History of CM Punk in Timeline
Phillip Jack Brooks, known as CM Punk, is an American professional wrestler currently signed with WWE's Raw brand. He is considered one of the greatest and most influential wrestlers. His 434-day WWE Championship reign is the seventh-longest in history.
October 26, 1978: Phillip Jack Brooks Born
On October 26, 1978, Phillip Jack Brooks, known as CM Punk, was born. He is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE.
October 25, 1997: Debut Match in LWF
On October 25, 1997, CM Punk had his debut match in the Lunatic Wrestling Federation, defeating Brawn the Lumberjack.
1997: Began Professional Wrestling Career
In 1997, CM Punk started his professional wrestling career on the independent circuit.
1997: Mention of the Montreal Screwjob
In August 2009, CM Punk defeated The Undertaker in a submission match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship, the match was eerily reminiscent to the Montreal Screwjob, which took place in the same venue in 1997.
1997: First WWE Match to receive a five-star rating
In June 2011, CM Punk won a match that received a five-star rating from Dave Meltzer, which was the first WWE match to receive such a rating since 1997.
1997: Hell in a Cell
The last match to receive a five-star rating from Dave Meltzer was the first-ever Hell in a Cell match between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker at Badd Blood: In Your House in 1997.
1999: Wrestling at Steel Domain Wrestling
In 1999, CM Punk began wrestling at Steel Domain Wrestling in St. Paul, Minnesota, as part of his training.
September 18, 2002: NWA: TNA Debut
On September 18, 2002, CM Punk debuted for NWA: Total Nonstop Action with Ace Steel, defeating Derek Wylde and Jimmy Rave and The Hot Shots in a three-way match.
November 9, 2002: ROH In-Ring Debut
On November 9, 2002, CM Punk made his in-ring debut for ROH at All Star Extravaganza in a gauntlet match won by Bryan Danielson.
2002: IWC Heavyweight Champion
In 2002, CM Punk became the International Wrestling Cartel (IWC) Heavyweight Champion in Monroeville, Pennsylvania.
2002: Signed with Ring of Honor
In 2002, CM Punk signed with Ring of Honor (ROH) where he later won the ROH World Championship.
July 2003: Protest Against IWA Mid-South
From July 2003 until May 2004, CM Punk refused to wrestle for IWA Mid-South, reportedly as a protest to Ian Rotten's mistreatment of Chris Hero.
November 2003: Feud with Raven Concluded
In November 2003, CM Punk defeated Raven in a steel cage match at The Conclusion, settling their feud.
2003: Return to TNA and The Gathering
In mid-2003, CM Punk returned to TNA, simultaneously wrestling for Ring of Honor, and was paired with Julio Dinero in Raven's stable, The Gathering.
February 25, 2004: Scuffle with Teddy Hart
On February 25, 2004, CM Punk had a physical scuffle with Teddy Hart outside of a restaurant before an NWA: TNA show.
March 2004: Quit TNA
In March 2004, CM Punk officially quit TNA during the Rob Feinstein controversy after a dispute over competing in ROH.
May 2004: End of IWA Mid-South Boycott
From July 2003 until May 2004, CM Punk refused to wrestle for IWA Mid-South, reportedly as a protest to Ian Rotten's mistreatment of Chris Hero.
2004: ROH Championship Series with Samoa Joe
In 2004, CM Punk and Samoa Joe had a three-match series for the ROH World Championship, including two 60-minute draws. Their second match received a five-star rating by Dave Meltzer.
May 9, 2005: Try-out Match
On May 9, 2005, CM Punk had a try-out match, which aired May 15, where he lost to Val Venis on Sunday Night Heat.
July 2005: Departure from IWA Mid-South
In July 2005, CM Punk continued to perform as a wrestler and commentator for IWA Mid-South until leaving.
August 13, 2005: Final ROH Match
On August 13, 2005, CM Punk's final scheduled match in ROH took place at Punk: The Final Chapter against Colt Cabana in a two out of three falls match, which he lost.
