk was traded from Raw, to Smackdown. Setting in motion a resurgence in the star's career.

Turning heel for the first time, Punk leaned into his straight edge lifestyle, criticising the fans and roster members alike who didn't share his views on life. His first target? Jeff Hardy. In a series of worked shoot promos, Punk broke kayfabe by pointing out Hardy's real life struggles with substance abuse. Constantly booed out of the building as Punk attacked Hardy week after week. Claiming he was morally superior to the 'Charismatic Enigma' and that the fan favourite Hardy promoted a dangerous lifestyle.

"You're just a statistic!" was just one of the lines Punk threw out, along with highlighting Hardy's many company suspensions, trips to rehab and arrests. Despite uncomfortable at times, it was some of Punk's best work on the microphone. The program got the crowd so invested that it became the hottest rivalry in the company. Main eventing the Night Of Champions Pay-Per-View over a John Cena, Triple H and Randy Orton triple threat for the WWE Championship and then again a month later at SummerSlam, over another Cena Vs. Orton affair.

The program would conclude on the 28th of August edition of Smackdown, with Punk sending Hardy out of the company by defeating him in a 'Loser Leaves The Company' Steel Cage match. Hardy headed to TNA, while Punk's work continued to rise in quality.