One of John Cena’s most shocking WWE moments meant CM Punk missed out on a huge WrestleMania moment.
Cena and Punk’s WWE rivalry even branched out into backstage drama as they were often vying for the same spot at the top of the card.
Punk and Cena’s epic matches propped up WWE during the PG Era, but the Best in the World often thought he was more deserving than the 17-time champion for the face of the company.
Punk, then, was far from happy when Cena swooped in to take his WrestleMania match back in 2008.
John Cena’s epic 2008 Royal Rumble win was initially meant for CM Punk
Speaking on Fox Sports’ WWE Backstage in 2020, Punk shared his thoughts on Cena’s incredible 2008 Royal Rumble win.
Cena returned from a torn pectoral muscle months earlier than expected in one of the biggest shocks in WWE history.
Cena’s injury was touch and go for a while, and Punk revealed he was actually scheduled to win before the 17-time champion confirmed his return.
“I was supposed to win that Royal Rumble,” said the Best in the World on WWE’s Fox Sports show. “Then, John Cena comes back after three months from a torn pec. Thanks a lot, John,” joked Punk.
Punk has famously still never won the Royal Rumble match, despite competing in eight different versions of the match.
What did CM Punk do at WrestleMania 28 instead?
Cena’s miraculous recovery from injury inadvertently forced Punk incredibly far down the WrestleMania card.
While Cena faced Randy Orton and Triple H with the WWE Championship on the line, Punk ended up on the third match on the show.
The Best in the World appeared in the Money in the Bank ladder match against Shelton Benjamin, Chris Jericho, Carlito, Montel Vontavious Porter, Mr. Kennedy, and John Morrison.
However, the match did end up in success for Punk, who won the briefcase, which he cashed in to win the World Heavyweight Championship.