10 Wrestlers Who Achieved The Impossible
2. CM Punk: Various
CM Punk entered WWE as CM Punk, which was an achievement in itself; in the mid-2000s, the company was intent on introducing more "colourful" characters, like Eugene and the Spirit Squad. Incidentally, Punk was earmarked for that group. He was also earmarked for another, mercifully shelved role: "deaf" wrestler.
Punk, despite the fervent support of Paul Heyman Vince McMahon deemed off-putting, was pushed to the main event-level as his popularity grew to a height that could not be ignored. This, despite a straight edge gimmick and slender frame antithetical to the WWE norm. His popularity peaked as he cut an entirely self-devised promo in an era in which only John Cena was allowed free reign. The content of said promo saw him launch a scathing, notorious tirade against his employer. His employer rewarded him with a WWE Heavyweight Championship reign. Punk didn't main event much as WWE Champion, but he changed the main in-ring mode. Gone was the stalling, the methodical movement; Punk and the men he paved the way for popularised a far more kinetic, technical style that remains in place to this day.
Doing impossible sh*t was Punk's legacy. He performed a five-star match with a man who couldn't apply his submission finish. He bantered off the sort of WrestleMania payday virtually everybody - in 2014, at least - could not have resisted. He defeated WWE in court.
He convinced many that he was the best pure wrestler on the planet, despite landing a top rope elbow drop with the grace of a WWE commentator acknowledging a deceased wrestler.