The WWE Bash in Berlin was nothing short of exhilarating, featuring thrilling matches and unforgettable moments.
However, the highlight was undoubtedly CM Punk’s triumphant win over Drew McIntyre in what many are calling one of the greatest Strap Matches in wrestling history.
In a Strap Match, both wrestlers are bound at the wrist with a 13-foot leather strap, and the goal is to touch all four turnbuckles consecutively without interruption.
Punk’s victory was marked by him executing a Go to Sleep (GTS) after each turnbuckle touch, ultimately reclaiming the friendship bracelet that McIntyre had taken from him ages ago.
This win held deep emotional significance, not only for the narrative between the two but also as Punk’s first televised WWE victory since he left the organization over ten years prior.
WWE/Getty Images
CM Punk made his WWE debut in 2005 via Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), bursting onto the scene in 2006 on the WWE version of ECW.
He quickly rose to prominence, becoming one of WWE’s all-time stars. His accolades include two WWE Championships, three World Heavyweight Championships, an ECW Championship, an Intercontinental Championship, and a World Tag Team Championship alongside Kofi Kingston.
Punk also made history by winning the Money in the Bank match twice in 2008 and 2009, a feat no one has matched.
His last victory in WWE prior to this comeback was in January 2014 against Billy Gunn, after which he departed due to managerial disputes.
After a seven-year hiatus, he returned to wrestling with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he captured the AEW World Championship twice but found himself out after a tumultuous incident with Jack Perry.
Punk made a surprise return to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames in 2023 and later competed at the Royal Rumble, finishing as the runner-up to current Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes.
Following an injury from McIntyre during the Rumble, Punk intensified his rivalry with the Scottish Warrior, costing him the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on several occasions.
This ongoing tension has crafted one of wrestling’s most engaging storylines today.
The feud is set to climax at Clash at the Castle 2024, where Seth “Freaking” Rollins, acting as the special guest referee, inadvertently jeopardizes Punk’s chances.
After more than a decade since his exit from WWE, CM Punk has clinched a victory once again, and given his enduring popularity at 45, this likely won’t be the last.
More WWE: Former WWE Champion Discusses In-Ring Comeback