7 Times John Cena Put WWE Stars Over Huge

2. CM Punk Takes The WWE Title From Cena And "Leaves" WWE At Money In The Bank 2011

This match was set up because CM Punk had earned a WWE Title shot and he was sick of the "system" that WWE had in place. The WWE Champion was John Cena. Punk delivered one of the most memorable promos of his career on the June 27, 2011 edition of Raw and said these words about Cena. "I don€™t hate you, John. I don€™t even dislike you. I do like you. I like you a hell of a lot more than I like most people in the back. I hate this idea that you€™re the best. Because you€™re not. I€™m the best. I€™m the best in the world. There€™s one thing you€™re better at than I am and that€™s kissing Vince McMahon€™s ass." It wasn't a hate feud between Punk and Cena. It was about respect. Punk had to prove that he was on Cena's level. He had to show that he could beat him. There also was the bigger picture angle with Punk threatening to leave WWE if he won the WWE Title. Since it is one of the most famous WWE matches ever, most of you know what happened. Punk won clean. Cena at one point was distracted a bit by Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis, which Punk capitalized on to hit the Go To Sleep to become the WWE Champion. It was a huge moment to cap off one of WWE's best matches too. It's another example of a match meaning more because Cena was involved. If it was Randy Orton or Triple H in that match it would have been a big deal, but not the same way that it mattered due to Cena's presence. Because of who he is and what he's done in his career, when Punk beat him clean it was one of the most important losses of Cena's career because it made Punk look like a huge star.