10 Horrible WWE Feuds That Led To Great Matches

2. CM Punk Leads The New Nexus

CM Punk
WWE

Here's something you've probably forgotten about the "Summer Of Punk" from 2011: CM Punk's feud with John Cena started when the former was still leader of the rejigged New Nexus group earlier that year. This terrible series of events saw Punk ditch his 'Straight Edge Society' then oust Wade Barrett as Nexus chief.

The legendary "pipebomb" promo took everyone off the scent, pushed Punk in a new direction and led to a red hot WWE Title showdown with Cena at Money In The Bank. That remains one of the greatest atmospheres WWE has ever played in front of, but it's easy to forget that everything started with the New Nexus.

The stable didn't officially disband until after Punk had won the belt and blown a kiss Vince McMahon's way. It's incredible that something as truly great as Cena vs. Punk spawned out of a second-rate reimagining of Nexus earlier the same year.

Few talk about that, or how crap Punk's feud with Cena was pre-"pipebomb".

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.