CM Punk

[10.0] "If my rating was based on this year I'd probably give him a 5 or a 6 since he does feel a bit washed. But since this is based on his all time run as a wrestler, it's an easy 10. One of the best on the mic ever and a good in ring worker. His storytelling ability is fantastic and his unpredictability on the mic is what makes him so unique."

[7.0] "The best wrestler in the microphone.Although he has good in ring skills but his mic work will always be remembered.Nobidy can ever forget his pipebomb and his epic rivalry with the likes of John Cena, Rock, Seth Rollins, Mark Henry, Jeff Hardy.He always tries to improve."

[8.0] "Best in mic worst in wrestling... IDK but i still love him if he hadn't quit wrestling to try himself in the UFC, he could've been better. but i understand he wants to prove himself to everyone."

[10.0] ""CM Punk is one of the most incredible superstars in WWE history. His in-ring ability, storytelling, and charisma are unmatched. Every match he steps into feels intense and memorable, and his presence alone elevates the entire show. From his technical skills to his ability to connect with the crowd, Punk consistently delivers performances that are nothing short of amazing. Without a doubt, he deserves a 10/10 for everything he brings to the ring and the legacy he has created.""

[10.0] "Top 5 for me. I love roh punk so much and he is really inspirational to me. Straight edge is forever (minor threat reference)"

[4.0] "On the mic he's an 8, in the ring he's a 3. He's never been very athletic and has always looked awkward in his movements. He's good at doing a more storytelling based match which is the heart of pro wrestling. As a person he's a 0. The single biggest problem with him is his fans. A comment on Instagram some time ago summed it up perfectly "This man can never do any wrong". Punk is a wrestling populist and he knows this and capitalizes perfectly on the fans who are incapable of examining his behavior critically. His ring conditioning since he returned in 2021 is atrocious. He's finally at a pace where he's exhausted at 15-20 minutes into his matches instead of 5-10 but he insists on having 30 minute "epics" where he sits on his ass to recover at various points."

"He isnt a good wrestler but hes good on the mic, thats all I can really say, he has the best theme song in the wwe, Living Colour's Cult of Personality is amazing. I really really like it so so much, wow"

[10.0] "One of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time and my personal favorite. CM Punk has been one of the most entertaining guys to watch from the days of ROH to his early run in wwe to the record breaking championship run to even the run in AEW."

[8.0] "Punk has established himself as such a prominent figure in wrestling that crowds were chanting his name ppv after ppv in the WWE before he made his amazing return (which I find to be the best in WWE's history). You can tell how experienced he is by his in ring psychology and minimal botches, and his storytelling is on another level as seen in his feuds with McIntyre, Cena and Hardy. Also his entrance themes are some of the best ever, this fire burns and cult of personality are absolute bangers, his mic work is also second to none. However, he's never been best in ring with a somewhat limited moveset. His temper problems have been an issue as seen in many videos and fan interactions. Overall he has influenced the wrestling world in a positive way and by winning the world heavyweight title in the most recent snme he will Continue his great work since his return"

[8.0] "One of the more memorable personalities to say the least, Punk is a very solid wrestler and even better promo, I have nothing but appreciation for Punk's talent and skills."

[10.0] "One of the more undeniable, and certainly most influential of his time. Top 3 mic worker in the history of the company, great in ring when he was younger and at 47 now he stills finds ways to tell a great story in the ring with whatever his body will allow of him. A polarizing, yet sturdy cornerstone of modern wrestling, whether you lover or hate him."

[10.0] "CM Punk. jego nie trzeba przedstawiac. Buntownik który nie boi sie powiedziec komus w twarz co mysli."

[5.0] "I'm gong with a 5 because his early career was great. CM Punk had some of the best matches and best feuds in early ROH. His 2011-2013 WWE run was legendary. He could get a 10 if he were that person today, or if he had just never come back to wrestling, Since his debut in AEW and continuing into his current WWE run, he's been a sloppy, unsafe, pre-madonna. A lot of people talk about his promo skills, but even those aren't as good as they were 10 to 15 years ago."

[7.0] "Good, but vastly overrated in the ring. I think his strength lies in his promo skills, and while not bad in the ring, I don't think he was ever close to being what he thinks he is. I also don't think his promos are quite as good as his fans think they are, but I understand he's divisive and that the people who love him LOVE him."

[10.0] "CM Punk is one of the most important wrestlers of all time. His charisma, mic skills, and in-ring storytelling are unmatched. A true legend who changed the business forever."

