10 WWE Heels Who Were Too Entertaining To Boo

7. CM Punk

Chris Jericho
WWE.com

CM Punk has made plenty of enemies in the wrestling business (particularly since retiring), but his immense following persists even today. Fans regularly chant his name whenever Raw gets too tedious to tolerate, and Chicago crowds can barely go 10 minutes without singing about their hometown hero whenever WWE heads to the Windy City. Even in retirement, CM Punk is more over than most of WWE’s roster.

Punk spent most of his WWE run operating as an anti-hero babyface or a rabble-rousing heel, but he was always cheered. He carried a sizeable cult following from his independent days, and this helped him turn heads from the moment he walked in. Even when working as the leader of the New Nexus or Straight Edge Society, the fans loved CM Punk, and pairing him with Paul Heyman in his career’s dying days only amplified this.

The Summer of Punk really made CM Punk, and sent his popularity through the roof. From the moment he dropped the pipe bomb, Punk was a made man among WWE fans. Though technically working as a heel in the ensuing John Cena program, Punk was cheered vociferously. He was, after all, the avatar through which the WWE Universe vented their frustrations towards the company’s corporate overlords. Punk’s words were their own, and it was impossible to root against him.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.