Today in Pro Wrestling History (July 25): Punk Returns for the Gold

Today in Pro Wrestling History: On July 25th, 2011, Monday Night Raw, Rey Mysterio defeats The Miz in the finals of a tournament to win the vacated WWE Championship. In the show’s main event, John Cena would then beat Rey Mysterio to win the WWE Championship.

Today in Pro Wrestling History (July 25): Punk Returns for the Gold

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At that point, CM Punk returned with his version of the WWE Championship belt. Punk had previously ‘exited’ WWE by leaving through the crowd at Money in the Bank the week prior.

The aftermath: Cena and Punk would both be recognized as WWE champions until the upcoming SummerSlam pay-per-view, when Punk defeated Cena in a title unification match.

CM Punk is one of the most iconic wrestlers of the modern era, here’s another great piece that talks about him: CM Punk WWE Backstage Debut, Here’s What He Had to Say!

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Grindhouse, Arthouse, and Wrestling Flicks by Evan Ginzburg

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Grindhouse, Arthouse, and Wrestling Flicks by Pro Wrestling Stories Senior Editor Evan Ginzburg dives into the fascinating world where cinema and wrestling collide. Packed with hundreds of reviews, hidden gems, and fascinating turns from wrestlers on the big screen, it covers everyone from André the Giant and Roddy Piper to CM Punk, DDP, Chris Jericho, Pat Roach, and The Rock. Smart, passionate, and endlessly browsable, it’s the kind of book fans will keep returning to. Grab your copy today!