James Gibson

In the summer of 2005, CM Punk was with Ring of Honor as its World Champion but had signed a contract with WWE. James Gibson (a/k/a Jamie Noble) entered the promotion and was able to take the ROH title from Punk.

Stephanie McMahon

While Stephanie McMahon never had any type of match against CM Punk, they did exchange heated words, particularly when Triple H was involved. Notably, Punk called The Billion Dollar Princess "idiotic" during a memorable segment at SummerSlam 2011.

The Miz

The Miz faced off against CM Punk about 20 times between 2007 and 2012. Punk defended his ECW title against Miz at 2007's Cyber Sunday pay-per-view, and the two also battled on Raw when Punk was World Champion.

Alberto Del Rio

At SummerSlam 2011, CM Punk had just defeated John Cena to become WWE Champion when Alberto Del Rio cashed in his Money In The Bank briefcase to dethrone him. They had rematches, including at that year's Survivor Series.​​

Kane

WWE Hall of Famer Kane was a steady thorn in CM Punk's side, ranging from the relaunched ECW brand to Punk's reign as World Champion. The two battled in more than a dozen singles and tag team matches over the years.

Mick Foley

WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley first began having issues with CM Punk in Ring of Honor, when Foley tried to stop Punk from taking the ROH title to WWE. In 2012 the two exchanged heated words again, teasing a match that never happened.

Jey Uso

While Jey Uso and CM Punk have primarily been allies in WWE, they did have a high-profile match on November 2025 Saturday Night's Main Event with the vacant WWE World Championship hanging in the balance. Punk won the match and the title.

Darby Allin

Darby Allin was the hand-picked first opponent in AEW for a debuting CM Punk. The Straight Edge Superstar battled Allin at the 2021 All Out PPV. Punk won the hard-fought match and celebrated in the ring afterwards with both Allin and Sting.

Austin Aries

Austin Aries provided CM Punk with one of his biggest rivalries in Ring of Honor. In 2005, Punk defeated Aries for the ROH Championship at Death Before Dishonor. This led to a series of matches between the two during the so-called Summer of Punk.

Vickie Guerrero

CM Punk has always had a problem with authority, which includes the days where Vickie Guerrero was SmackDown General Manager. In the late 2000s, Guerrero often put up hurdles for Punk to overcome at the expense of her allies such as Edge and Dolph Ziggler.

John Morrison

John Morrison had dozens of matches against CM Punk. The feud began at Vengeance 2007 when Morrison (a last-minute sub for Chris Benoit) beat Punk to win the vacant ECW Title. Later that year, Punk defeated Morrison for the gold.

The Wyatt Family

The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper and Erick Rowan) targeted CM Punk in 2013, claiming they needed to "save" The Best In The World. Punk aligned himself with Daniel Bryan, battling The Wyatts at that year's Survivor Series.​

Ryback

Ryback emerged as the top contender to CM Punk's World Championship near the end of 2012. The pair had big matches on Raw, at Hell In A Cell and at that year's Survivor Series -- which led to the WWE debut of The Shield.

The Big Show

The Big Show was targeted by CM Punk and his faction The Straight Edge Society in 2010. Punk was in a particularly bad mood because his head was shaved earlier in the year and he took to wearing a mask. Show not only defeated the entire faction at once, he also unmasked Punk.

Chris Hero

Chris Hero feuded with CM Punk before either man became well-known in the wrestling world. The two had a rivalry on the independent scene, which included a match in the IWA Mid-South territory, where Hero defeated Punk in an iconic 92-minute match for the championship.

The Rock

The Rock has only had a couple matches against CM Punk, though both had the feel of a classic rivalry. The Great One ended Punk's lengthy WWE Championship run at the 2013 Royal Rumble, and defeated him again at that year's Elimination Chamber.

Hangman Adam Page

Although Hangman Adam Page had a brutal behind-the-scenes rivalry with CM Punk, this entry is about their in-ring feud (and that won't be the last time we use that disclaimer). Punk captured the AEW World Championship from Page at the 2022 Double or Nothing pay-per-view.

