CM Punk is one of the most distinctive personalities professional wrestling has ever produced. Known for his outspoken personality, rebellious attitude, straight-edge lifestyle, and unconventional approach to wrestling, Punk built a devoted fan base during his years in the industry.
Before becoming one of WWE's biggest stars, Punk spent years working his way through independent promotions and developing a reputation for being fiercely independent. His career eventually took him to WWE, where he became a multiple-time champion and one of the company's most recognizable performers.
Outside the wrestling ring, Punk has explored several other interests, including mixed martial arts and comic-book writing. He eventually signed with UFC and later contributed to Marvel Comics, adding even more chapters to an already unusual career.
Punk's personal life has also attracted plenty of attention. During his years on the independent wrestling scene and in WWE, he was romantically linked to several women from the wrestling and MMA worlds. Some relationships were publicly acknowledged, while others were based largely on reports and industry rumors.
Today, CM Punk's relationship history is mostly part of wrestling nostalgia. He married fellow WWE star AJ Lee in 2014, but fans continue to remember the women he was associated with before settling down.
Here is a look at 11 women CM Punk dated or was romantically linked to during different periods of his career.
11. Maria Kanellis
Maria Kanellis became familiar to WWE fans as a backstage interviewer, television personality, and occasional wrestler. After leaving WWE, she continued her career in professional wrestling and eventually became an important figure behind the scenes as well as an in-ring performer.
Maria and CM Punk reportedly became close while both were working in Ohio Valley Wrestling, WWE's developmental system at the time. Their relationship has frequently been discussed as one of Punk's early wrestling-world romances, with reports placing them together during the mid-2000s.
The two eventually went their separate ways as their careers developed. Kanellis later continued working for several wrestling promotions, including Ring of Honor and TNA.
10. Beth Phoenix
Beth Phoenix established herself as one of WWE's most powerful and accomplished female wrestlers. A multiple-time Women's Champion, Phoenix combined athletic ability with an imposing in-ring presence and became one of the standout performers of her generation.
Her name has occasionally been connected with CM Punk, although the details surrounding their alleged relationship have never been as clear as some of the other entries on this list. Punk has publicly made critical comments about Phoenix in the past, which added fuel to speculation surrounding their history.
Phoenix eventually married fellow professional wrestler Adam Copeland, better known as Edge, and the couple built a family together.
9. Traci Brooks
Traci Brooks began her career as a model before moving into professional wrestling. She trained for the ring and eventually became a familiar face in TNA, where she worked as both a wrestler and personality.
Brooks also attracted mainstream attention through her modeling career, including a Playboy appearance in 2009. Her wrestling career included appearances alongside some of the biggest names in TNA.
CM Punk was reportedly romantically involved with Brooks during their time working in the wrestling industry. Their relationship was relatively brief, and their professional paths eventually moved in different directions.
Brooks later married fellow wrestler Frankie Kazarian and continued to have a presence in the wrestling community.
8. Becky Bayless
Becky Bayless worked for several wrestling promotions throughout her career, including Ring of Honor, Full Impact Pro, TNA, and Shimmer Women Athletes. Early in her career, she frequently appeared as a valet before developing her career as an in-ring performer.
Bayless became particularly recognizable for her distinctive personality and character work. She spent much of her career on the independent wrestling circuit and remained active around women's professional wrestling.
Her name was linked to CM Punk during their time in Ring of Honor. However, unlike some of Punk's better-documented relationships, the claims about the two dating were largely based on reports and rumors rather than extensive public confirmation.
7. Daffney
Daffney became widely known for her memorable character work during her time in WCW. Her unusual persona helped her stand out, and she later competed for several independent promotions as well as TNA.
After leaving TNA, Daffney remained active in professional wrestling and appeared with promotions including SHINE Wrestling. Her career was affected by injuries, but she remained respected by many fans for her creativity and dedication to the business.
Daffney was also linked to CM Punk during the early stages of his wrestling career. Reports about their relationship circulated within the wrestling community, although Punk has traditionally kept many details of his personal life private.
6. Felice Herrig
Felice Herrig is the only mixed martial artist featured on this list rather than a professional wrestler. Known for her competitive spirit and striking ability, Herrig built a career in combat sports and eventually competed in the UFC.
