History of CM Punk in Timeline
Phillip Jack Brooks, known as CM Punk, is a highly regarded American professional wrestler currently signed with WWE's Raw brand. Celebrated as one of wrestling's greatest and most influential figures, he notably held the WWE Championship for 434 days, marking the seventh-longest reign in the title's history.
October 26, 1978: Phillip Jack Brooks Born
On October 26, 1978, Phillip Jack Brooks, famously known as CM Punk, was born. He is recognized as a professional wrestler currently signed with WWE.
1988: Start of WWE's Modern Era
WWE recognized CM Punk's 434-day reign as the longest world championship reign after 1988 until Brock Lesnar broke that record in June 2018. WWE referred to this as the start of the Modern Era.
October 25, 1997: Debut Match
On October 25, 1997, CM Punk had his debut match, defeating Brawn the Lumberjack on the eve of his 19th birthday.
1997: Professional Wrestling Career Begins
In 1997, CM Punk started his professional wrestling career on the independent circuit.
1997: Montreal Screwjob
In 1997, the Montreal Screwjob took place eerily reminiscent to the Breaking Point event where Scott Armstrong called for the bell despite Undertaker never submitting.
1997: First Hell in a Cell Match
In 1997, the last match in North America to receive a five-star rating before Joe vs. Punk II was the first-ever Hell in a Cell match between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker at Badd Blood: In Your House.
1999: Training at Steel Domain Wrestling
In 1999, CM Punk began wrestling at Steel Domain Wrestling in St. Paul, Minnesota as part of his training, where he met Colt Cabana.
September 18, 2002: TNA Debut
On September 18, 2002, CM Punk debuted for NWA: Total Nonstop Action (TNA) alongside his trainer Ace Steel, winning a match to qualify for the tag team Gauntlet for the Gold.
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.
2002: IWC Heavyweight Champion
In 2002, CM Punk became the International Wrestling Cartel (IWC) Heavyweight Champion in Monroeville, Pennsylvania.
2002: Signs with Ring of Honor (ROH)
In 2002, CM Punk signed with Ring of Honor (ROH), marking a significant step in his early career.
July 2003: Refusal to Wrestle for IWA Mid-South
From July 2003 until May 2004, CM Punk refused to wrestle for IWA Mid-South, citing Ian Rotten's mistreatment of Chris Hero.
November 2003: Feud with Raven Concludes
In November 2003, CM Punk's feud with Raven concluded at The Conclusion, where Punk defeated Raven in a steel cage match. He was also hired as the head trainer of the Ring of Honor wrestling school.
2003: Returns to TNA
In mid-2003, CM Punk returned to TNA, wrestling simultaneously for Ring of Honor. He was then paired with Julio Dinero as members of 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 a restaurant before a NWA: TNA show, reportedly stemming from an ROH show incident.
March 2004: Quits TNA
In March 2004, CM Punk officially quit TNA during the Rob Feinstein controversy after a dispute over his ability to compete in ROH following a TNA order.
May 2004: Refusal to Wrestle for IWA Mid-South
From July 2003 until May 2004, CM Punk refused to wrestle for IWA Mid-South, citing Ian Rotten's mistreatment of Chris Hero.
2004: ROH World Title Series with Samoa Joe
In 2004, CM Punk faced Samoa Joe for the ROH World Championship in a three-match series, resulting in two 60-minute draws and a final match where Joe won.
May 9, 2005: Try-out match against Val Venis
On May 9, 2005, CM Punk had a try-out match against Val Venis, which aired on May 15, on Sunday Night Heat. Punk lost the match.
July 2005: Departure from IWA Mid-South
In July 2005, CM Punk ended his time with IWA Mid-South, where he had been performing as a wrestler and commentator.
August 13, 2005: Final ROH match against Colt Cabana
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. Punk lost the match.
September 2005: OVW Debut
In September 2005, CM Punk debuted in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) in a dark match after being assigned to the developmental territory and being mentored by Paul Heyman.
November 2005: Wins OVW Television Championship
In November 2005, CM Punk defeated Ken Doane to win the OVW Television Championship.
2005: Signs with WWE
In 2005, CM Punk signed with WWE, a major move in his wrestling career.
January 2006: Loses OVW Television Championship
In January 2006, CM Punk lost the OVW Television Championship after Ken Doane was injured and replaced by Aaron "The Idol" Stevens, who won the match.
February 11, 2006: ROH Unscripted II Appearance
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, but lost to Brent Albright in the finals.
May 2006: Wins OVW Heavyweight Championship
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 and establishing himself as a fan favorite.
