WATCH: CM Punk Makes His WWE Debut in An Unexpected Fashion

CM Punk is an icon in the world of wrestling. Although WWE may not acknowledge his contributions because of their strained relationship, they can not deny his presence. Even after 6 years after his departure, arenas often erupt in ‘We want Punk‘ chants.

Although fans often criticize WWE for not letting Punk main event WrestleMania (one of the reasons he left), it is a little known fact that he actually made his on-screen WWE debut in a WrestleMania main-event. Moreover, it was with his soon to be rival, John Cena.

CM Punk was in John Cena’s entrance back in the day

At WrestleMania 22, then WWE Champion John Cena was set to face Triple H in the main event of the biggest show in sports entertainment. As the tradition goes, wrestlers entered the ring in the most extravagant fashion for the visual spectacle.

Triple H entered the ring as ‘Conan the Barbarian’ with a symbolic title around his waist. But the John Cena entrance was more special as it had a cameo from soon to be wrestling giant, Punk.

For his entrance, John Cena chose a gangster-theme. An old school car with gangsters hanging on from either side holding guns in their hands made their way to the ring.

One of the guys pretending to be a gangster was CM Punk. Punk was pulling on a suit, grabbing his Tommy gun, and playing an old-time gangster.

The Champ entered the ring dressed as an Italian Mafia boss with a big Tommy Gun in his hand.  Later in the CM Punk: Best in the World documentary, John Cena revealed that he never chose CM Punk to play the gangster part.

Watch the full video below –

Often in entrances like these, WWE officials bring few stars from the developmental stage. Back then, CM Punk was signed to OVW (predecessor of WWE NXT).

Present-day stars like Charlotte, Sasha Banks, and Alexa Bliss appeared with Triple H, and Xavier Woods was with The Undertaker as an extra on their WrestleMania entrances.

Read more – CM Punk Says He Will Fight Roman Reigns at WrestleMania Under One Condition

CM Punk won his WWE Championship from John Cena in the same arena he debuted in

The most incredible thing about the debut was how CM Punk defeated John Cena in the same arena exactly five years later. The Money in the Bank of 2011 saw CM Punk winning the WWE Championship from the “Face” of WWE and leaving the Allstate Arena in Chicago.

Life truly came full circle for Punk. He often talked about his debut with Cena in his WWE promos.

CM Punk never left after he won the championship. In fact, he came back on RAW and became one of the biggest stars. Unfortunately, his WrestleMania dream was never fulfilled.