In case you hadn't heard, CM Punk was the longest reigning WWE Champion of the modern era. For 434 days, Punk ruled the WWE as its champion, though you would not have known that based on the lack of pay-per-view main events he took part in. Punk, the hottest star in 2011, would normally have been rewarded with a WrestleMania 28 main event match in 2012. That was the way WWE used to work. Unfortunately for Punk, the main event for WrestleMania 28 was set the night after WrestleMania 27. The Rock, who wrestled one match in all of 2011 and no matches before that since 2004, was already booked to headline the biggest show of the year against John Cena. When Punk won his first WWE Championship in July 2011, there was already no chance for him to main event WrestleMania. No matter how over Punk was, a ceiling was already in place for his push. The ability of part-time performers like The Rock to come in and take such a coveted spot on the most important card of the year never sat well with Punk. To be fair, WWE had its reasons, as The Rock's return against WWE's biggest star of last several years was sure to sell a lot more pay-per-views than just about any other match. Punk understood that, but that didn't mean he had to like it. Punk persevered, though, and was able to steal the show at WrestleMania 28 with an outstanding title defense against Chris Jericho. John Cena and The Rock may have gone on last, but Punk and Jericho did it best. That was all well and good when Rock vs. Cena was billed as "Once in a Lifetime." Then, once became twice. Punk turned heel midway through his 434-day title reign by hitting a Go To Sleep on The Rock on the 1,000th episode of Monday Night Raw. At that moment, it was clear Punk's championship days would ultimately be ended by the People's Champion. At the 2013 Royal Rumble, Punk, the longest reigning WWE Champion in 25 years, was beaten by a guy who was wrestling for only the third time in almost 9 years. By that logic, Punk and the rest of the WWE roster didn't look so hot. Punk could not carry his long title reign into 'Mania because WWE needed some way to up the stakes for The Rock's rematch with Cena. Punk turned his attention to The Undertaker and once again stole the show at WrestleMania 29, but having the biggest two years of his career overshadowed by a guy who wasn't even regularly present on Monday nights had to be frustrating. Again, understanding a business decision and liking it are two very different things.