July 2006: Wins OVW Southern Tag Team Championship
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: Loses OVW Southern Tag Team and Heavyweight Championships
In August 2006, CM Punk and Seth Skyfire lost the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship to Deuce Shade and "Domino" Cliff Compton. Later that month, Punk also lost the OVW Heavyweight Championship to Chet the Jett.
January 9, 2007: First Loss in ECW
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: Loses ECW Championship to Chavo Guerrero
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 WWE-OVW Partnership
On February 7, 2008, WWE and OVW ended their developmental partnership, which concluded CM Punk's regular appearances with OVW.
2008: Punk's World Heavyweight Championship reign ended
In 2008 Randy Orton prematurely ended CM Punk's first World Heavyweight Championship reign.
January 5, 2009: Intercontinental Title Match Against William Regal Ends in 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.
January 2010: Straight Edge Society Recruitment
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: World Heavyweight Championship Challenge at Fatal 4-Way
On June 20, 2010, at WWE Fatal 4-Way, CM Punk challenged for the World Heavyweight Championship against Mysterio, Big Show and the champion Jack Swagger, but was unsuccessful when he was attacked by Kane.
October 2010: Trade to Raw and Hip Injury
In October 2010, CM Punk was traded back to the Raw brand and suffered a hip injury at Bragging Rights, sidelining him from wrestling for several months. He began commentating on Raw in November to maintain a television presence. The events occurred in October 2010.
December 2010: Assault on John Cena and Nexus Leadership
In December 2010, CM Punk left the commentary team after assaulting John Cena on Raw and SmackDown. Punk revealed he had joined and taken control of The Nexus, which occurred in December 2010.
January 30, 2011: Interference in WWE Championship Match
On January 30, 2011, CM Punk and The New Nexus interfered in Randy Orton's WWE Championship match against The Miz at the Royal Rumble, seeking revenge for Orton ending Punk's World Heavyweight Championship reign in 2008.
June 2011: Pipebomb Promo
In June 2011, CM Punk delivered his "Pipebomb" promo. This promo is considered historic and one of the most important promos in professional wrestling history.
June 27, 2011: "Pipe Bomb" Speech
On June 27, 2011, CM Punk delivered a scathing on-air speech, often referred to as the "Pipe Bomb", criticizing WWE's management and owner Vince McMahon, leading to a suspension and subsequent reinstatement. The speech happened on June 27, 2011.
2011: Named Superstar of the Year 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. The title defense took place on January 29, 2012.
2012: Introduction for Avengers vs. X-Men
In 2012, Brooks wrote the introduction for the hardcover edition of Marvel Comics' 2012 crossover event Avengers vs. X-Men, describing it as a "geek dream come true".
2012: Voted PWI Wrestler of the Year
In 2012, CM Punk was voted PWI Wrestler of the Year for the second consecutive year.
January 7, 2013: WWE Championship Retention Against Ryback
On January 7, 2013, CM Punk retained the WWE Championship against Ryback in a TLC match on Raw, following interference from The Shield. This title defense occurred on January 7, 2013.
January 27, 2013: WWE Championship Loss to The Rock
On January 27, 2013, at the Royal Rumble, CM Punk lost the WWE Championship to The Rock, ending his reign at 434 days after Vince McMahon restarted the match. Punk lost the title on January 27, 2013.
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.
November 2013: Discovery of Lump on Back
In November 2013, CM Punk found a lump on his back that was initially diagnosed as a "fatty deposit" by Dr. Chris Amann, who refused to remove it despite Punk's requests.
2013: Foreword for Bake and Destroy
In 2013, Brooks wrote a foreword for his friend and ex-girlfriend Natalie Slater's cookbook Bake and Destroy: Good Food for Bad Vegans.
January 26, 2014: Royal Rumble Elimination
On January 26, 2014, at the Royal Rumble, Kane eliminated CM Punk from the match after Punk had previously eliminated Kane. This interference occurred on January 26, 2014.
January 27, 2014: CM Punk Walks Out of WWE
On January 27, 2014, CM Punk did not appear on Raw, and by Wednesday, WWE.com stopped advertising him for future events. It was reported that Punk had walked out after informing Vince McMahon and Triple H that he was "going home" on Monday prior to Raw. These events transpired on January 27, 2014.
June 13, 2014: CM Punk Fired by WWE on Wedding Day
On Colt Cabana's podcast in November 2014, CM Punk revealed he was fired by WWE on his wedding day, June 13, 2014, which he stated was the final straw leading to no further working relationship with WWE.
November 2014: Punk Breaks Silence on WWE Exit
In November 2014, CM Punk broke his silence on Colt Cabana's Art of Wrestling podcast regarding his WWE exit, detailing his suspension, unpaid royalties, and eventual termination. The details were revealed in November 2014.
