Why CM Punk Believes Iconic WWE Pipebomb Promo Is “Misunderstood And Misrepresented”
CM Punk has looked back on his legendary WWE “pipebomb” promo from Raw in 2011 and why he thinks it’s perhaps misunderstood.
It was on the June 27, 2011, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw when CM Punk sat on stage in Las Vegas and delivered a memorable promo that is still talked about to this day, nearly 15 years later.
During that promo, Punk voiced his frustrations with WWE, saying he wasn’t being featured as a top superstar and that his contract was expiring in a few weeks. Punk also “broke the fourth wall” by talking about things that WWE superstars normally didn’t speak about in promos.
This would set CM Punk up for Money in the Bank 2011, where he beat John Cena in a great match to become the WWE Champion. Punk left the building with the WWE Title because the story was that he was leaving the company, even though he had agreed to stay. It ultimately led to a very successful 2+ year run for Punk in WWE before he left in January 2014.
While speaking to former NBA player Matt Barnes on All The Smoke, CM Punk looked back on his mindset going into that promo on Raw.
“I was told to air my grievances. I was leaving. I think my contract was up the 17th of July. I was pretty burnt out and they were actively trying to get me to re-sign.
My headspace was, ‘I think I just need some time off.’ I just had my first surgery, that was not fun, I didn’t get to take a break. I just wanted some downtime.
I was told to air my grievances. [Do you really want that?] That’s exactly what I said. I was met with, [Vince McMahon voice] ‘Why would I ask you to air your grievances if I don’t want you to?’ ‘This is a controlled environment.’ ‘Let me approve it.’
I don’t think it’s a secret, I thought I was the best, so I had to figure out how to do this, make it good, but also make it real. I know he wouldn’t have approved anything I wanted to say. This became a, I’m leaving anyway, what the f**k are they going to do, fire me?
I’m also responsible and professional, so I’m not going to swear or get us kicked off USA Network or say anything that is low-hanging fruit or edgy to be edgy. A lot of the times, we fall into that hole. I’ve done it. I try not to. It happens sometimes.”
CM Punk Felt His Insticts Were Right For “Pipebomb” Raw Promo
As he continued, CM Punk spoke more about what he was thinking during the promo on Raw.
“Sometimes, your instincts are off. My instincts were dead on for that Pipe Bomb promo where I was so full of piss and vinnegar and I had such a chip on my shoulder. It’s really about knowing what buttons to press. Say three things that are irrefutably true, and then one thing you can wildly lie about. Everyone will be confused and won’t know.
I wove this masterpiece of a painting where I’m in and out, I’m toeing the line. I bring it back to yell at the fans because they start cheering.”
In his opinion, CM Punk believes the Pipebomb promo was misunderstood by many people.
Really, what I had to do was two promos. I had to write the one that was going to get approved, and I had to go out there and know this is the instance where it’s much better to ask forgiveness than permission. You can’t always do that, and many people have tried post-Pipebomb, and many people have failed.
It’s easy to point, ‘He did it.’ You don’t really understand what I did. To this day, I think that promo is so misunderstood and misrepresented. It stands alone in history as that’s the promo.” (H/T Fightful)
At WrestleMania 42, CM Punk will defend the World Heavyweight Title against Roman Reigns on Sunday, April 19th, in the main event.
Also Read: CM Punk Admits He 100% Crossed The Line In WWE: “I Will F*ck With You”