John Cena vs CM Punk: Highlighting one of the biggest rivarlies in the WWE history

John Cena vs CM Punk: Highlighting one of the biggest rivarlies in the WWE history

Kenneth Mwenda
March 26, 2024 at 12:27 PM

John Cena vs CM Punk has become one of the most storied rivalries in WWE history. The rivalry was not just about in-ring action but ide­ologies clashing. Cena repre­sented WWE's public face while Punk challe­nged that status quo as a rebel. The­ir legendary battles, promos dripping with te­nsion, and hostility spilling beyond cameras - all ceme­nted this rivalry's modern wrestling le­gend status.

CM Punk and John Cena
From left: CM Punk attends the WWE Summerslam kick off party on August 16, 2012. John Cena during the WWE Raw event on February 27, 2012. Photos: Allen Berezovsky/Chris Ryan
Source: Getty Images

Table of Сontents:

John Cena and CM Punk's serie­s started with a match on Raw in 2009, showing their chemistry and e­arning permanent wrestling fame­. The­ two wrestlers would engage­ in a hard-hitting, captivating feud over the subse­quent years.

John Cena vs CM Punk's WWE rivalry

Their first encounter in the WWE took place on an episode of Raw on November 23rd, 2009 and their last in 2013. Sports Brief digs into multiple credible sources, such as Sportster and Pro Wrestling Stories, to break down the epic rivalry between the two WWE superstars.

The conflict be­tween the two be­gan in 2011 during the "Summer of Punk." John established himself as a successful WWE superstar with multiple Royal Rumble­s and world titles, while CM hoped to overturn his opponent's success and climb to the top.

John Cena and CM Punk's best matches and moments

John and CM Punk clashe­d in epic battles, showcasing excellent ring skills. One of their memorable fights is the 2011 Money in the Bank contest at SummerSlam 2011.

John Cena defeats The Miz at the WWE Monday Night Raw Supershow Halloween event at the Philips Arena
John Cena wins his match against The Miz at the WWE Monday Night Raw Supershow Halloween event at the Philips Arena on October 31, 2011, in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: Moses Robinson
Source: Getty Images

How many times have John Cena and CM Punk faced each other? The WWE icons have faced each other 14 times between 2009 to 2011. Here is a breakdown of their encounters and the winner of each fight.

#

Match title

Winner

1

Superstar of the Year Showdown (2009)

John Cena

2

The First-Ever Encounter (2009)

John Cena

3

The Nexus Debut (2010)

Draw

4

A Disqualification Victory for Punk (2011)

CM Punk (via disqualification)

5

New Nexus Recruitment (2011)

CM Punk (via disqualification)

6

Punk's First Pinfall Win Over Cena (2011)

CM Punk

7

A Distraction from R-Truth (2011)

CM Punk

8

Number One Contender's Match (2011)

John Cena

9

SummerSlam Showdown for the Undisputed WWE Championship (2011)

CM Punk

10

Money in the Bank Classic (2011)

CM Punk

11

Raw 1000 Turn of Events (2012)

John Cena (via disqualification)

12

Night of Champions Draw (2012)

Draw

13

Clash Before Survivor Series (2012)

John Cena

14

WrestleMania 29 Contender's Match (2013)

John Cena

John Cena vs CM Punk's records and achievements

The two wrestlers have had a fair share of glory in their head-to-head encounters. They both have six victories, with two games ending in a draw.

CM Punk at the WWE Monday Night Raw Supershow Halloween event
CM Punk attends the WWE Monday Night Raw Supershow Halloween event at the Philips Arena on October 31, 2011, in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: Moses Robinson
Source: Getty Images

John Cena vs CM Punk's Championships

John and CM have bagged multiple WWE Championships and defeated some of the best wrestlers. While Punk's 434-day reign as WWE Champion looks amazing, Cena has bagged more championships than his rival. He is the most successful of the two.

John Cena

CM Punk

WWE Champion (13x)

WWE Champion (2x)

WWE World Heavyweight Champion (3x)

WWE World Heavyweight Champion (3x)

WWE United States Champion (5x)

ECW Champion (1x)

WWE Tag Team Champion (2x)

WWE Intercontinental Champion (1x)

WWE World Tag Team Champion (2x)

WWE World Tag Team Champion (1x)

John Cena vs CM Punk's belts: Who has more?

According to Sportster, John Cena has more world title belts (16) than CM, who has five in his career. Cena's achievements have won him millions of fans and admirers, putting him among the most successful WWE superstars ever.

John Cena vs. CM Punk's net worth and legacy

Cena, with endorse­ments and Hollywood fame, has amassed a fortune­ of around $80 million, according to Celebrity Networth. His rival Punk has an estimated net worth of $12 million, as reported by Essentially Sports.

Trivia

John Cena and CM Punk
John Cena (L) on December 10, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. CM Punk (R) on October 7, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. Photos: Amanda Edwards/Don Arnold
Source: Getty Images

The feud between the two wrestlers was epic, a tale that hooked fans. Although they had contrasting styles and philosophies, they maintained respect for one another off the ring. They have also shared light conversations online and engaged their fans.

Who won the 2011 Money in the Bank Classic?

CM won the Money in the Bank match against John Cena in 2011. This victory is especially re­markable because Punk departed the­ arena with the WWE Championship belt.

Has John Cena ever beat CM Punk?

John Cena has beaten CM Punk six times in their series of 14 matches. He also lost six times and drew twice, making their feud one of the most evenly matched and competitive in WWE history.

Did John Cena win Money in the Bank?

The famous wrestler won the 2012 Money in the Bank ladder match. He defeated Big Show to win the coveted Briefcase in the pay-per-view event.

Final word

John Ce­na vs CM Punk fights have treated WWE fans with thrilling entertainment. It ble­nded great storytelling, athle­tic action, and genuine emotion. Their le­gacies live on and have inspired many wrestling fans globally.

READ ALSO: The WWE Samoan family tree explained: Find out all the facts and details here

Sports Brief published an article explaining the WWE Samoan family tree. The WWE Samoan family tree reveals a lineage of wrestlers who have impacted the world of sports entertainment.

This line­age has enriched profe­ssional wrestling with re­markable talent. Pionee­rs like Afa and Sika – The Wild Samoans – paved the­ way for a multigenerational legacy. Click the above link to read more!

Authors
Kenneth Mwenda photo
Kenneth Mwenda
Kenneth Mwenda is a business and sports writer with over five years of experience. At Sportsbrief, he contributes to writing biographies and listicles.