[4.0] "CM Punk is one of the most overhyped wrestlers ever. He's ruined the momentum of many careers, doesn't actually have the in-ring ability to back up his claims, and yet keeps pushing himself as the "best in the world." The reality is, most of his reputation is built on promos and controversy, not actual wrestling skill. The backstage hate he gets is more than justified, because he constantly stirs drama wherever he goes. His so-called anti-establishment persona is nothing more than a gimmick, because at the end of the day he's just selling that image to grab the biggest paycheck possible."

[10.0] "Truly best in the world, he's one of the few people that can clown prime cena, change the game with his mic work, very outspoken but to a point of getting way out of the line, I'm glad he's change for the better now, still going strong to this day, and he always show his support for the ladies"

"CM Punk is one of the most influential wrestlers of the modern era. His outspoken personality, sharp promos, and unmatched storytelling ability helped shift the industry during the "Pipebomb" era. He proved that a wrestler could break through on authenticity and attitude rather than fitting a traditional mold. Whether fans love him or hate him, his impact on wrestling is undeniable and his legacy is already cemented."

[10.0] "My second favorite wrestling. He is a well rounder that can have a great match with everyone and tells amazing promos. This man made John Cena's heel run entertaining for a few seconds. That's great and all, but the real reason I love him is because he made AEW watchable for a few seconds. Everything Punk did in AEW was the best that the company has done. And then he left and now AEW deserves to die. He truly is the modern day best in the world."

[10.0] "Wrestling is so much better when CM Punk is around. It's truly amazing that even at his age he is still putting in elite performances in the ring. Just one of the many pros that he never relied on athleticism & mainly in ring storytelling"

[10.0] "Love him or hate him, you can't deny that CM Punk is one of the most important wrestlers in history. Single-handedly rejuvenating the industry with his notorious Pipebomb Promo was good enough, but he was amazing long before that. Bringing some life to the stale WWECW, but long before that, his work on the independent circuit and most crucially in Ring Of Honour, having a legendary trilogy with Samoa Joe over the company's top title, to the point that their second encounter, which had the event named after themselves, gained the first match in seven years to take place in North America and earn five stars by Dave Meltzer. Then, at MITB 2011, he'd have yet another classic with John Cena, earning him another five stars, some even saying that one match got them back into wrestling. While he was mishandled from there, eventually walking out on WWE, I believe that he's shone since his AEW return in 2021 and his WWE return in 2023, putting on some of the best matches of his entire career against MJF and Drew McIntyre respectively, and continuing to prove everyone why he's an all-time great. Best In The World? Not in my books, but top 5 ain't bad at all."

[10.0] "Not the guy who made me fall in love with wrestling, but it certainly was the one that made he care about it so much. Not much more I can say that haven't been said from Punk already, great wrestler, easily my favorite wrestler in the mic as he can do a promo for any situation. The pipe-bomb left a mark on me and made me a CM Punk mark, and seeing him returning to wrestling was a dream come true. His great career just shows how important this guys is for wrestling, and I will always be a fan. I gotta add, as of 2025, it hurts a little to know that maybe Punk was never the voice of the voiceless in WWE. Seeing some snippets from Unreal and just the things he got himself into, that veil certainly is off, and maybe my younger self is sad about this, but still one of my favorites of all time."

[10.0] "One of the greatest to ever do it. Not only did he have an insane match catalogue before he left WWE. But since his return he's on one hell of a run too. His matches are incredible. His promos work is incredible. His character is one of the coolest I'm WWE. What a terrific performer."

[10.0] "Truly the best in the world even at his age. An all around talent that can do & make anything work from in ring, mic work & storyline builds. One of the greatest minds wrestling has ever seen"

[10.0] "One of the best and arguably the most influential wrestler of his generation. One of the biggest draws, biggest names and biggest influences over the past 10+ years. In ring a great wrestler, not as athletic as a Bryan Danielson etc but still one of the best and can have great technical bouts, story driven matches or brawls. One of the best of all time on the mic too.."

[9.0] "Okay, so Punk is without a doubt my favorite wrestler of all time. His ability to sell a story and a gimmick throughout his time in the WWE was truly unmatched, with his in-ring ability and stamina leaving little to be desired as well. The personal elements, frankly, I think also make him a defining Wrestler of an era that has been all about truly blending kayfabe and reality, something he has done second to none. Lastly, I would emphasize that his WWE arrival came at the perfect time to help shape the defining feud of the defining superstar of this era (Cena feud 2011-13)."

