CM Punk is regarded as one of the biggest and most influential WWE superstars of all time. The Best in the World commands love and fan following from the wrestling audience like no other and garners immense reactions from fans every time he comes out of the curtain.
However, the meteoric rise of CM Punk did not take place for the first six years in WWE since his debut in 2006. Despite winning multiple championships and accolades and battling stars like Edge, Undertaker, and John Cena, Punk was never seen as a main-event talent.
This led to frustrations boiling inside him that increased as the days went by. But it took only night and an unscripted verbal barrage that changed everything for CM Punk and had a long-lasting impression on WWE as a company.
What did CM Punk say in his infamous Pipebomb?
Towards the end of the June 27, 2011, edition of Monday Night RAW, CM Punk aided R-Truth in defeating John Cena in a Tables match. As Cena was down in the ring, Punk walked up and sat down on the entrance ramp with a microphone in hand.
At that very moment, his six years of frustrations came out in the form of a verbal tirade against WWE and its management. Punk claimed that WWE positioning John Cena as the ‘best’ made him sick, as he believed he was ‘The Best in the World’ while even taking shots at legends like Hulk Hogan and The Rock.
The Second City Saint then criticized people like Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, and, most importantly, Vince McMahon, holding them responsible for not achieving greater heights of success. Punk did not even hold back from claiming that WWE would be better when Vince McMahon died.
Moreover, he vowed to defeat John Cena at the 2011 Money in the Bank ladder match and walk out of the company with the WWE title as his contract ended that night, and CM Punk was set to not re-sign with the company.
Although his microphone was cut off, his words left a huge impression on the entire WWE landscape, which was the starting point of his rise as a main event attraction.
How did CM Punk’s Pipebomb have a drastic effect on the future of his career and WWE?
CM Punk’s Pipebomb segment itself has become one of the most memorable segments in WWE history. It led to a highly intriguing and captivating match at Money in the Bank, where Punk defeated John Cena and walked out of the arena with the title.
Following his return two weeks later, Punk was positioned into main event storylines. He then went on to capture the WWE title again at the 2011 WWE Survivor Series event. This began his 434-day record-setting reign as champion while also becoming a top draw for the company.
In doing so, CM Punk was a top merchandise mover for WWE, even beating John Cena at one point. Moreover, Vince McMahon was successful in making another main event caliber star and he used his status to elevate other talents as well for the next two years. A prime example was stars like Ryback and mostly notable, The Shield who got their first big break working with Punk in his storylines with stars like John Cena and The Rock.
However, in 2014, CM Punk walked out of WWE, citing major creative differences and health issues. He stayed away from the company for a decade before returning at the 2023 WWE Survivor Series event. Currently, he is on the road to WrestleMania 41, which could possibly see him steal Jey Uso’s top spot, as per fan speculations.
While Punk is having a spectacular second coming in WWE today, the Pipebomb will remain, perhaps, the greatest moment of his career that changed everything in the modern era of the company.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
