The Best Matches of CM Punk at WWE WrestleMania

#4. CM Punk vs. Randy Orton at WrestleMania 27 

After John Cena defeated Wade Barrett at TLC 2010, The Nexus underwent a leadership change with CM Punk taking over the reins.  This laid the foundation for “The New Nexus.” As had been their strategy throughout 2010, the faction used the numbers game to take out the top babyfaces.

However, Randy Orton found a way around this conundrum. The Apex Predator systematically destroyed the New Nexus by removing members one by one. To accomplish this goal, he used the Punt Kick to great effect. By the time WrestleMania 27 came around, Punk was all alone.

Fans do not fondly remember WrestleMania 27, but it did have a few good matches in the undercard. Punk vs. Orton was one of the more enjoyable encounters of the night. If WWE had given them more time, both men could have taken it to the next level. Nonetheless, they did a decent job, keeping the crowd invested in the action.

The night ended on a sour note for the Chicago Native. Orton landed the RKO out of nowhere to pin Punk and win the match. The leader of the New Nexus had done all the hard work, but Orton caught him off guard to steal the win.

#3. CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho at WrestleMania 28

When it comes to hype and mainstream appeal, WrestleMania 28 is difficult to top. You had The Rock vs. John Cena in a “Once in a Lifetime” dream match, and The Undertaker vs. Triple H locked inside Hell in a Cell to close the chapter of an iconic era in WWE. However, there was yet another criminally underrated gem on the card: CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho.

Punk and Jericho are two of the most charismatic Superstars of their era. Furthermore, both men are incredible on the mic. Thus, the build to their epic WWE Title clash was intense. Y2J brought up Punk’s relationship with his family, berating the champion’s father for his struggles. Jericho even attacked Punk with a wine bottle.

At WrestleMania 28, they finally locked horns in a competitive match that told a great story. Y2J played his mind games by mentioning Punk’s family, causing The Best in the World to lose his cool and nearly get himself disqualified. There were some innovative reversals and plenty of near-falls. Nonetheless, Punk forced Jericho to submit to the Anaconda Vice to retain the WWE Title.

#2. Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth “Freakin” Rollins at WrestleMania 41: Night One

The time had finally come. CM Punk was heading into the main event of WrestleMania. However, Punk stood across two of his greatest adversaries: Roman Reigns and Seth “Freakin” Rollins. The build centred around mutual hatred, but Paul Heyman’s true allegiance added another layer of intrigue.

Heyman accompanied Punk at Mania, while Reigns walked alone. Considering the history and stipulations, the match was as violent as it could be. All three men went back and forth, and the ringside was a mess as Heyman looked on cautiously. However, the true twist came in the closing moments of the Triple Threat.

The Father of ECW first betrayed Punk and handed the steel chair to his Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. Unfortunately for the OTC, Heyman wasn’t done. The Hall of Famer hit a low blow on Reigns, allowing Rollins to capitalize and win the match. Thus, Heyman’s betrayal set the foundation for the birth of the Vision.

#1. CM Punk vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania 29

Widely considered as the last great Undertaker WrestleMania match (excluding the Boneyard match with AJ Styles), The Undertaker vs. CM Punk at WrestleMania 29 was the saving grace of an underwhelming show. In addition to being the match of the night, it also had an intriguing background story, special entrances, and the crowd’s undivided interest.

The feud picked up steam with Paul Bearer’s unfortunate passing. For weeks, Punk and Heyman mocked the Father of Destruction and stole Taker’s urn. Although it felt as if Punk’s actions were in bad taste, they were effective in building heel heat. Nonetheless, Taker looked vulnerable heading into Mania.

As for the match, it was an instant classic. Punk was portrayed as Taker’s equal and got some offense early in the match. Highlights included an Elbow Drop on the announce table, Taker sitting up from the Anaconda Vice, and the sequence of finishers towards the end. Despite putting up a fight, Punk lost after eating one last Tombstone Piledriver.