On Nov. 20, 2011, CM Punk emerged with his hands raised in victory after a hard-fought Survivor Series battle against Alberto Del Rio. That match, which was contested with the WWE Championship on the line, marked day one of what would become one of WWE’s most memorable and controversial title reigns. Now, 372 days later, The Voice of the Voiceless remains at the top of the mountain. ( Check out Year of Punk photos)
Since that Sunday night more than one year ago, Punk has successfully defended his title against all comers, most recently escaping Ryback and John Cena in a Triple Threat WWE Title Match at 2012’s Survivor Series.
Sunday, Nov. 25, marked the 371st day of The Second City Saint’s Championship reign. For the old-school stat hounds out there, that number should ring a bell — a historic one, in fact. From March 27, 1988, to April 2, 1989, “Macho Man” Randy Savage held the highest prize in all of WWE, claiming the title for exactly 371 days. It’s a number that becomes even more meaningful as CM Punk reaches day No. 372 today. ( Check out Year of Punk videos)
Punk, a noted Savage fan, has paid tribute to the late, great “Macho Man” many times over the past year, from striking a familiar pose on the top rope before nailing an opponent with an elbow drop, to donning pink tights in tribute to the WWE icon. ( Randy Savage milestone moments)
Today, as Punk passes Savage, The Second City Saint becomes the second-longest reigning titleholder in the past 25 years, behind only John Cena. While “Macho Man’s” legacy as one of the most beloved Superstars of all time is already etched in stone, Punk’s legacy is still being written and only time will tell when this particular chapter will close on the WWE Champion.