CM Punk vs Gunther – 8/2/25

There is a different type of feeling you get when watching your favorite wrestlers wrestle, you’re biting on every false finish, your heart is in your ass & you get lost in the match as soon as the bell rings. This is the case for me when i watch CM Punk & in this match I lived and i died behind CM Punk. I can go on and on about what CM Punk means to me, the way hes impacted and influenced my life but id be stuck here typing for days on end, so instead ill write about what this match v Gunther means to me.

The tone of most if not all Punk’s matches are set before the bell even rings, it starts when he makes his entrance, you seen it in his face this isn’t just another match, this is the final battle in a superhero movie which is kind of ironic considering Punks beautiful Fantastic Four inspired gear.

Puny God.

The bell rings, my hearts already beating fast, I’m nervous beyond belief and then i just get lost. The match starts of with some fights over control until CM Punk finally is able to get some work on Gunther’s arm and just works over Gunther’s arm for a bit, Gunther gets some separation and goes for a chop and punk blocks it and it hurts the worked over arm, Punk was able to avoid the chop for a little and work the arm a little more but Gunther finally caught him, one chop wasnt enough as punk was able to get back and focus on the arm, Gunther goes for another chop and Punk blocks it again stunning Gunther. Punk goes on the attack, giving Gunther some of his own chops, Punk goes for a his trademark crossbody and gets a chop to the leg and punk is now stuck in the tree of woe, this seems to turn the tide, Gunther finally takes control, punk throws some punches trying get some separation and Gunther throws a monster chop and seems in firm control now. Gunther starts just working over punks midsection now, stretching punk of with an abdominal stretch, punk goes for his own and the two jockey for position and Gunther stops punk with a crazy big boot. Gunther throws a series of chops, he’s firmly in control by now. Punk keeps trying to mount some offense but he’s repeated stopped by a Gunther bomb, Gunther chops punk and he falls out the ropes and Gunther chops punk as bounces of the ropes like Terry Funk. Gunther is soaking it in, the crowd is sitting in angst. Punk sells Gunther’s offense so well, he’s sitting there like everything stings grabbing at his chest that’s red and bleeding by this point. Punk is breathing heavy and trying to just get away from Gunther by this point. None of Punks offense has an effect on Gunther here, he’s trying with all his might but its doing little to nothing to the fresher Gunther. Gunther is yelling at Punk, hes begging for Punk to hit him harder but punks offense is being supressed by being worn down by Gunther. Punk catches Gunther in the air and tries to lock in a sharpshooter and is kicked off by Gunther. Gunther locks his own Sharpshooter in the middle of the ring, Punk gets his way out of his and finally has some sort of control and locks in his own sharpshooter, Gunther is able to get to the ropes, Punk is exhausted and Gunther catches him off guard with a german. Punk is finally able to string together some offense, dropkick, neck breaker and tries a running knee but is caught with a powerbomb, Gunther then throws some insane lariats, stopping any attempt Punk makes at turning the tide, Punk is persistent and wont stay down but Gunther’s power is stopping him at every turn. Gunther lays punk down on the top turn buckle, strikes him down and Punk falls out the ring. Gunther is probably my fav at playing goliath in matches, he’s so mean and disrespectful when he’s in control, he throws punk in to the ring post on the outside and then starts taunting on top off the announce table, this costs Gunther punk catches Gunther off guard and knocks Gunther off the table, Gunther resurfaces and has a crimson mask, he’s dazed and rattled, he’s tries to make his way to the ring, Gunther has blood in his eyes, he’s on his back foot, shocked to see his own blood and trying wipe the blood off his face as punk comes forward throwing punches rocking Gunther, Gunther is in the corner fighting for his life, Gunther pushes Punk off and Punk runs back with a knee, he gets Gunther in position and hits the elbow drop and tries to set up for a GTS but Gunther fights out and goes for a sleeper, Punk is fighting, he wont give up, he’s will himself up an gets Gunther up and hits the GTS finally, Gunther isn’t down yet and is staggered and Punk hits another one, 1…2…3….Punk wins Punk wins Punk wins.

Both men played their roles amazingly in this match, i believed in the fight from punk, he wasn’t going to go away, i stayed with him, i believed if we can just get him one good time then maybe we can win this thing and we did, every hope spot was a flicker to the fire that ignited and was an uncontrollable chaos by the end, the will to fight, to stay alive, like “maybe i didn’t get him this time but next time i will”, i believed. The story of this match was simple, in one word, perseverance. A word plenty of people like me can relate to, just fight, fight until you cant anymore and then fight some more because someway, somehow you will persevere.