Her connection to CM Punk has been discussed in the context of his transition from professional wrestling to mixed martial arts. The two were part of the same broader combat-sports world, which led to speculation about their personal relationship.
Herrig has spoken positively about Punk when the subject came up publicly. Their reported connection remains less documented than some of Punk's other relationships, making this one of the more uncertain entries on the list.
5. Kelly Kelly
Kelly Kelly became one of the most recognizable female performers of WWE's Divas era. She won the WWE Divas Championship and became a popular television personality during her time with the company.
Her name became connected to CM Punk during their time together in WWE. Some of the association was related to wrestling storylines, making it difficult to distinguish on-screen entertainment from their private lives.
Kelly eventually moved away from full-time wrestling and explored modeling and television. She also appeared on the reality series WAGS, which followed the lives of women connected to professional athletes.
4. Allison Danger
Allison Danger spent much of her wrestling career on the independent scene, with major involvement in Ring of Honor and Shimmer Women Athletes. She became an important figure in women's independent wrestling both inside and outside the ring.
Danger was also involved in the development of Shimmer, a promotion dedicated to showcasing female professional wrestlers. She eventually stepped away from regular in-ring competition but remained connected to the wrestling business.
Danger and CM Punk crossed paths during their early independent wrestling careers. Reports have linked the two romantically during that period, while Punk was also involved in helping train Danger.
3. Lita
Lita is one of the most influential women in WWE history. With her athletic wrestling style, punk-inspired image, and fearless personality, she helped change how women's wrestling was presented to mainstream audiences.
Before and during her WWE career, Lita was involved in several high-profile relationships with professional wrestlers. Her most famous relationship was with Matt Hardy, while her later relationship with Edge became one of WWE's most talked-about personal storylines.
Lita was also romantically linked to CM Punk. Reports have described the two as dating for a period around 2009, with another period of speculation surrounding them several years later.
Despite their complicated history, Lita has generally spoken positively about Punk. Their connection remains one of the more recognizable relationships associated with Punk's wrestling career.
2. Mickie James
Mickie James became one of WWE's most successful female wrestlers of her generation. Known for her athletic ability and strong character work, she won multiple women's championships before continuing her career outside WWE.
James later competed for TNA and other wrestling organizations, establishing herself as a respected veteran of women's professional wrestling.
Her name has been romantically linked to CM Punk, particularly during their years in the wrestling business. There were also reports that WWE once considered pairing the two together professionally, although those plans ultimately changed.
James has had other high-profile relationships within wrestling, including her well-known connection with John Cena. Her long career has made her one of the most recognizable female performers from the era in which Punk rose to prominence.
1. AJ Lee
AJ Lee is easily the most important name on this list because she ultimately became CM Punk's wife. During her WWE career, Lee became one of the most popular and influential female performers of her generation.
She was a three-time WWE Divas Champion and became known for her energetic personality, strong microphone skills, and innovative character work. Her passion for comics, video games, and wrestling also helped her connect with a dedicated fan base.
Lee and Punk began dating while working together in WWE. Their relationship eventually became public, and the couple married on June 13, 2014.
AJ Lee retired from professional wrestling at a young age, ending a relatively short but highly influential WWE career. Her relationship with CM Punk remains one of the best-known real-life partnerships in modern professional wrestling.
While CM Punk's earlier relationships generated plenty of speculation among wrestling fans, AJ Lee is different: she ultimately became his wife and remains the person most closely associated with Punk's personal life.
Final Thoughts
CM Punk's career has been filled with memorable rivalries, championship victories, controversial moments, and major changes in direction. His relationships with women from professional wrestling and combat sports have also attracted considerable attention over the years.
It is important to remember that not every relationship reported in wrestling media was officially confirmed. Some of the names above were connected to Punk through public relationships, while others were associated with him through industry reports or longstanding rumors.
Regardless of the speculation, CM Punk's relationship history is only one small part of a career that has taken him from independent wrestling to WWE, UFC, and the world of comic books. Of all the women connected to him, AJ Lee ultimately became the most significant, as the two went from WWE colleagues to husband and wife.