[8.0] "Modern-day CM Punk is still a marvel to watch. He was one of my favorite professional wrestlers growing up and had me tuned in every single week during the progressively degrading PG Era of WWE. Despite going into his 50s, Punk manages to stay very consistent despite the lessening in-ring matches due to age / injuries. Everytime he steps into the ring, the air changes. Even though, he's lost some of his aura. CM Punk manages to be the talk of the town when he shows up on television and I have HIGH hopes for his feud with GUNTHER."

[10.0] "Greatest wrestler ever. No question. Even in his 40's he's still having bangers. The crowds still scream for him, he's still a draw. He's great. I don't think I'm ever ready for him to retire."

[10.0] "Rating one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time lower than a 8 because of what he says on podcasts and interviews about saudi arabia and AEW, or whatever backstage beefs he gets into makes you a soft ass dork and a disingenuous blowhard, not gonna hold you. If people were to get out their feelings because they use twitter all day and have nothing better to do, you'd realize that his talent is once in a lifetime. And really this is a website for rating talent, not whether or not someone agrees with your views. Saying Punk is a wrestling populist and he knows this and capitalizes perfectly on the fans who are incapable of examining his career and behavior critically is hilarious to say considering this is a review about his talent and not his behavior, and the clear bias to create an entire review just to shit on someone's fanbase is literally a glass stones cliche in itself. The term Punk derangement syndrome comes to mind and if it's your perogative to edit a cagematch rating because someone wrote mean things about you, you go ahead and do that my friend, maybe get off the internet while you're at it. ?"

[6.0] "He's an all-timer on the microphone, but his ring work has never been anything to write home about. He's been able to build up some epic matches via promos and booking, but they're never up to expectations. The longer his career goes on, the more it diminishes his overall legacy. Hard to really call him "Punk" anymore at this point."

[8.0] "One of the most polarizing and controversial wrestlers in the last 2 decades. My rating reflects on Punk's ability to change the narrative on what a wrestler should look like and should act like, when he appeared on the scene in WWE, no one would have believed that he would be one of the most watchable stars the company has ever had. He isn't the "Best in the world" and never has been, but he is very good at what he does and that is entertaining the fans, whether in the ring or on the mic."

[7.0] "Two points off for Saudi hypocrisy. And, really, for all the controversy surrounding him, sometimes it feels like he just might not be worth the trouble. He's phenomenal when he's good, but he's too much of a flashpoint for shit discourse for the kind of matches he ultimately has."

"Call a spade a spade. 10s aren't realistic. He doesn't have the acumen to support a 10. Mic ability? Sure-- BUT WHAT, ARE YOU NEW? Obviously. CM wasn't Chicago-Made, Chi-Man, or, or even Chick Magnet. No! In today's age, the man goes by COMPANY MAN Punk. And he'll have to live with that, as will you, for a man that goes back on all he says. He's the GHOAT-- GREATEST HYPOCRITE OF ALL TIME. I'll say it again for ya so it really sits under your skin: GREATEST HYPOCRITE OF ALL TIME. ------ and you know what the greatest part is? for someone who's past Levels 1-99 of morality and self-awareness, sure, you might say, 'Oh, well Positive, it's so easy to just sit there and criticize someone under the limelight when you're just sittin there flappin yer gu'-- see, that's where you're wrong. Because NEVER in MY and MANY of our lives, the ones that SEE THROUGH Brooks, have committed as many mistakes and claims he has that he just could not deliver on. Call him a changed man for apologizing to the Saudi fans. Really, though? I mean, he's near 50 and he couldn't even make the pull for himself to be off that show? You cannot tell me he wasn't forced to go there. And of course, being who he is today, he did not fight back. That's not who he is. I'm not sure that that's who he ever was. (((And, P.S., all the 10s here would rate Eddie Kingston a 0 for all the wrong reasons. Get real or get out of this world.)))"

[10.0] "Right, because a guy who made indie wrestling relevant again, forced a billion-dollar company to acknowledge reality on live TV, and made arenas explode just by sitting cross-legged clearly isn't worth a 10. The guy dragged wrestling out of its scripted coma and made fans believe in characters who don't talk like robots. Every time he touches a mic, it matters. Every feud feels personal. Every match is layered. But sure, let's pretend workrate is all that matters. Punk doesn't just wrestle he shifts the mood of the entire industry when he's on. You don't have to like him, but if you don't respect what he's done, you're either not paying attention or you just don't get it. Either way, he's the goat!"

