10 Wrestling Matches Neither Wrestler Could Afford To Lose

4. The Rock vs. CM Punk (WWE Royal Rumble 2013)

CM Punk The Rock
WWE.com

It was very much lose-lose for CM Punk in 2013.

His history-making 434-day reign as WWE Champion came to an end at the hands of The Rock that January. This, arguably, set the wheels in motion for Punk's departure from WWE one year later following the same Royal Rumble event. He'd never get that WrestleMania headline spot he wanted, and now he was being replaced by a part-timer.

It was distressing to hardcores who had loved Punk's lengthy stint on top. He'd worked tirelessly in main events against all comers, but WWE believed any Rock vs. John Cena match at 'Mania required some extra sizzle. That meant Punk's title was taken and he was pushed out of the championship scene.

Still, it's not like Rocky could come up on the losing end himself. It wouldn't have exactly built anticipation for his showdown with Cena had The Rock crumbled against Punk and proved he couldn't hang with the new new generation.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.