It was not until CM Punk's victory over John Cena for the WWE Championship at Money in the Bank 2011 that he was firmly entrenched as a main event star in WWE. Sure, he had been a three-time world champion before but it was that win, on that night, in front of his hometown fans that finally silenced any and all doubts about his ability to be a credible main event attraction. His victory over Cena for that title was not only a way to keep him happy and prevent him from leaving, it was also recognition of everything he had done to get to that point and make the main event of that July pay-per-view as hot as it was. Still, despite the support of the fans, it was not until Punk pinned Cena and escaped from the arena with the title that he was finally the main event star that he believed himself to be. He needed that title and that moment to convince even his harshest of critics that he deserved to be in that position. Punk's star elevated the moment he captured that title. He became one of the driving forces behind the WWE product, alongside John Cena. Winning the top prize made him a household name. He appeared on late night talk shows, was one of the most buzzed about celebrities on the Internet and the talk of the wrestling world. Suddenly, someone who had once been a culture favorite had now exploded into the pop culture conscious. And that was not even Punk's greatest reign with the title. His second run would last 434 days and put him on the level of John Cena and even The Rock, who he battled in two straight pay-per-view main events in early 2013. Without his reigns as WWE champion, Punk would have been remembered fondly by his legions of loyal fans as the alternative to the squeaky clean Superstars that dominated the top of the card. With those title reigns, though, he achieved unprecedented success inside the squared circle and stardom both in and out of the business that few could have imagined.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
