50 Best Wrestlers Of The 2020s (So Far)
14. CM Punk
Few wrestlers have defined and divided the 2020s quite like CM Punk. And it's that rare ability to evoke genuine emotion that has made him one of the most important figures of the half-decade - despite a sporadic in-ring schedule and a litany of injuries, controversies, and backstage drama.
After a seven-year absence, Punk's return to wrestling in AEW in 2021 was seismic, sparkin surge in viewership, ticket sales, and media attention. Meanwhile, his feuds with Eddie Kingston and MJF delivered some of the decade's best promos and matches, with the Dog Collar Match at Revolution 2022 in particular earning near-universal acclaim. At his best, Punk brought a weight and gravitas to AEW that few others could match.
Things fell apart as quickly as they came together, with the high-profile backstage conflicts and disputes turning his AEW run into a volatile saga rather than a glorious return.
But a second unlikely return beckoned - this time to WWE at Survivor Series 2023. While injury sidelined him for half of 2024, Punk’s presence alone powered top-tier storylines with Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre, with his promos angles stirring old-school hype in a new-school landscape, and setting the stage for situation in which almost every Punk contest felt like an enormous one.
In a modern WWE packed with polished professionals, Punk remains an outlier - unpredictable, polarising, and still holding firm to his truth. His inclusion in the 2024 WarGames build and first true run at a WrestleMania main event since his return were captivating glimpses into what still remains, and the way he still has countless singles bouts lined up as must-watch headline attractions speak to his enduring magnetism.