The Undertaker

The Undertaker emerged from the darkness -- literally in this case -- after CM Punk defeated Jeff Hardy at SummerSlam 2009. The two had several high-profile matches that year and resumed their bad blood ahead of WrestleMania XXIX, with The Dead Man getting the last laugh.

Jon Moxley

Jon Moxley did battle with CM Punk in 2013 (when Mox was known as Dean Ambrose) but the two had a more high-profile rivalry a decade later. Moxley defeated Punk on an episode of Dynamite in 2022 to win the AEW World Championship - which Punk won back days later at the All Out pay-per-view.

Vince McMahon

Vince McMahon vs. CM Punk may be the epitome of a behind-the-scenes rivalry that was also played out on television. Much of Punk's "Pipe Bomb" promo was directed at McMahon, leading to a power struggle throughout 2011 and even a match between them on Raw one year later.

Rey Mysterio

Rey Mysterio battled CM Punk numerous times over the years, beginning with a Triple Threat match on the indies also featuring Eddie Guerrero. In WWE, they feuded leading into a match at WrestleMania XXVI and later had a Mask vs. Hair match where Punk lost his locks.

Triple H

Triple H vs CM Punk is another example of real-life backstage politics bleeding into an in-ring feud. Here, Punk took exception to Triple H's COO role and interference by The Game's friend Kevin Nash, leading to a match between HHH and Punk at the 2011 Night of Champions.

Roman Reigns

Although Roman Reigns was brought into WWE by CM Punk as a member of The Shield, the alliance didn't last long. While they temporarily put aside their differences for a War Games match, The Tribal Chief battled The Best In The World in two consecutive WrestleMania main events.

Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre and CM Punk  had wrestling's biggest feud throughout 2024. Things began when McIntyre injured Punk at the Royal Rumble, leading to Punk costing McIntyre his newly-won World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XL, and then competing in a trilogy of PPV matches.

Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins was visibly upset, literally from the very moment that CM Punk returned to WWE in 2022. A play on their real-life disagreements, Rollins continued to target Punk until the two finally squared off during the first Raw on Netflix. Throughout 2025, the pair of rivals traded victories.

Jerry The King Lawler

WWE Hall of Famer Jerry The King Lawler challenged then-champion CM Punk to a steel cage match in 2012, following taunts by Punk. They also faced off in a tag team match the night Lawler later suffered an on-air heart attack.

Christopher Daniels

Christopher Daniels provided CM Punk with one of his first feuds when the two were together in Ring of Honor. Not only did their respective factions (The Prophecy and The Second City Saints) go to war, but Punk and The Fallen Angel also feuded over the ROH World Title in 2005.

John Bradshaw Layfield

WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield was one of CM Punk's first challengers after The Straight Edge Superstar captured his first World Title in 2008. The two also battled over Punk's Intercontinental Championship in 2009.

Kevin Nash

WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash was the person who attacked CM Punk at the aforementioned SummerSlam match. This led to exchanges between the two men, with Punk believing Nash to be working on behalf of his good friend Triple H.

Edge

WWE Hall of Famer Edge had a dozen matches with CM Punk. By far their most famous encounter was in 2008, when The Straight Edge Superstar cashed in his Money In The Bank against The Rated R Superstar to win the World Championship.​

Eddie Kingston

Shortly after CM Punk joined AEW, he was targeted by an angry Eddie Kingston, who claimed that there was animosity between the two men going back to their days on the independent circuit. This led to a match between them at the 2021 Full Gear pay-per-view, which Punk won.

Brent Albright

One of CM Punk's biggest feuds in Ohio Valley Wrestling was with Brent Albright (later known to WWE fans as Gunner Scott). In 2006, the two met in the finals to declare a new OVW Champion, and they also faced off later that year in a brutal Strap Match.

Finn Balor

Finn Balor took WWE World Champion CM Punk to the limit in a pair of 2026 matches. Balor first battled Punk on Raw from his home country of Ireland. After a brief show of respect, Balor attacked Punk the following week, leading to a return match at Elimination Chamber.

Gunther

Gunther has only battled CM Punk once to date, though their SummerSlam 2025 match was an instant classic. The Ring General boasted that Punk didn't have what it took to capture his WWE World Championship, yet Punk prevailed.

