The Straight Edge Society

The Straight Edge Society
CM Punk, Luke Gallows, and Serena during an episode of SmackDown
Stable
Name(s)	The Straight Edge Society
Former member(s)	CM Punk (Leader) Joey/Joseph Mercury Luke Gallows Serena
Debut	November 27, 2009
Disbanded	September 3, 2010
Years active	2009–2010
Promotions	WWE

The Straight Edge Society was a villainous alliance in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) that appeared on its SmackDown brand.

The concept behind the group was the straight edge lifestyle, which promotes and abides to discipline – primarily no smoking, drinking, or drugs. The group acted as a militant organization, denouncing all people who did not live the straight edge lifestyle, even those who also abstain from substance abuse, so new members were required to shave their heads, which signified a "new beginning". The founder and leader of the group was CM Punk, who follows the straight edge lifestyle in real life.

Before The Straight Edge Society was formed, CM Punk feuded with Jeff Hardy over the World Heavyweight Championship while making allusions to Hardy's drug usage. In the end, on the August 28 episode of SmackDown, Punk retained his World Heavyweight Championship in a Loser Leaves WWE steel cage match and Hardy left the WWE. The formation began on the November 27, 2009 episode of SmackDown where CM Punk transformed the formerly mentally handicapped and unresponsive Festus into the focused and driven Luke Gallows, who explained that his friends got him hooked on prescription pain medication, which explained his behavior as Festus, and he also credited Punk with cleaning him up and "showing him the way", and became Punk's main enforcer. Gallows would assist Punk in his feuds with R-Truth and Matt Hardy. A few weeks later, the two began shaving the heads of (planted) fans in the audience who wished to follow the straight edge lifestyle, demonstrating a "new beginning" for their lives. Before Punk was able to find a third person to convert, a woman named Serena came out of the crowd begging to be saved by Punk, but instead of having security escort her out, he accepted Serena and shaved her head. From thereafter, Serena accompanied Punk and ran interference in his matches.