Better WWE career - CM Punk or Daniel Bryan?

[psychokiller]

So since both are likely done with ever wrestling for WWE again, who do you feel has had the better WWE career? I'd probably give it to Punk even though Bryan did get a Mania main event. Just feel Punk accomplished more overall than Bryan did.

[Jedi-El of Tomorrow]

Bryan didn't just get a Mania main event, he won the title at Mania. I give it to Bryan.

[Instant Classic]

Anyone who says CM Punk is just wrong.

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

For reference, here's a quick list of each guy's accolades while under contract with WWE:

CM Punk:
- ECW Championship (1 time)
- World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- World Tag Team Championship (1 time
- WWE Intercontinental Championship (1 time)
- WWE Championship (2 times)
- Money in the Bank (2008, 2009)
- Nineteenth Triple Crown Champion
- Slammy Award winner (7 times)
- Longest-reigning WWE champion in 25 years
- Wrestling Observer 5 Star Match (2011) vs. John Cena at Money in the Bank
- Wrestling Observer Best Gimmick (2009, 2011)
- Wrestling Observer Best on Interviews (2011, 2012)
- Wrestling Observer Feud of the Year (2009) vs. Jeff Hardy
- Wrestling Observer Feud of the Year (2011) vs. John Cena
- Wrestling Observer Match of the Year (2011) vs. John Cena at Money in the Bank
- PWI Feud of the Year (2011) vs. John Cena
- PWI Match of the Year (2011) vs. John Cena at Money in the Bank
- PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (2011)
- PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year (2012)
- PWI Wrestler of the Year (2011, 2012)
- PWI #1 of the top 500 wrestlers in the PWI 500 (2012)


Daniel Bryan:
- WWE World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- WWE Intercontinental Championship (1 time)
- WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- WWE United States Championship (1 time)
- WWE World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- Money in the Bank (SmackDown 2011)
- Twenty-sixth Triple Crown Champion
- Fifteenth Grand Slam Champion
- Slammy Award winner (12 times)
- Wrestling Observer Best Pro Wrestling Book (2015) Yes! with Craig Tello
- Wrestling Observer Best Pro Wrestling DVD (2015) Daniel Bryan: Just Say Yes! Yes! Yes!
- Wrestling Observer Best Technical Wrestler (2005–2013)
- Wrestling Observer Most Outstanding Wrestler (2006–2010)
- Wrestling Observer Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Decade (2000–2009)
- PWI Feud of the Year (2013) vs. The Authority
- PWI Match of the Year (2013) vs. John Cena at SummerSlam
- PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (2014)
- PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (2013)
- PWI Wrestler of the Year (2013)
- PWI #1 of the top 500 wrestlers in the PWI 500 (2014)

[hossfan]

This is an interesting question. Who makes out better, the man who leaves on his own terms (albeit negative ones) or the one who must stop doing what he loves to do to due to circumstances beyond his control (and gets a heroic sendoff because of it)?

[ASYLUMHAUSEN]

There should be a push option here...they were both great. Period. Full stop.

But Bryan retiring has brought out a wave of Punk related comments and/or posts tying the two together. So, I guess this thread was inevitable :sigh:

[Starshine]

I can see arguments for both.

Both guys were involved in angles that had the attention of the wrestling world at large. Both guys won the top title, and had big matches at Wrestlemania. They both have very passionate and loyal fans. Also they had notable main event runs as faces and heels.

Punk felt like he had a more "complete" career, and didn't have the health issues which left Bryan on the bench. He also got to wrestle marquee names such as The Rock and Brock Lesnar, which unfortunately evaded Bryan.

On the other hand, Bryan was involved in a lot of heavily passion driven storylines that arguably connected with fans on a deeper level. Also despite all the injuries and time away from the ring, was able to keep his popularity which is something very few can claim.

There's no wrong answer. It really just depends on what you value more.

[Dave the Dave]

If you do this poll in a couple months it'll turn out better. Already seeing the emotion in some posts. Saying Punk isn't wrong. They were both great.

Bryan had a higher peak. A better end for sure. I think it is close. Punk was a main player for a while and held the title for a long time.

[Heartbreaker]

I'd say they are equal. They came from basically the same background, they were indy stars who weren't supposed to succeed but did. They both accomplished so much, got over HUGE with the crowds but unfortunately left because of two completely different reasons that both could have been avoided.

[sagegraph]

About the same despite Punk never getting the WM main event. They're most over superstars of the era and also the best ones.

[Dub H]

It is very close,but i give it to Bryan because he main evented wrestlemania and won

[DiBiase is Good]

Although I prefer Daniel Bryan, I'd have to go with Punk as having the better overall tenure there even though Bryan had the better single moment (WMXXX). However, had D-Bry not been injured for most of the last couple of years, my opinion might be different.

[Deleted]

I'd actually say Punk. It felt more complete and was more gratifying. So much of Bryan's run was a struggle.

Feb 9, 2016 22:04:52 GMT -5 DiBiase is Good said:

Although I prefer Daniel Bryan, I'd have to go with Punk as having the better overall tenure there even though Bryan had the better single moment (WMXXX). However, had D-Bry not been injured for most of the last couple of years, my opinion might be different.

Exactly. If Bryan was around these last couple of years while Punk was gone, it may be different. As it turned out they were both gone within a span of 4 months, save for D-Bry's mini-comeback. Punk had a pretty cool run before Bryan even debuted.

[Lupin the Third]

Since they were my two favorite wrestlers the past 10 years, I'd say it's a draw.

[Mayonnaise]

I think Punk accomplished more over a longer career but didn't get the WM moment or respect he deserved from the company. Bryan accomplished a lot, got the WM moment he deserved and eventually earned the respect of the company but there was a lot of potential wasted because of the time he wasn't being given the respect he deserved. Really too close to call.

