10 Wrestlers Who Could Have Been Franchise Players For WWE

Though WWE will likely no-sell his existence until the end of time, CM Punk will be remembered as an iconic figure in pro-wrestling folklore. Always a divisive character, Punk sent shockwaves through the industry with his line-blurring “pipe bomb” promo, and though the “Summer of Punk” ended on a whimper, its start represented one of the hottest angles in recent WWE history.

CM Punk felt genuinely edgy in an increasingly sanitised environment, and that’s what set him apart. When he said his contract was up and he was leaving the company with the WWE Championship, you genuinely believed him. As Punk blew kisses at Vince McMahon and disappeared over the barricade at Money In The Bank 2011, nobody knew if he was actually coming back or not, such was the strength of Punk’s performance.

Punk returned, of course, and after recapturing the belt from Alberto Del Rio, he was WWE Champion for 434 days. This alone should’ve made him WWE’s franchise player, but it didn’t: John Cena was still very much the top guy, and even as champion, Punk played second fiddle. Though his reign was long, Punk was often treated like an afterthought as champion, which played a role in his acrimonious departure a few years later.

Regardless of who’s to blame for the split, WWE never developed enough trust in CM Punk to make him the undisputed company kingpin. Like Steve Austin before him, Punk became the voice of a generation of fans, and a perfect antidote to his era’s frustrations. Unlike Austin, Punk was never given the keys to the kingdom.