Despite losing his Undisputed WWE Championship to Sami Zayn during the September 11 edition of SmackDown, CM Punk has earned significant recognition from the company. WWE recently highlighted the most intense rivalries of the 2020s, placing the fierce 2024 feud between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre at the top of its list. That rivalry reached its peak at Bad Blood, where Punk secured a major victory over McIntyre in a high-stakes Hell in a Cell match.
The championship landscape on the blue brand remains fluid. Sami Zayn, who previously held the title for a nine-day stint after winning it at Night of Champions 2026, regained the championship earlier this month. His initial victory came after Kevin Owens interfered in a match, accidentally hitting Punk with the title and allowing Zayn to land a decisive Helluva Kick. Seeking retribution this past Friday, Punk struck Owens with the championship belt during a match against Zayn, though the interference ultimately helped The Great Liberator retain his position as champion.
Outside of the title picture, CM Punk continues to draw attention from other locker room figures. Dominik Mysterio recently aimed criticism at the veteran, calling him a poor person during a Netflix Hot Ones Extra Heat appearance hosted by Sean Evans. This comment comes shortly after Mysterio’s own recent setback, where he lost the AAA Mega Championship to El Grande Americano at TripleMania 34.
Looking ahead, Mysterio is set to participate in a high-stakes Money in the Bank qualifying match on RAW, an encounter announced by General Manager Adam Pearce that will feature Solo Sikoa and Dragon Lee. As for Punk, fans remain eager to see how the company navigates his next chapter on SmackDown following his recent title change. The report also notes that WWE shared a video ranking the “nastiest” rivalries of the 2020s so far. The report also notes that the two stars had an incredible feud in 2024 that culminated in The Best in the World defeating McIntyre in a Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood. The report also notes that he captured the title at Night of Champions 2026 but only held it for nine days before losing to Punk. The report also notes that you can check out the top five in the post below. The report also notes that evans interviewed several stars and asked them to describe Punk.
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