September 2005: OVW Debut and Injury
In September 2005, CM Punk debuted in OVW in a dark match, and in his first TV appearance later that month, he suffered a broken nose and ruptured eardrum in a match with Danny Inferno.
November 2005: OVW Television Championship Win
In November 2005, CM Punk defeated Ken Doane to win the OVW Television Championship.
2005: Signed with WWE
In 2005, CM Punk signed with WWE, where he went on to win multiple championships.
January 2006: OVW Television Championship Loss
In January 2006, CM Punk participated in a three way dance for the OVW Television Championship, where Aaron "The Idol" Stevens won the match and the title.
February 11, 2006: ROH Appearance at Unscripted II
On February 11, 2006, CM Punk made a special appearance at the ROH show Unscripted II, teaming with Bryan Danielson to defeat Adam Pearce and Jimmy Rave in a tag team match.
February 2006: OVW Heavyweight Championship Tournament
In February 2006, CM Punk entered a tournament to crown a new OVW Heavyweight Champion, losing to Brent Albright in the finals.
May 2006: OVW Heavyweight Championship Win
In May 2006, CM Punk defeated Brent Albright in a strap match to win the OVW Heavyweight Championship.
June 24, 2006: ECW Debut
On June 24, 2006, CM Punk made his ECW debut at a house show, defeating Stevie Richards.
July 2006: OVW Southern Tag Team Championship Win
In July 2006, CM Punk and Seth Skyfire defeated Shad Gaspard and the Neighborhoodie to win the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship, making Punk a double champion.
August 2006: OVW Title Losses
In August 2006, CM Punk and Seth Skyfire lost the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship to Deuce Shade and "Domino" Cliff Compton, and Punk also lost the OVW Heavyweight Championship to Chet the Jett.
January 9, 2007: First ECW Loss
On January 9, 2007, CM Punk suffered his first loss in ECW against Hardcore Holly, ending his six-month unbeaten streak in singles competition.
January 22, 2008: ECW Championship Loss
On January 22, 2008, CM Punk lost the ECW Championship to Chavo Guerrero in a no disqualification match after Edge speared him, ending his reign at 143 days.
February 7, 2008: End of OVW Partnership
On February 7, 2008, WWE and OVW ended their developmental partnership, concluding CM Punk's sporadic appearances with OVW.
2008: Randy Orton prematurely ending Punk's first World Heavyweight Championship reign
In 2008, Randy Orton prematurely ended CM Punk's first World Heavyweight Championship reign, leading to later conflicts and revenge plots.
January 5, 2009: Intercontinental Championship Match Disqualification
On January 5, 2009, CM Punk received his Intercontinental Championship title match against William Regal, which ended in a disqualification when Regal grabbed the referee's jersey.
2009: Shift to a Sinister Character
In late 2009, CM Punk's character began taking on a more sinister direction, converting Luke Gallows to the straight-edge lifestyle.
January 2010: Conversion to Straight-Edge Lifestyle
Throughout January 2010, CM Punk began to convert planted members of the audience to a straight-edge lifestyle, making them take a pledge of allegiance to him and shaving their head as a sign of renewal and devotion.
June 20, 2010: WWE Fatal 4-Way
On June 20, 2010, at WWE Fatal 4-Way, CM Punk challenged for the World Heavyweight Championship but was unsuccessful due to an attack by Kane.
October 2010: Trade to Raw and Hip Injury
In October 2010, CM Punk was traded back to Raw, participated in an interbrand tag team match at Bragging Rights on October 24 after defeating Evan Bourne, but Team Raw lost. He also suffered a hip injury that kept him from wrestling for months, leading him to begin commentating on Raw on November 22.
December 2010: Assault on John Cena and Nexus Takeover
In December 2010, CM Punk left the commentary team after assaulting John Cena on the December 20 episode of Raw and the December 21 episode of SmackDown. He revealed he had joined and taken control of The Nexus, demanding members prove their worth.
2010: Feud with Rey Mysterio
During the first half of 2010, CM Punk feuded with Rey Mysterio, being eliminated by him during the Elimination Chamber match and later interrupting Mysterio's daughter's birthday.
