CM Punk and Chris Jericho have been two of WWE's top heels over the past couple of years, and both men have had their run as World Heavyweight Champion. What I want to know is, who's been the better World Heavyweight Champion? First, let's review Punk and Jericho's time with the WHC. I'll start with CM Punk.
CM Punk won the MITB briefcase at Wrestlemania 24, while he was still apart of the ECW brand. Shortly after this, he was drafted to the Raw brand. On an episode of Raw, Punk cashed in his briefcase, and defeated Edge for the title. This all took place after Edge was savagely beaten by Batista. Punk would go on to feud with JBL and Batista, and he was able to retain the title, until Unforgiven 2008 came around. During a backstage segment, Punk was attacked by Manu, Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase, and Randy Orton. After an Orton punt, Punk was unable to compete, and he was taken out of the WHC scramble match.
Fast forward to Wrestlemania 25, Punk wins his second MITB briefcase. At Extreme Rules, Punk would cash in his briefcase on Jeff Hardy. This happened after Hardy had just competed in a grueling ladder match with Edge. Punk had to hit the GTS twice, but he managed to defeat Hardy for his second WHC. Now after this victory, Punk began his rise as WWE's top heel. He retained the title at The Bash after an "eye injury" caused him to kick the ref. But at Night Of Champions, Jeff Hardy was able to regain the WHC. The promos between these two started to become very intense, and at Summerslam, the two would face off in a TLC match. Punk would defeat Hardy to become a three time WHC, but he didn't have too much time to celebrate. As soon as the match ended, The Undertaker returned, and he made it clear that the new WHC was his target. Punk was able to retain his title in a loser leaves WWE steel cage match against Jeff Hardy, and now he could focus on The Deadman.
At Breaking Point, Punk was able to hold on to his title after a screwjob finish that involved Teddy Long and Scott Armstrong. Although, Punk lost his title to Taker in Hell A Cell match shortly after this.
Punk's first reign as WHC was mediocre. His matches with JBL and Batista were okay, but there was nothing special about his first reign. Things definitely picked during his second reign. His feud with Jeff Hardy was superb, and the matches were pretty good. This feud put the squeaky clean Straightedge superstar against the drug user/screw up Jeff Hardy. It couldn't have been scripted any better. Also, this was right around the time where Hardy's popularity was peaking uncontrollably.
Then there was the feud with Taker. I really was never able to get into this feud, and both matches they had while Punk was champion weren't too good.
Notable Feuds: Batista, JBL, Jeff Hardy, The Undertaker
Next up is Chris Jericho.
Way back in 2001, Jericho would defeat The Rock at No Mercy to win the title. Now of course it was still being called the WCW/world championship back then. If any of you have ever watched WWE programing, you'll know how Jericho always loves to boast about beating Stone Cold and The Rock at Vengeance 2001 to become the first Undisputed champion. But as far as the WHC goes, he defeated The Rock to win the title that night.
After losing a brutal no holds barred match to Shawn Michaels, Jericho was put into the scramble match at Unforgiven 2008 as Punk's replacement. Jericho would win world title, and he would retain it in a steel cage match against Punk shortly after. When Punk was out of the way, Jericho continued his feud with HBK. At No Mercy 2008, Jericho would hold on to his title in a ladder match against HBK after he received some help from his apprentice, Lance Cade.
Jericho then started to feud with Batista. He would lose the title to Batista at Cyber Sunday 2008, after special guest referees Stone Cold Steve Austin(Austin was the actual ref in the match) Randy Orton, and Shawn Michaels got involved. But Batista's time at the top wouldn't last long. Jericho won the title shortly after this match on Raw in a steel cage match. Jericho would eventually lose the title again to a returning John Cena at Survivor Series 2008.
At Elimination Chamber 2010, Jericho would pin The Undertaker(who had just been superkikced by HBK) to win the WHC. At Wrestlemania 26, the Royal Rumble winner, Edge, would challenge Jericho for the title. The two faced off in what was an amazing match, but Jericho was able to triumph over the Rated-R Superstar. Shortly after Wrerstlemaina, Jericho would lose his title after Jack Swagger cashed in his MITB briefcase.
Notable Feuds: Shawn Michaels, Batista, CM Punk, Edge
Jericho's time as World Heavyweight Champion had it's ups and downs. The feud with Batista was so quick, but the steel cage match on Raw was pretty decent. I loved Jericho's feud with Shawn, because this took place back when the whole "righteous man" routine was still fresh. It kind of sucks that the feud with Edge couldn't have gone on longer because the match they had at Wrestlemania 26 was very good, but when both men were drafted to Raw, and Edge turned heel once again, any hope of them starting this feud up again went out the window.
I believe CM Punk was the better World Heavyweight Champion. His feud with Hardy was spectacular, and the matches from Night Of Champions, Summerslam, and Smackdown(the steel cage match) were all very good. Jericho never really had that one special feud. As I said earlier, the feud with Edge could've been that one feud, but it was never able to take off. Now both men did have their share of lackluster matches and feuds. Punk's feud with Batista was not worth getting into, and Jericho's feud with Batista also wasn't too good.