[10.0] "CM Punk is one of the most influential and game-changing wrestlers of the modern era. He broke through the glass ceiling not with size or politics but with sheer talent, mic skills, and an unmatched understanding of storytelling. Whether it was Ring of Honor, WWE, or AEW, he always made you care. He made wrestling feel real when it needed it the most. From the Pipebomb to the dog collar match, from the straight edge savior to the voice of the voiceless, his work always felt personal and deliberate. He brought passion, unpredictability, and authenticity in a way very few ever have. Love him or hate him, you were never indifferent to CM Punk. That's the mark of a true legend"

[10.0] "Punk and Cena: the two greatest on the mic, the best rivalry in wrestling history, and my two-headed GOAT. Out of the two, Punk might be a bit better in the ring. He genuinely elevates any program/feud he's in. Everyone saying he's not one of the greatest is biased because of personal/outside-of-the-ring issues, which should never be taken seriously/be a metric for these things."

[5.0] "First of all, I don't think anyone deserves a perfect 10. And if anyone deserves it, CM Punk is not the wrestler. I am not talking about any bullcrap bts or his contradiction of everything he has said about WWEs morale compass and now he is all on board. Yes he is one of the best mic workers of all time and that can not be argued. But remember during his famous pipebomb promo he also said he was the best in that ring and nobody could touch him. That just is not true. It wasn't true then and it is not true now. I'm referring to him in his prime not 2025 Punk. He's never been very fast or that agile. His technical skills are limited to minimal jujitsu training. I fully agree with what Bobby Fish said about his striking. Watching a wrestling sell his kicks and chops is honestly just sad. None of his other moves are that smooth either. His GTS looked good only about half the time. I hate saying bad things about a wrestler but when you say your the best in the world there should be a good argument not zero argument."

[4.0] "Let me say at the beginning what I'll say at the end: CM Punk may be the best wrestler in the world (by his own claim), but he's definitely not the best wrestler in the world. There is no other name that has been so overrated because he has a good microphone. He is truly a terrible man and the only reason he has been able to hold on to the industry so long is because of his microphone. Although, if we are going to blame Punk for this, Vince is also to blame for bringing the entertainment side of things and making things worse. All I can say is that CM Punk is a truly terrible wrestler and is at the top today thanks to his acting skills."

[10.0] "My all-time favorite. When I started to watch WWE, I was really enjoyed by everything what he does and still doing(except for his UFC run xD, but he tried and should be respected by that I think). Match with Cena, gimmick changes, pipe-b etc. Maybe he's not very good person, but as wrestler he's really great. I don't really care about his problems with others and sad ending in AEW, I was happy to see him back in WWE and waiting him to win WWE title again, but he's still great without it."

[10.0] "CM Punk is one of the most charismatic and authentic wrestlers WWE has ever seen. What sets him apart is his ability to blend solid technical wrestling with impeccable promos delivered with sincerity that resonates with the audience. In the ring, Punk is a storytelling master: he knows how to use every strike, every reaction, to tell a captivating story, whether as a face or heel. His versatility is remarkable, able to adapt to all styles and atmospheres. Punk is never afraid to take risks to build tension, which shows in his most memorable matches. Despite ups and downs in his career, his impact on modern wrestling is undeniable, and his influence is still felt today among many wrestlers"

[10.0] "CM Punk is everything today's wrestlers pretend to be but can't even imitate. He talks better than your favorite, wrestles smarter than your favorite, and gets bigger reactions sitting cross-legged than others get diving off ladders. A 10 because he actually earned it."

[0.0] "CM Punk wrestling at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia is the most hypocritical move he's made in a career full of contradictions. This is the same guy who spent years branding himself as the anti-corporate rebel, the voice of the voiceless, the one who stood up to WWE's greed and hypocrisy. He walked out in 2014 claiming moral high ground, trashed the company and its leadership, and even mocked part-timers for chasing paydays. Now he's the part-timer, cashing a check in a country he once indirectly criticized for its human rights record and propaganda-driven shows. For someone who used to preach about values and real change, this screams of opportunism. Punk fans always saw him as the last honest man in wrestling but now he's just another name on a poster, chasing money in a place he would've torn apart in one of his infamous pipebombs."