[Ruthless Pessimism]

Feb 9, 2016 21:20:34 GMT -5 Mighty Attack Tribble said:

For reference, here's a quick list of each guy's accolades while under contract with WWE:

CM Punk:
- ECW Championship (1 time)
- World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- World Tag Team Championship (1 time
- WWE Intercontinental Championship (1 time)
- WWE Championship (2 times)
- Money in the Bank (2008, 2009)
- Nineteenth Triple Crown Champion
- Slammy Award winner (7 times)
- Longest-reigning WWE champion in 25 years
- Wrestling Observer 5 Star Match (2011) vs. John Cena at Money in the Bank
- Wrestling Observer Best Gimmick (2009, 2011)
- Wrestling Observer Best on Interviews (2011, 2012)
- Wrestling Observer Feud of the Year (2009) vs. Jeff Hardy
- Wrestling Observer Feud of the Year (2011) vs. John Cena
- Wrestling Observer Match of the Year (2011) vs. John Cena at Money in the Bank
- PWI Feud of the Year (2011) vs. John Cena
- PWI Match of the Year (2011) vs. John Cena at Money in the Bank
- PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (2011)
- PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year (2012)
- PWI Wrestler of the Year (2011, 2012)
- PWI #1 of the top 500 wrestlers in the PWI 500 (2012)


Daniel Bryan:
- WWE World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- WWE Intercontinental Championship (1 time)
- WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- WWE United States Championship (1 time)
- WWE World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- Money in the Bank (SmackDown 2011)
- Twenty-sixth Triple Crown Champion
- Fifteenth Grand Slam Champion
- Slammy Award winner (12 times)
- Wrestling Observer Best Pro Wrestling Book (2015) Yes! with Craig Tello
- Wrestling Observer Best Pro Wrestling DVD (2015) Daniel Bryan: Just Say Yes! Yes! Yes!
- Wrestling Observer Best Technical Wrestler (2005–2013)
- Wrestling Observer Most Outstanding Wrestler (2006–2010)
- Wrestling Observer Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Decade (2000–2009)
- PWI Feud of the Year (2013) vs. The Authority
- PWI Match of the Year (2013) vs. John Cena at SummerSlam
- PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (2014)
- PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (2013)
- PWI Wrestler of the Year (2013)
- PWI #1 of the top 500 wrestlers in the PWI 500 (2014)

And these are the guys people say were being held down in the WWE?

[Professor Chaos]

Punk simply because 434 days as champion compared to Bryan's reign that consisted of what 1 title defense vs Kane? Bryan obviously had the biggest WrestleMania moment between the two though.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Feb 9, 2016 22:24:49 GMT -5 Ruthless Pessimism said:

Feb 9, 2016 21:20:34 GMT -5 Mighty Attack Tribble said:

For reference, here's a quick list of each guy's accolades while under contract with WWE:

CM Punk:
- ECW Championship (1 time)
- World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- World Tag Team Championship (1 time
- WWE Intercontinental Championship (1 time)
- WWE Championship (2 times)
- Money in the Bank (2008, 2009)
- Nineteenth Triple Crown Champion
- Slammy Award winner (7 times)
- Longest-reigning WWE champion in 25 years
- Wrestling Observer 5 Star Match (2011) vs. John Cena at Money in the Bank
- Wrestling Observer Best Gimmick (2009, 2011)
- Wrestling Observer Best on Interviews (2011, 2012)
- Wrestling Observer Feud of the Year (2009) vs. Jeff Hardy
- Wrestling Observer Feud of the Year (2011) vs. John Cena
- Wrestling Observer Match of the Year (2011) vs. John Cena at Money in the Bank
- PWI Feud of the Year (2011) vs. John Cena
- PWI Match of the Year (2011) vs. John Cena at Money in the Bank
- PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (2011)
- PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year (2012)
- PWI Wrestler of the Year (2011, 2012)
- PWI #1 of the top 500 wrestlers in the PWI 500 (2012)


Daniel Bryan:
- WWE World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- WWE Intercontinental Championship (1 time)
- WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- WWE United States Championship (1 time)
- WWE World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- Money in the Bank (SmackDown 2011)
- Twenty-sixth Triple Crown Champion
- Fifteenth Grand Slam Champion
- Slammy Award winner (12 times)
- Wrestling Observer Best Pro Wrestling Book (2015) Yes! with Craig Tello
- Wrestling Observer Best Pro Wrestling DVD (2015) Daniel Bryan: Just Say Yes! Yes! Yes!
- Wrestling Observer Best Technical Wrestler (2005–2013)
- Wrestling Observer Most Outstanding Wrestler (2006–2010)
- Wrestling Observer Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Decade (2000–2009)
- PWI Feud of the Year (2013) vs. The Authority
- PWI Match of the Year (2013) vs. John Cena at SummerSlam
- PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (2014)
- PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (2013)
- PWI Wrestler of the Year (2013)
- PWI #1 of the top 500 wrestlers in the PWI 500 (2014)

And these are the guys people say were being held down in the WWE?

Punk wasn't really held down but Bryan absolutely was when you look deeper and see that many of his title reigns were either cut short or lacked substance.

[The Kevstaaa]

This is incredibly tough. Not just because I love both guys, but because it's actually really close. Saying one or the other isn't wrong. I'm going to have to think about this for a while.

[Mozenrath]

I gave Punk a vote, but mainly since he was trailing behind Bryan. Bryan had the better career in WWE in my eyes, but both had excellent runs with many great matches. Bryan had better angles, overall, and less filler, but Punk got the Lesnar match, so he had that going for him.