Add as a preferred source on Google CM Punk took to social media on Friday, July 17, to look back on one of the most important matches of his WWE career, his win over John Cena at Money in the Bank 2011.
In an Instagram story, Punk posted a photo of himself and Cena backstage, along with an image from the historic match. He captioned the post, “HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MY FRIEND.”
Punk won that match after an interference attempt from McMahon and John Laurinaitis. Alberto Del Rio, who had won the Money in the Bank Ladder Match earlier that night, was still sent to the ring to cash in his contract but was neutralized before Punk escaped through the crowd with the title.
The match received a five-star rating from Dave Meltzer, becoming the first WWE main roster match to earn that mark in nearly 14 years. The result also cemented the so-called Summer of Punk and turned Punk into one of the company’s top stars.
Punk and Cena shared the ring one final time at Night of Champions 2025, with Cena winning a match for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Months later, Punk and Cody Rhodes symbolically handed over their titles to Cena before the final match of his career, held at Saturday Night’s Main Event.