CM Punk has reclaimed the WWE Championship after more than 13 years, defeating Sami Zayn in the main event of Monday Night Raw in Chicago.
The victory ended Zayn’s first WWE Championship reign and marked a major moment for Punk, who returned to the top of WWE after a long and difficult journey. The event aired globally on Netflix.
Zayn’s short but historic title run earned widespread praise. He became the first modern Muslim Arab superstar to win the WWE Championship, a milestone many fans celebrated as a significant moment for diversity and representation in sports entertainment.
Punk was not originally scheduled to compete for the title. WWE had announced that Zayn would defend the championship against Cody Rhodes on Raw. However, plans changed after Gunther attacked Rhodes backstage and left him unable to compete.
Gunther then demanded a championship opportunity, but SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis stepped in and announced Punk as Zayn’s replacement challenger for the main event.
Punk took full advantage of the opportunity. Fighting in front of a passionate Chicago crowd that has long supported him, he defeated Zayn to win the WWE Championship for the first time since January 2013.
The victory came around 4,908 days after Punk lost the title to The Rock at the Royal Rumble, ending his historic 434-day championship reign.
For many fans, Punk’s achievement carried emotional weight beyond the championship itself. After his controversial departure from WWE in 2014, few expected him to return, much less reach the company’s highest level again. His WWE comeback in 2023 surprised the wrestling world, but his journey back to the top faced several challenges.
Punk became one of professional wrestling’s biggest names after building his reputation on the independent circuit. His popularity grew further in 2011 after his famous “Pipe Bomb” promo against John Cena, a moment that blurred the line between fiction and reality. The segment helped fuel the “Summer of Punk” storyline and led to his rise as WWE Champion.
After leaving WWE in 2014, Punk spent nearly seven years away from professional wrestling before returning to the ring with another promotion. During his time with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), he won the company’s world championship before making his much-anticipated WWE return in 2023.
Since returning, Punk has rebuilt his place among WWE’s top stars through major rivalries with Drew McIntyre, Seth Rollins, John Cena, Gunther, Bron Breakker and Roman Reigns. He also won the World Heavyweight Championship twice during his comeback.
Punk entered Monday Night Raw after losing the World Heavyweight Championship to Roman Reigns at this year’s WrestleMania, WWE’s biggest annual event. His latest victory completed his return to the top by securing the WWE Championship once again.
The win also created another WWE record for Punk. He became the first superstar to win both the current versions of the World Heavyweight Championship and the WWE Championship in the same calendar year.
