The Defining WWE Moment Of Every Year This Decade

Following on from Shawn Michaels' departure, 2011 needed a focal point and a key figure to breathe new life into the product and that came in the form of CM Punk. The 'Summer of Punk' was the most captivating storyline in many years within WWE, with the prospect of Punk's contract expiring blurring the lines between kayfabe and reality. The notion that he could have taken WWE's top title across the world to various different promotions made for the most captivating storyline of the last several years.

However, this angle was brought to an anticlimactic halt when CM returned within eight days of his dramatic departure from the company at Money In The Bank 2011.

The 'Summer of Punk' was marketed as a huge turning point for the business, with Punk highlighting a positive change in the industry as a whole. The demeanour of his character and the way he presented himself allowed many other superstars to push forward and break their own glass ceiling, leading to successful futures for notable performers such as Daniel Bryan and The Miz. Every disgruntled employee across the globe could relate to Punk's attitude, which therefore allowed his points to resonate with a vast majority of the WWE Universe.