[10.0] "In my eyes, one of the most influential talent in wrestling in the Past decade. Punk has one of the best minds for the business. Every feud he has will be memorable, every promo of his is believable and he understands how to work a match with perfect psychology more than just the moves. He was never the most athletic, but his matches are remembered because of the stories he manages to tell both in promos and in the matches themself. His return to wrestling and later to WWE were some of the biggest moment in wrestling ever.He's 46 now, one of the biggest stars in wrestling and the crowd loves him, no matter where he is.Even in AEW, he created what was by far their best feud ever against MJF.But he wasn't the right guy to be on top there. Overall, He's one of my favourite packages as a professional wrestler as a whole."

[9.0] "Probably the best mic worker of all time. I am just not a fan of him, because of all the dramas and stuff, but his talent is undeniable."

[7.0] "Punk in his prime was one of my favorites to watch and an easy 9, or 10 on a good day, but in recent years I feel like his work has gotten watered down. While I still love his older work, his modern work is dragged down by an air of drama and his age catching up to him. There are glimmers of the wrestler he used to be when the feud calls for it, but his contemporaries not being on his level on the mic means it often feels like he's dumbing himself down to not outshine those around him. Will always love the work he once did though."

[6.0] "I had taken a hiatus from wrestling from 2004-2015 so when CM Punk arrived in AEW in 2021, he was relatively new to me. Him having taken 7 years off from "the place that got him sick in the first place" gave him an air legitimacy and unwavering conviction that was intoxicating because he had tangibly shown that he's willing to let the world burn for his principles. In-ring, he was probably in the lowest 25th percentile in AEW. But it didn't matter because his authenticity captured your imagination and you wanted to reward him for sticking to his principles. Even though his stature took a hit thru Brawl Out & Brawl In, Punk maintained the feeling of legitimacy and a path back to greatness. When he got fired and went back to WWE, his "principles" looked as though they were bending but you wanted to excuse it as "he had no place left". Then you find out that before he ever signed with AEW, he was trying to go back to "the place that made him sick in the first place" while Vince McMahon was in charge and the vision you had of this guy that allowed you to excuse his sloppy in-ring was instantly deflated. So what are you left with? Phil Brooks, a guy who's a tremendous public speaker and a mediocre pro wrestler who feels like the fakest person in the building. And in the world of pro wrestling, think of ground that covers. Unfortunately in 2024, Punk is barely serviceable in the ring without a ton of smoke and mirrors. On the mic, hes as good a speaker as hes ever been. But his words carry less weight than ever. The magic of Punk was that he had an unwavering conviction that youre convinced is real. Hes been reduced to a good, not great, character whose appeal draws in large part out of being a curiosity. Thats the gentlest I can put it. But you have to give him credit for his past work. Who knows, maybe Punk will manage to find that guy again, if even for one night."

"CM Punk is one of the most influential wrestlers of the modern era. His mic skills, in-ring psychology, and ability to connect with the audience are top-tier. Whether it's delivering a classic promo or telling a compelling story in the ring, Punk consistently brings passion and intensity. His legacy speaks for itself, and his return runs show he's still got it. A true standout in wrestling history."

"While not one of my favorite wrestlers, Punk has basically everything you could ever want. Charisma, athleticism, and a knack for the temperature of the room, he delivers at a main event level consistently throughout his career."

[10.0] "One of the most well rounded wrestlers ever. He is great at everything. The biggest draw of his era, so popular he had crowds chanting his name for almost a decade after he "retired"."

[9.0] "Maybe the most influential indie wrestler ever. CM Punk is a big success story of ROH and indie wrestling in general. However my rating is exclusively for his WWE work and I have to say that while he might not be the goat, he comes pretty close to that distinction. CM Punk is great in-ring and for me, maybe the best promo guy ever in wrestling history or at least Top 3. Punk has had great rivalries with the likes of Jeff Hardy, Drew Mcintyre, Rey Mysterio , Edge etc but none of them reach the level of excitement quite like the way his rivalry with John Cena does. Punk even today is doing some great work with Seth Rollins and looks solid in-ring, having more emphasis on storytelling rather than technicality. His connection with the fans is on the level of John Cena and his 434-day reign was one of the most memorable reigns in the title's history. Despite all of this, there is still something that doesn't let me give him a ten. I don't know whether it was WWE's booking or his own actions, or the fact that he rarely main evented ppv's despite being the world champ, making me believe that he was not the top guy in Vince's eyes. He was mistreated and should have main evented WrestleMania earlier, but nonetheless, Remarkable talent. I might change my rating in the future but for now its a 9"