10 Fascinating WWE Survivor Series 2011 Facts
4. WWE Was Committed To A Long-Term Punk Reign
The WWE Championship changed hands way too many times between July and November 2011, with Punk, Alberto Del Rio, John Cena, and even Rey Mysterio laying claim to the belt (most of them multiple times) during that stretch.
It was reported in The Wrestling Observer following Survivor Series that WWE was committed to giving Punk a legitimate reign with the belt. This seemed to be a tenuous statement, given how plans seemed to change within WWE on a whim. However, the company stuck to their guns, giving Punk far longer a reign than most would've ever imagined.
Additionally, it was reported that McMahon had lost confidence in Alberto Del Rio as champion, so that ruled out any idea of Del Rio regaining the belt a month or two later, per another whim.