Cena’s match against CM Punk for the WWE Championship at Money within the Bank 2011 is maybe one of the vital and memorable matches in modern WWE history, and that is why it takes the highest spot on our list of Cena’s best matches. It is also a well-wrestled, well-paced match, with Punk at his prime, right ahead of his 434-day WWE Championship reign, against an ideal dance partner in Cena.
The match works so well, partly, due to Punk’s “pipe bomb” promo on an episode of “WWE Raw” right before Money within the Bank. Punk was on the warpath and although most of his anger was directed toward Vince McMahon, he was set to take down the corporate’s golden boy and make an example of Cena, who he said was only higher than him at “kissing Vince McMahon’s a**.” Punk threatened to walk out with the title when he took it off Cena, as his contract was expiring, and McMahon then threatened to fireplace Cena if that happened, so fans were watching your entire match on the sting of their seats, each in the sector and at home, to see how the match would conclude.
The over-33 minute Money within the Bank match was also helped by the actual fact it took place in front of a white-hot crowd in Punk’s hometown of Chicago, which only benefitted Cena, as he needed to work harder to combat the “you’ll be able to’t wrestle” chants. The in-ring motion starts out a bit slow, leaving loads of room for business to pickup throughout the lengthy match, though should you were only listening to the raucous crowd, you’d don’t know Cena and Punk were trading rest holds. Things pick up when the competitors begin to trade finisher attempts, but the opposite man counters.
Toward the tip of the battle, McMahon and John Laurinitis come all the way down to ringside, and it looks as if the chairman is about to drag yet one more Montreal Screwjob as Cena has Punk locked within the STF, but Cena breaks the hold to drop Laurinaitis, refusing the contaminated victory despite the implications for his own profession. With Cena distracted, Punk catches him, hits a GTS and secures the huge victory. As icing on the cake, Punk also counters McMahon’s effort to have Alberto Del Rio money in his Money within the Bank briefcase, resulting in the enduring image of Punk blowing McMahon a goodbye kiss and leaving through the Chicago crowd.
Cena goes the gap on this one and doesn’t let the gang throw him off at any point, and the bout is a masterclass in storytelling, making it the most effective Cena match in history.
Written by Daisy Ruth