Who's your pick for the better World Heavyweight Champion? CM Punk or Chris Jericho?
CM Punk won the MITB briefcase at Wrestlemania 24, while he was still apart of the ECW brand. Shortly after this, he was drafted to the Raw brand. On an episode of Raw, Punk cashed in his briefcase, and defeated Edge for the title. This all took place after Edge was savagely beaten by Batista. Punk would go on to feud with JBL and Batista, and he was able to retain the title, until Unforgiven 2008 came around. During a backstage segment, Punk was attacked by Manu, Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase, and Randy Orton. After an Orton punt, Punk was unable to compete, and he was taken out of the WHC scramble match.
Fast forward to Wrestlemania 25, Punk wins his second MITB briefcase. At Extreme Rules, Punk would cash in his briefcase on Jeff Hardy. This happened after Hardy had just competed in a grueling ladder match with Edge. Punk had to hit the GTS twice, but he managed to defeat Hardy for his second WHC. Now after this victory, Punk began his rise as WWE's top heel. He retained the title at The Bash after an "eye injury" caused him to kick the ref. But at Night Of Champions, Jeff Hardy was able to regain the WHC. The promos between these two started to become very intense, and at Summerslam, the two would face off in a TLC match. Punk would defeat Hardy to become a three time WHC, but he didn't have too much time to celebrate. As soon as the match ended, The Undertaker returned, and he made it clear that the new WHC was his target. Punk was able to retain his title in a loser leaves WWE steel cage match against Jeff Hardy, and now he could focus on The Deadman.
At Breaking Point, Punk was able to hold on to his title after a screwjob finish that involved Teddy Long and Scott Armstrong. Although, Punk lost his title to Taker in Hell A Cell match shortly after this.
Punk's first reign as WHC was mediocre. His matches with JBL and Batista were okay, but there was nothing special about his first reign. Things definitely picked during his second reign. His feud with Jeff Hardy was superb, and the matches were pretty good. This feud put the squeaky clean Straightedge superstar against the drug user/screw up Jeff Hardy. It couldn't have been scripted any better. Also, this was right around the time where Hardy's popularity was peaking uncontrollably.
Then there was the feud with Taker. I really was never able to get into this feud, and both matches they had while Punk was champion weren't too good.
Notable Feuds: Batista, JBL, Jeff Hardy, The Undertaker
Next up is Chris Jericho.
Way back in 2001, Jericho would defeat The Rock at No Mercy to win the title. Now of course it was still being called the WCW/world championship back then. If any of you have ever watched WWE programing, you'll know how Jericho always loves to boast about beating Stone Cold and The Rock at Vengeance 2001 to become the first Undisputed champion. But as far as the WHC goes, he defeated The Rock to win the title that night.
After losing a brutal no holds barred match to Shawn Michaels, Jericho was put into the scramble match at Unforgiven 2008 as Punk's replacement. Jericho would win world title, and he would retain it in a steel cage match against Punk shortly after. When Punk was out of the way, Jericho continued his feud with HBK. At No Mercy 2008, Jericho would hold on to his title in a ladder match against HBK after he received some help from his apprentice, Lance Cade.
Jericho then started to feud with Batista. He would lose the title to Batista at Cyber Sunday 2008, after special guest referees Stone Cold Steve Austin(Austin was the actual ref in the match) Randy Orton, and Shawn Michaels got involved. But Batista's time at the top wouldn't last long. Jericho won the title shortly after this match on Raw in a steel cage match. Jericho would eventually lose the title again to a returning John Cena at Survivor Series 2008.
At Elimination Chamber 2010, Jericho would pin The Undertaker(who had just been superkikced by HBK) to win the WHC. At Wrestlemania 26, the Royal Rumble winner, Edge, would challenge Jericho for the title. The two faced off in what was an amazing match, but Jericho was able to triumph over the Rated-R Superstar. Shortly after Wrerstlemaina, Jericho would lose his title after Jack Swagger cashed in his MITB briefcase.
Notable Feuds: Shawn Michaels, Batista, CM Punk, Edge
Jericho's time as World Heavyweight Champion had it's ups and downs. The feud with Batista was so quick, but the steel cage match on Raw was pretty decent. I loved Jericho's feud with Shawn, because this took place back when the whole "righteous man" routine was still fresh. It kind of sucks that the feud with Edge couldn't have gone on longer because the match they had at Wrestlemania 26 was very good, but when both men were drafted to Raw, and Edge turned heel once again, any hope of them starting this feud up again went out the window.
I believe CM Punk was the better World Heavyweight Champion. His feud with Hardy was spectacular, and the matches from Night Of Champions, Summerslam, and Smackdown(the steel cage match) were all very good. Jericho never really had that one special feud. As I said earlier, the feud with Edge could've been that one feud, but it was never able to take off. Now both men did have their share of lackluster matches and feuds. Punk's feud with Batista was not worth getting into, and Jericho's feud with Batista also wasn't too good.
Who's your pick for the better World Heavyweight Champion? CM Punk or Chris Jericho?
Punk is almost there though, he needs a decent high profile run like he got in ECW.