CM Punk has been in the news for all the wrong reasons with his latest AEW controversy, but it also made fans look back at his WWE time. Many of the promos from Punk talked about wanting to change the wrestling world for the better. That all started with the pipe bomb promo sitting on the stage wearing a Steve Austin shirt.
WWE and Punk coming up with a worked shoot promo touching on frustrations that many fans felt with the product. The promo felt like a turning point for wrestling with reality becoming more engrained in the storytelling. Life for Punk has been quite hectic since that fateful career defining night. The aftermath of that night saw the following changes in Punk and the following things that stayed the same.
10 Changed: Connecting With Fans On Personal Level
The biggest difference for CM Punk’s career after the pipebomb promo was his connection with the wrestling audience. Punk had an old school approach to wrestling and often used his character traits as more exaggerated at the start of his WWE career.
The straight edge lifestyle worked both as a face and heel to use that as his character’s motive. However, Punk to share more of his real thoughts and real self as his character for years. Wrestling works best when fans believe wrestlers are speaking from the heart and Punk benefited from that.
9 Same: Clashing With Management
One common trend for CM Punk’s career is seeing him clash with people on the management side of companies he worked for. WWE witnessed Punk unhappy with the decision of Vince McMahon, even though they generally got along.
Triple H and Stephanie McMahon were viewed as enemies of Punk more than Vince with Punk’s insulting comments being genuine. AEW has seen Punk forming his best relationship with Tony Khan, but he’s once again clashing with EVPs Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks.
8 Changed: Helping Build New Stars
CM Punk’s issues with “Hangman” Adam Page should not take away from his better results working with younger talent. The pipebomb promo implied that Punk was sick of part-time veterans not using their star power to help the current roster.
Punk did try to work with some younger names once over in WWE when feuding with The Shield and The Wyatt Family. AEW has benefited even more from names like MJF, Darby Allin, Daniel Garcia, Powerhouse Hobbs and others looking good or learning more working with Punk.
7 Same: Organic Fan Favorite
The best thing about CM Punk to stay the same before or after the pipebomb promo was the organic nature of fans rallying behind him. Punk always had that working for him going back to his independent wrestling days and the early ECW brand days in WWE.
Fans gravitated towards Punk more than many other names getting called up for their look and perceived star potential. Punk had the same thing working in his favor after the promo took him to new heights with fans legitimately viewing him as the “voice of the voiceless.”
6 Changed: Deeper Storytelling
CM Punk’s WWE career before the pipebomb promo didn’t see him in too many deep feuds. Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio were the only wrestlers Punk got to show that deeper storyteller side with before the promo gave him a newfound character freedom.
The entire summer of Punk featured layered storytelling with WWE finding the ideal worked shoot scenario. Chris Jericho’s feud with Punk required a deeper level of character work from both using his family background. AEW has seen Punk thriving most with similar dynamic storylines with MJF, Eddie Kingston and a few others.
5 Same: Blunt About His Opinion
Many wrestlers will hold their voice back when looking to avoid heat or keep things professional. There are both positives and negatives to CM Punk being one of the bluntest wrestlers ever. Punk never shies away from sharing exactly what he feels for better or worse.
WWE witnessed Punk trashing the company in his worked shoot promos and in real interviews when unhappy. AEW recently experienced how draining the Punk experience can be when he started shooting on Colt Cabana, Adam Page, Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks.
4 Changed: Epic Title Chases
CM Punk had three world title reigns in WWE before his pipebomb promo, but they all came without strong builds. The Money in the Bank briefcase won him two titles and set up the story for his third. Unfortunately, Punk never had that epic chase that most wrestlers get for their first reigns.
The pipebomb promo helped Punk have that chase during his WWE Championship program with John Cena winning said match. Even the AEW World Championship reigns featured bigger chases before injuries ruined the title reigns.
3 Same: More Comfortable As A Heel
Few wrestlers can say they have experienced as much as both a top face and top heel as CM Punk has in his career. Punk will be the first to admit he’s a more natural heel and is most comfortable in that character role.
WWE turning Punk heel after his face turn inspired from the pipebomb promo led to more natural stories. Paul Heyman managing Punk added to the feuds with John Cena, The Rock and The Undertaker. Punk showing more heel tendencies in his AEW promos with Jon Moxley, Adam Page and Eddie Kingston reminded us how he’s even better as a bad guy.
2 Changed: Reaching That True Top Spot
CM Punk expressed many frustrations in his pipebomb promo, but the biggest source of anger was that he never reached that true top spot. Multiple wrestlers will win a world title most years, but only a handful will feel like that top tier superstar.
WWE never saw Punk truly reaching that level until the pipebomb elevated him there. Punk’s feud with John Cena and WWE management made him the second most over star after Cena. Even if Punk’s time in AEW ends, the year of work there showed him as the biggest star and leading to PPV buy rate increases.
1 Same: Never Fully Happy In Wrestling
Many fans wanted to give CM Punk the full benefit of the doubt when expressing anger with WWE and eventually walking out in controversial fashion. Punk raised a lot of points that fans agreed with and other wrestlers often shared the same sentiment.
The recent AEW tirade by Punk put the company in a terrible spot right before a backstage fight and multiple suspensions. Punk unfortunately just never seems fully happy in wrestling. AEW featured a rare dream scenario making huge money and getting creative freedom outside of WWE. Punk somehow ends up unhappy enough again to potentially end another run badly.