http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JazCKp_6beo It's hard to top something like this one. CM Punk was in his hometown in Chicago and it was known that his contract had expired. We didn't know for sure if he signed an extension or not. Despite the fact that he had been a heel for a few years prior, he was a hero to the people of Chicago. It said it right there on a sign at ringside: "If Cena wins we riot." It's not the first or last time we'd see a sign like that, but in this building we could believe it. The atmosphere for this match was unlike anything we've seen in WWE for a long time. It was also came at a time when the WWE product had gotten a bit stale because years like 2009 and 2010 weren't that great. Then CM Punk delivered his infamous speech in Las Vegas in June of 2011 and that set up this match. Cena walked into the match as WWE Champion in an environment that was strongly against him. When you watch the beginning of this match again, all you will hear is nonstop noise for a period of about four minutes straight. Chicago's crowd didn't shut up for the 45 minutes that Punk and Cena were out there. They were into it as if this was the last match they were going to see it. It felt more real than any pro wrestling match you'll ever see just because if Punk lost there really may have been that riot. The match was incredible. It was the 2011 match of the year. You could make the case that it was one of the 10 best matches in WWE history. It's that good. They each kicked out of everything the other had. For the finish, Vince McMahon walked out with John Laurianitis. They didn't want Punk to win because he might walk out with the WWE Title. McMahon wanted to ring the bell early, but Cena didn't want it that way. When Cena went back in the ring to face Punk, Punk met him with a GTS and he won the WWE Title. Post match, the ovation didn't stop. It got even louder. Chicago was marking out over the fact that their hometown hero was the WWE Champion and the fact that it infuriated Vince McMahon made them love it even more. Punk managed to escape with the WWE Title in his possession and then he left through the crowd with the people - his people - of Chicago.
John wrote at WhatCulture from December 2013 to December 2015. It was fun, but it's over for now. Follow him on Twitter @johnreport. You can also send an email to mrjohncanton@gmail.com with any questions or comments as well.