Mike Knox

Mike Knox served as one of CM Punk's earliest rivals on WWE's ECW brand. The bad blood began when the massive Knox became jealous after his girlfriend Kelly Kelly began supporting Punk instead. This led to a series of matches between them, including at the 2006 Survivor Series.

Umaga

In 2009, Umaga drew the ire of CM Punk by stopping The Straight Edge Superstar from cashing in his Money In The Bank briefcase. This led to a pair of PPV matches, including a Strap Match that served as Umaga's final WWE bout.

Bron Breakker

At the Survivor Series in 2025, Bron Breakker defeated CM Punk in the main event War Games match, cementing his role in The Vision. That also set him up for a World Title match at the first Raw of 2026, which was won by Punk.

John Laurinaitis

John Laurinaitis was one of the many targets of CM Punk's infamous Pipe Bomb promo in 2011. Following that moment, Punk continually mocked the VP of Talent Relations over his voice, his actions and his wrestling career as "Johnny Ace."

Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar and CM Punk were both Paul Heyman Guys, meaning it was only a matter of time before Lesnar would battle Punk. It happened at SummerSlam 2013, when Heyman sided with The Beast as he defeated The Best In The World in a high-profile grudge match.

Bryan Danielson

Bryan Danielson often teamed with CM Punk, but they had their share of highly-regarded matches as well. The two did battle on the independent scene and had several Ring of Honor matches in the early 2000s. Nearly a decade later in WWE, the two battled twice on pay-per-view. 

Raven

Raven was instrumental in shaping the CM Punk character people see today, waging a bloody war against him that included matches in Ring of Honor, TNA and MLW. Their most notable encounter was a Dog Collar Match, held at the ROH Death Before Dishonor show in 2003.

Colt Cabana

While Colt Cabana and CM Punk were best friends turned bitter rivals in real life, their in-ring careers also included a legendary rivalry. The Chicago-area competitors did battle in IWA Mid-South, Ring of Honor and a slew of independent promotions in the early-to-mid 2000s. 

Paul Heyman

While Paul Heyman has been closely associated with CM Punk ever since The Straight Edge Superstar entered the WWE system in 2005 -- it's worth noting that The Wise Man has turned on his protege two different times. Heyman even wrestled Punk in a two-on-one match in 2013.

Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho feuded with CM Punk in 2012, with Jericho exploiting the real-life alcoholism that had afflicted Punk's father and even referring to his rival as "CM Drunk." Their feud  included a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania XXVIII and a Chicago Street Fight at that year's Extreme Rules show.

Batista

Batista helped legitimize CM Punk's first reign as World Heavyweight Champion in 2008. After Punk cashed in Money In The Bank to win the belt, Batista faced him at The Great American Bash, leading to a double-disqualification. The two would fight several times over the next year.

Randy Orton

Randy Orton cost CM Punk his World Championship in 2009; The Straight Edge Superstar bided his time; waiting until the 2011 Royal Rumble to cost Orton a match. This led to a feud that included stops at WrestleMania XXVII and a Last Man Standing Match at Extreme Rules.

Samoa Joe

Samoa Joe gave CM Punk one of the most storied rivalries in Ring of Honor history, with the two engaging in a trilogy of legendary matches in 2004 over the ROH Championship. The two turned the clock back two decades later with a match at All In - Punk's final match in AEW.

Jeff Hardy

Jeff Hardy was World Heavyweight Champion when CM Punk cashed his second Money In The Bank contract on The Charismatic Enigma. The two rivals traded the title back and forth, with Punk winning a Loser Leaves WWE match and then dressing up as Hardy to anger the fans.

MJF

MJF gave CM Punk his best and easily most personal (storyline) rivalry during his time in AEW. The man who's Better Than You called out The Best In The World during a legendary promo battle in late 2021, leading to a pair of acclaimed matches the following year - with both men winning one match each.

John Cena

John Cena and CM Punk are polar opposites in the ring, which made them natural rivals. The two first faced off in 2009, although their most famous series of matches happened in 2011 as a result of the "Pipe Bomb" promo - resulting in Punk taking the WWE Championship away from Cena and out of the company. Punk and Cena had one final match in 2025, with Cena getting the win over his longtime enemy.