December 6, 2014: Signed with UFC
On December 6, 2014, at UFC 181, CM Punk announced that he had signed a multi-fight contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
2014: Departure from WWE
In 2014, CM Punk acrimoniously departed from WWE, largely retiring from wrestling.
2014: Health Issues Leading to WWE Exit
Throughout 2014, CM Punk's health issues, including an untreated MRSA infection, broken ribs, injured knees, and multiple concussions, were the main reason he left WWE.
February 2015: Thor Annual No. 1 Release
In February 2015, Marvel Comics' Thor Annual No. 1, partly written by Brooks, was released.
May 2015: "The Most Cursed" Release
In May 2015, "The Most Cursed", which Brooks co-wrote, appeared in Vertigo Comics' Strange Sports Stories No. 3.
December 4, 2015: Freelance Wrestling Appearance as Kikutaro's Mentor
On December 4, 2015, CM Punk made his first appearance at a professional wrestling event following his WWE exit, managing Kikutaro at a Freelance Wrestling show. The appearance was on December 4, 2015.
2015: Featured in Music Video
In 2015, CM Punk was featured in Frank Turner's "The Next Storm" music video.
2016: UFC Debut Loss
In 2016, CM Punk made his professional mixed martial arts debut at UFC 203, losing via submission to Mickey Gall.
November 2017: Master of Kung Fu One-Shot
In November 2017, Brooks wrote a one-shot of Marvel's Master of Kung Fu, which was published.
June 2018: Brock Lesnar Breaks Modern Era Championship Reign Record
WWE recognized Punk's 434-day reign as the longest world championship reign in WWE of the "modern era" (after 1988) until Universal Champion Brock Lesnar broke that record in June 2018.
2018: Second UFC Fight and Release
In 2018, CM Punk lost his second UFC fight to Mike Jackson via unanimous decision at UFC 225, which was later overturned to a no-contest, before he was released from UFC.
April 19, 2019: Masked Appearance at MKE Wrestling
On April 19, 2019, CM Punk appeared in a masked disguise at an MKE Wrestling event, aiding Ace Steel in a match by attacking his opponent. The appearance occurred on April 19, 2019.
November 12, 2019: WWE Backstage Appearance
On November 12, 2019, CM Punk made a surprise appearance on WWE Backstage, joining the show as a special contributor and analyst under contract with FOX. This appearance occurred on November 12, 2019.
2019: Appears as a pundit 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, Brooks starred in the horror film Girl on the Third Floor, where he received positive reviews for his performance.
2019: Stars in Horror Films
In 2019, CM Punk starred in the horror films "Girl on the Third Floor" and "Rabid", expanding his career beyond wrestling and MMA.
June 2020: WWE Backstage Production Halt
In June 2020, production of WWE Backstage was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later suspended by FOX.
2020: Appears as a pundit 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: Signs with All Elite Wrestling (AEW)
In August 2021, CM Punk returned to in-ring performing, signing with All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
August 20, 2021: AEW Debut at The First Dance
On August 20, 2021, CM Punk made his debut for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) at The First Dance event on Rampage. He challenged Darby Allin to a match at the All Out pay-per-view event, marking his return to professional wrestling after a seven-year retirement.
2021: Stars in Jakob's Wife and Heels
In 2021, CM Punk starred in the horror film "Jakob's Wife" and had a recurring role in the wrestling drama series "Heels", showcasing his acting career.
2021: WWE Backstage Cancellation
WWE Backstage, where CM Punk was working as an analyst, was completely canceled as a series by 2021.
January 2022: All American Comics Closed
In January 2022, All American Comics in Evergreen Park, Illinois, where Brooks once worked, closed.
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.
June 17, 2023: AEW Return on Collision Premiere
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.
September 2023: Fired from AEW
In September 2023, CM Punk was fired from All Elite Wrestling (AEW) following multiple backstage controversies.
2023: Stars in Heels
In 2021-2023, CM Punk had a recurring role in the wrestling drama series "Heels", showcasing his acting career.
January 27, 2024: Televised WWE Match at Royal Rumble
On January 27, 2024, at the Royal Rumble, CM Punk wrestled his first televised WWE match since 2014. He entered at number 27 and finished as the runner-up after being eliminated by Cody Rhodes and also tore his right triceps.
April 10, 2024: Footage of Backstage Altercation Shown on Dynamite
On the April 10, 2024, episode of Dynamite, footage of CM Punk's backstage altercation with Jack Perry was shown to further the feud between The Young Bucks and FTR.
April 2024: Interview on The MMA Hour
In an April 2024 interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, CM Punk stated that he initially wanted to leave AEW and that he told Tony Khan, "You're a fucking clown, I quit."
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