January 30, 2011: Punk and The New Nexus cost Randy Orton his match
On January 30, 2011, CM Punk and The New Nexus cost Randy Orton his match with The Miz for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble, as revenge for Orton ending Punk's first World Heavyweight Championship reign in 2008.
June 27, 2011: "Pipe Bomb" Speech
On June 27, 2011, CM Punk delivered his infamous "Pipe Bomb" speech on Raw, criticizing WWE's management and owner Vince McMahon, resulting in a suspension that was later lifted.
2011: Slammy Award and PWI Wrestler of the Year
In 2011, CM Punk was named Superstar of the Year at the Slammy Awards and voted PWI Wrestler of the Year.
January 29, 2012: WWE Championship Defense at Royal Rumble
On January 29, 2012, CM Punk successfully defended his WWE Championship against Dolph Ziggler at the Royal Rumble, despite John Laurinaitis acting as the outside enforcer.
2012: PWI Wrestler of the Year
In 2012, CM Punk was voted PWI Wrestler of the Year for the second consecutive time.
January 7, 2013: WWE Championship Retained Against Ryback
On January 7, 2013, CM Punk retained the WWE Championship against Ryback in a TLC match, following interference from The Shield.
January 27, 2013: The Rock Announces WWE Championship Match
On July 23, 2012, at Raw 1000, The Rock announced he would wrestle for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble on January 27, 2013, leading to Punk attacking him and turning heel.
November 2013: Discovery of Lump on Back
In November 2013, CM Punk found a lump on his back, which was misdiagnosed as a "fatty deposit" by Dr. Chris Amann, leading to health complications later.
January 26, 2014: Elimination from Royal Rumble
On January 26, 2014, at the Royal Rumble, Kane eliminated CM Punk from the match and performed a chokeslam on him through the announce table.
January 27, 2014: CM Punk Walks Out of WWE
On January 27, 2014, CM Punk did not appear on Raw and walked out of WWE after informing Vince McMahon and Triple H that he was "going home."
June 13, 2014: Firing by WWE on Wedding Day
On June 13, 2014, CM Punk was fired by WWE on his wedding day, which he cited as the last straw, leading him to state he would never return to WWE.
November 2014: CM Punk Breaks Silence on WWE Exit
In November 2014, CM Punk broke his silence on Colt Cabana's podcast, detailing his suspension and firing by WWE.
December 6, 2014: Signed with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
On December 6, 2014, at UFC 181, CM Punk announced that he had signed a multi-fight contract with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
2014: Working through an untreated and potentially fatal MRSA infection
During his final months in WWE in 2014, CM Punk had been working through an untreated MRSA infection and a broken ribs.
2014: Acrimonious Departure from WWE
In 2014, CM Punk departed WWE acrimoniously and largely retired from wrestling.
February 2015: Thor Annual No. 1 Release
In February 2015, CM Punk, under his real name Phil Brooks, had his work as a co-writer published in Marvel Comics' Thor Annual No. 1. The comic book was released in February 2015.
May 2015: "The Most Cursed" Publication
In May 2015, CM Punk co-authored "The Most Cursed", which was featured in Vertigo Comics' Strange Sports Stories No. 3, marking another publication in his comic book writing career in May 2015.
December 4, 2015: Appearance at Freelance Wrestling
On December 4, 2015, CM Punk made his first known appearance at a wrestling event post-WWE at a Freelance Wrestling show, managing Kikutaro.
February 6, 2016: Announcement of First MMA Opponent and Subsequent Injury
On February 6, 2016, it was announced that CM Punk would face Mickey Gall in his first professional mixed martial arts (MMA) contest, but he was diagnosed with a herniated disc and underwent surgery days later.
September 10, 2016: UFC and MMA Debut
On September 10, 2016, CM Punk's UFC and MMA debut against Mickey Gall took place at UFC 203. He lost via rear naked choke submission early in the first round.
