10 Times WWE Totally Blew It With CM Punk
9. Punk Looks Like A Chump As The Champ
Back when CM Punk and Vince McMahon were on cosier terms (or at least able to exist in the same area code as one another), WWE released the "Best in the World" documentary - a look at Punk's career highs and lows. In a surprising moment of self-awareness, WWE's talking heads admitted that Punk's first World Heavyweight Championship run was a definite low point in the superstar's career.
Winning a world title should be a major milestone for any professional wrestler, but WWE's self-admittedly atrocious booking turned the belt into an albatross around Punk's neck. After Punk won the title by cashing in the Money in the Bank briefcase on a semi-conscious Edge, WWE Creative spared no effort in undermining their new world champion.
For starters, Punk was portrayed as a hopeless underdog in his feud against JBL - a wrestler years past his prime and who was portrayed as a cowardly dog even in his heyday. The Straight Edge Superstar was then mauled by Batista in another title defence and had to rely on Kane for the DQ win (great booking for a babyface).
But the biggest indignity was how Punk lost the title, as he was literally punted out of the main event scene by Randy Orton. Orton kicked the hapless champion's head in during a backstage attack, causing the latter to forfeit the title and put an end to one of the worst championship reigns in wrestling history.
Interestingly, Punk's time as champion lasted exactly 69 days. Looks like someone at WWE had a sense of humour over how thoroughly they screwed Punk's run with the belt...