Phil Brooks shouldn't be here. Honestly, by every logical metric of the professional wrestling business, the man known as CM Punk should have been a footnote by now. A "what if" story we tell while scrolling through old YouTube clips of 2011. Instead, it’s 2026, and he is standing in the middle of a WWE ring with a world title strapped to his waist.
It’s polarizing. It’s loud. It’s exactly what he told us would happen.
When people talk about cm punk the best in world, they usually focus on the catchy slogan or the merchandise. But after the dust settled on the chaotic years—the AEW firing, the "Real World Title" drama, and that earth-shattering return at Survivor Series 2023—the phrase has taken on a different weight. It's no longer just a boast. It’s a survival claim.
The Irony of the Best in the World Moniker
You’ve probably seen the shirt. The white ringer tee with the fist holding the lightning bolt. It's iconic. But the irony of Punk calling himself the best is that he’s rarely the "best" in the way modern fans define it. He isn't doing 630 sentons. He isn't the fastest guy on the roster.
He’s 47. His body has been through the ringer.
Between the torn triceps at the 2024 Royal Rumble and the subsequent grueling recovery that kept him out for most of that year, he’s a different athlete now. He moves a bit slower. His GTS looks more like a struggle than a fluid motion. Yet, that’s exactly why it works. When Punk wrestled Bron Breakker on the first Raw of 2026, he didn't out-athlete the kid. He out-thought him. He survived him.
Wrestling is about belief. You believe Punk is in a fight because, frankly, his body looks like it’s in a fight. That’s the nuance people miss when they compare him to the "workrate" darlings of the indie scene.
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What Really Happened with the Drew McIntyre Feud?
If 2024 was the year of the injury, 2025 was the year CM Punk proved he could still carry the emotional load of a multi-billion dollar company. The rivalry with Drew McIntyre wasn't just a wrestling feud; it was a year-long masterclass in spite.
It started with a prayer. Literally.
McIntyre famously said he prayed for Punk to get injured, and when it happened at the Rumble, the floodgates opened. For months, they didn't even touch. They just talked. They posted on X (formerly Twitter). They made it personal by bringing in Punk's dog, Larry, and his wife, AJ Lee.
That culminated in the Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood, which many fans—and even some cynical critics—labeled the match of the year. It was bloody. It was ugly. It was the antithesis of the "sanitized" WWE era. By the time Punk walked out of that cage, the "Best in the World" moniker felt earned again, not through athleticism, but through pure, unadulterated grit.
Why the "Locker Room Cancer" Narrative Failed
We have to address the elephant in the room. The "cancer" label.
After the "Brawl Out" incident in AEW and the later scuffle with Jack Perry at All In London, the narrative was that Punk was a ticking time bomb. Everyone expected him to blow up within six months of his WWE return.
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It didn't happen.
Instead, we saw a version of Phil Brooks that looked... happy? He spent 2024 and 2025 mentoring talent in NXT. You’d see photos of him sitting in the back with Cora Jade or Roxanne Perez, just talking shop. He became the elder statesman he once claimed he wanted to be.
Maybe it’s the "behavioral clause" people whispered was in his contract. Maybe it’s just that he’s finally in a place where the infrastructure matches his intensity. Whatever it is, the results are on the screen. He’s the top merch seller, the top ratings draw, and currently, the focal point of Monday Night Raw.
The Art of the Promo in 2026
If you want to know why cm punk the best in world still trends every Monday, listen to him talk.
Most wrestlers today sound like they’re reciting a script written by a committee. Punk sounds like he’s picking a fight at a bar. He pauses. He sighs. He looks at the camera like he’s disappointed in you.
In an era of high-definition polish, his rawness is a superpower. During his recent verbal spar with Finn Bálor, he didn't use "wrestling logic." He used human logic. He talked about the passage of time and the reality of being an aging gunfighter.
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What’s Next for the Straight Edge Superstar?
The road to WrestleMania 42 is already looming.
Punk has finally achieved what he left for in 2014: the main event. He’s no longer the guy complaining about the part-timers taking his spot. He is the spot.
But there are limitations. He can't do this forever. The injuries are real, and the pace of the WWE schedule is unforgiving. If you’re watching him now, you’re watching the final act of a legendary, chaotic, and utterly unique career.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Analysts
- Study the Psychology: If you're a student of the game, watch the Punk vs. Breakker match from January 5, 2026. Look at how he uses his facial expressions to tell the story of a veteran losing his edge but keeping his heart.
- Look Past the "Moves": Don't judge a Punk match by the "stars" or the complexity of the spots. Judge it by the noise of the crowd.
- Appreciate the Longevity: We are witnessing a rare moment where a performer from the 2000s indie boom is still the definitive "guy" in the biggest promotion on earth.
CM Punk is a reminder that in professional wrestling, being "the best" isn't about the backflips. It's about making people feel something. Whether you love him or want to see him get his head kicked in, you’re feeling something.
That's the job. And nobody does it better.
To see how his current title reign stacks up, you can track the official title history and upcoming match cards on the WWE Raw official site.