10 Most Shocking First-Time WWE Champions
3. CM Punk
Recently, WWE promoted it's 2016 Money In The Bank PPV as the 'greatest Money In The Bank event ever'.
Not so fast.
As eventful as the 2016 show was, including a Money In The Bank cash-in and two WWE Championship changes, the show was not as memorable as the epic 2011 event featuring John Cena vs. CM Punk in the top-liner, weeks after Punk's legendary 'pipe bomb' promo.
Never before had WWE been so up front about a talent's contract status that they would actually incorporate it into a storyline, but that's exactly what they did here. Using the backdrop of a superstar legitimately leaving the company was a bold step for WWE, but actually putting the title on that superstar was a leap many thought they would never take.
So when the referee counted 3 and awarded the WWE title to CM Punk in front of a raucous Chicago crowd, fans were shocked and roared with excitement.
To be fair, Punk had legitimately renewed his contract prior to the match so it wasn't like WWE was taking as big of a risk as it would seem by putting the title on him. Still, the effect it had is unlikely to ever be duplicated and was one of the most surprising title changes in WWE history.