WWE: 15 Memorable Staples Center Moments

4. Summerslam 2009 - The Rise of CM Punk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgxtGOa7ifc By now, the Staples Center had become an important part of WWE€™s yearly touring schedule. Taking full advantage of the place being free of most sports in the summer, WWE decided to make LA its official home of the biggest party of the summer, Summerslam. 2009 was the first year that WWE made themselves at home, and they kicked it off in style. In the evening€™s main event, the Straight Edge Superstar CM Punk took on his nemesis Jeff Hardy in Jeff€™s specialty the TLC match. Stemming from animosity that arose when CM Punk cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase on Hardy, things took a turn for the worse when CM Punk took exception to the difference in lifestyle choices between he and Hardy. In this match, CM Punk cemented his place in the WWE main event picture by putting on an amazing show with Jeff. It involved some massive stunts, including Jeff€™s trademark Swanton from a huge ladder. It was CM Punk however who took the win, after shoving Jeff off the ladder just as he had the World Title in his grasp. Probably the turning point in CM Punk€™s WWE career, this match was a fitting main event for Summerslam and also a fitting farewell for Jeff who left the WWE soon after. In other major happenings on the show, DX made a massive entrance in a tank before facing and beating Legacy, while Randy Orton beat John Cena in a good title match. Elsewhere, Dolph Ziggler and Rey Mysterio had a highly entertaining match in the opening slot of the night.