Some critics have pointed to CM Punk's victory as reminiscent of The Rock's return in 2011, when "The Brahma Bull" defeated Punk for the WWE Championship and headlined WrestleMania 29. This particular comparison highlights a period where Punk himself expressed dissatisfaction with what he perceived as "Hollywood" figures sweeping in for major title opportunities. The Rock's prior reign ended in 2002, and his return for WrestleMania 29 marked a significant, albeit temporary, departure from his hiatus.

Further comparisons have been drawn to Hulk Hogan's controversial WWE Championship win over Yokozuna at WrestleMania IX. In that instance, Vince McMahon reportedly called an audible to put the title on Hogan in a dramatic finish. Hogan had also been away from WWE for nearly a year prior to that event and departed again shortly after.

Even MJF, in a now-deleted Instagram post, reportedly alluded to these historical parallels. This sentiment suggests a segment of the wrestling community views Punk's championship acquisition with skepticism.

Punk himself appeared to acknowledge the historical weight of the moment. Just nine days into his reign, after defeating Sami Zayn in a highly anticipated Raw main event in Chicago, Punk began performing the "Hogan ear" gesture to the crowd at his hometown Allstate Arena, seemingly in anticipation of the championship match.