Great WWE Chicago Moments: CM Punk Wins the Intercontinental Championship

Believe it or not, CM Punk's WWE Championship win at Money in the Bank this year was not the first time Punk won a WWE title in Chicago. On January 19, 2009, CM Punk became the Intercontinental Champion in Chicago on Monday Night RAW. Before I go any further, I want to mention that I don't think it is a coincidence that RAW is in Chicago on the day after Christmas this year. Chicago was announced at the host for this Monday's RAW on July 17 which was supposed to be CM Punk's last day in the WWE. There are no WWE shows advertised for the rest of this week after Tuesday's Smackdown taping. CM Punk has probably been in Chicago since Wednesday. If RAW was in Cleveland this Monday, Punk would have to leave Chicago early Monday morning to get to Cleveland on time. However, RAW is in Chicago this Monday so Punk can spend more time with his family. I don't think CM Punk requested that the post-Christmas RAW be in Chicago but maybe Vince made the decision to have RAW in Chicago to make it more likely that CM Punk would re-sign with the WWE.

Sorry to get off-topic...back to CM Punk's IC title win. Punk defeated William Regal and he got to celebrate with his hometown fans. Less than three years later, Punk won another championship in Chicago. Many WWE Superstars never win a WWE championship in their hometown. CM Punk has done it twice. 

I also want to mention that this match features my favorite CM Punk entrance. When Punk's music started playing, Punk entered with the Chicago Flag. I remember marking out when I saw that.

Great WWE Chicago Moments: Bob Barker Hosts RAW

The WWE had several RAW guest hosts from the summer of 2009 to the end of 2010. One of those guest hosts was Bob Barker. On September 7, 2009, Bob hosted the Price is RAW in Chicago. I was in the arena that night and Bob was amazing. His mic skills at 85 years old were better than most of the WWE roster. Bob did so well that on December 14, 2009, he won a WWE Slammy for Best RAW Guest Host.

Great WWE Chicago Moments: Randy Orton Becomes the WWE Champion Twice in One Night

The WWE No Mercy Pay Per View in Chicago on October 7, 2007 was one of the most unique WWE PPVs of all-time. Triple H competed in three WWE Championship matches. Randy Orton entered the PPV without any WWE Championship reigns in his career and at the end of the night, he was a two-time WWE Champion. The interesting thing is that none of this would have happened if John Cena didn't get injured. Cena tore his right pectoral muscle during RAW on October 1 and was forced to vacate his WWE Championship. Randy Orton was awarded the WWE Championship at the start of the PPV, lost it to Triple H in the opening match, and won back the title by defeating Triple H in the main event. I think Randy Orton is the only man to win the WWE Championship twice in one night and that historic feat happened in Chicago.

Great WWE Chicago Moments: CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho on RAW

On August 18, 2008, Chris Jericho faced the World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk in a non-title match on RAW in Chicago. It wasn't a classic match but I think it's awesome that CM Punk, who is from Chicago, had a match on RAW in Chicago as the World Heavyweight Champion against Chris Jericho. This was the only time CM Punk was in a WWE ring as the World Heavyweight Champion in Chicago. I remember watching this match on TV and being disappointed because Punk lost. I re-watched this match while writing this column and I think this match is as good as a mid-card Pay Per View match. It was nice to see CM Punk make his entrance in Chicago with the World Heavyweight Championship around his waist.

Great WWE Chicago Moments: Daniel Bryan Wins the U.S. Championship

Daniel Bryan is now the World Heavyweight Champion but that is not his first championship in the WWE. On September 19, 2010, Daniel Bryan won the United States Championship at Night of Champions in Chicago by defeating The Miz. I was in the arena during that match and in my opinion, it was the best match of the night. The crowd reaction during the LeBell Lock submission hold and after The Miz tapped was amazing. Winning the World Heavyweight Championship is Daniel Bryan's biggest accomplishment in the WWE, but he will never forget when he became a champion in the WWE for the first time and that happened in Chicago.