Bryan and CM Punk first met in the ring during 2002's Jersey J-Cup event, an American independent version of the legendary Japanese Super J Cups. They also put on a classic for Ring of Honor in April 2004. As good as these matches were, neither of them came anywhere close to the classic that the two put on at WWE Over The Limit 2012. The Over The Limit main event was easily the best match these two had while in the WWE together (they also had a fantastic No DQ outing in July 2012). Technical wrestling purists loved the bout, with a plethora of submissions, reversals, and mat wrestling throughout. At one point, Bryan puts Punk into a surfboard submission that eventually turns into a reverse chin lock/bridge spot that must be seen to be believed. There are of course some excellent high spots mixed in at different times, but not too much so as to take away from the great story the two are telling. The contest ends in controversial fashion, with Bryan locking in the Yes Lock in the center of the ring. Just when the viewer believes Punk is on the verge of tapping out to the hold, he rolls to his back and pins Bryan underneath of himself. Interestingly, just after the count of three, Punk ends up tapping out to the submission hold and Bryan was left confused in the ring as Punk celebrated retaining the WWE championship.
