CM Punk's WWE Matches In Chicago Ranked From Worst To Best

For all the trivia lovers out there, here is CM Punk's very first WWE match in Chicago. One would perhaps think it would also be Punk's first-ever RAW match, considering he was still on ECW, but that was actually against Shelton Benjamin at the special 'Tribute to the Troops' edition of RAW on Christmas Day 2006.

WWE was clearly using their flagship programs to showcase the young wrestler in front of a larger viewing audience. After all, he defeated Johnny Nitro in a Money in the Bank qualifying match a few weeks earlier, and was about to compete in his very first WrestleMania.

Throughout the month of March, Punk appeared twice on SmackDown against fellow MITB participants King Booker and Mr. Kennedy, winning and losing respectively. But WWE's best opportunity to get over Punk as a true superstar came on the go-home episode of RAW, held in Punk's hometown. The company smartly capitalized on it.

Punk was booked against the criminally underrated and extremely talented former leader of the Spirit Squad, Kenny Dykstra. Six nights before the big show, Punk got to showcase all of his big signature moves in a short yet energetic enhancement match, which he won with the Go To Sleep.

The big pop Punk got was a clear indicator that he belonged on that year's WrestleMania card. But also, and more importantly, that people would be hearing Punk's name for years to come.