2016: UFC Debut
In 2016, CM Punk debuted in UFC at UFC 203, losing to Mickey Gall via submission.
November 2017: Master of Kung Fu One-Shot
In November 2017, CM Punk wrote a one-shot for Marvel's Master of Kung Fu, which was published. This event highlights his continued work in comic book writing, with the release happening in November 2017.
June 9, 2018: Second Professional Bout at UFC 225
On June 9, 2018, CM Punk's second professional bout took place at UFC 225 against Mike Jackson in his hometown of Chicago. Punk lost the one-sided fight via unanimous decision.
June 2018: Brock Lesnar Breaks WWE Record
In June 2018, Brock Lesnar broke CM Punk's record for the longest world championship reign in WWE of the "modern era" (after 1988).
November 8, 2018: Signed with Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC) as a commentator
On November 8, 2018, CM Punk signed with the Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC) promotion as a commentator.
2018: Second UFC Fight
In 2018, CM Punk fought Mike Jackson at UFC 225, initially losing via unanimous decision, later overturned to a no-contest before being released.
April 19, 2019: Appearance at MKE Wrestling
On April 19, 2019, CM Punk appeared in disguise at an MKE Wrestling event, helping Ace Steel win a match.
November 12, 2019: WWE Backstage Appearance
On November 12, 2019, CM Punk made a surprise appearance on WWE Backstage as a special contributor and analyst, under contract with FOX instead of WWE.
2019: Appeared on WWE Backstage
From 2019 to 2020, CM Punk appeared as a pundit on WWE Backstage.
2019: Starred in 'Girl on the Third Floor'
In 2019, CM Punk starred in the horror film 'Girl on the Third Floor'.
June 2020: WWE Backstage Production Halt
In June 2020, production of WWE Backstage was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Appeared on WWE Backstage
From 2019 to 2020, CM Punk appeared as a pundit on WWE Backstage.
August 2021: Retired from MMA
In August 2021, CM Punk notified the UFC he would be retiring from MMA after he returned to professional wrestling earlier that month.
August 2021: Signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW)
In August 2021, CM Punk returned to in-ring performing when he signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
August 20, 2021: AEW Debut at The First Dance
On August 20, 2021, CM Punk debuted for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) at The First Dance event on Rampage, marking his return to professional wrestling after a seven-year retirement. He challenged Darby Allin to a match at the All Out pay-per-view event.
2021: WWE Backstage Series Cancellation
By 2021, WWE Backstage was cancelled as a series entirely by FOX.
2021: Starred in Jakob's Wife
In 2021, CM Punk starred in the horror film Jakob's Wife, and had a role in the wrestling drama series Heels.
2022: Induction into ROH Hall of Fame
In 2022, CM Punk was inducted into the ROH Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class.
2022: ROH Hall of Fame Induction
In 2022, CM Punk was inducted into the Ring of Honor (ROH) Hall of Fame.
June 17, 2023: AEW Return on Collision
On June 17, 2023, CM Punk made his return to AEW on the premiere episode of Collision, teaming with FTR to defeat Samoa Joe, Jay White, and Juice Robinson in a six-man tag team match.
September 2023: Fired from AEW
In September 2023, CM Punk was fired from AEW after multiple backstage controversies.
2023: Recurring Role in Heels
From 2021-2023, CM Punk had a recurring role in the wrestling drama series Heels.
January 27, 2024: Wrestled his first televised WWE match since 2014
On January 27, 2024, at the Royal Rumble, CM Punk wrestled his first televised WWE match since 2014, entering at number 27 and finishing as the runner-up after being eliminated by Cody Rhodes. During the match, Punk tore his right triceps.
April 10, 2024: Footage of Backstage Altercation Airs on Dynamite
On April 10, 2024, footage of CM Punk's backstage altercation with Jack Perry was shown on Dynamite to further the feud between The Young Bucks and FTR.
January 6, 2025: First Match on Raw in Almost Eleven Years
On January 6, 2025, CM Punk wrestled his first match on Raw in almost eleven years, defeating Rollins on the Raw premiere on Netflix.
