CM Punk's Explosive Relationship With Vince McMahon, Explained
Owen Barnes 
Highlights
- CM Punk and Vince McMahon's rivalry began in 2011 after Punk's pipebomb promo, where he revealed his discontent and planned to leave WWE with the championship.
- Punk deceived McMahon by providing a fake outline for his promo, saying whatever he wanted instead.
- Punk had a strained relationship with WWE, suffering from injuries and creative dissatisfaction, leading to his eventual departure and firing on his wedding day. However, he has since made a shocking return at Survivor Series.
The relationship between CM Punk and Vince McMahon can be described as rocky at best. The early years for CM Punk were good but not exactly great in the minds of wrestling fans. The self-proclaimed "Best in the World" had moderate success in WWE between 2006 through early 2011. Despite his best efforts, Punk was mainly wasted away in the mid-to-upper card scene and struggled to make it to the top. After delivering his pipebomb on Monday Night Raw in June 2011, everything changed. This planted the seeds for the CM Punk and Vince McMahon rivalry, both on screen and behind the scenes.
CM Punk's Forgotten Fight With Vince McMahon On WWE Raw, Explained
Before returning to the ring at WrestleMania 38, Vince McMahon's last match was against WWE Champion CM Punk in a Street Fight in 2012.Year | WWE Accomplishments |
|---|---|
2005 | CM Punk signed with WWE, assigned to OVW developmental camp. |
2006 | CM Punk was promoted to the ECW Brand. |
2007 | CM Punk wins ECW Championship |
2008 | CM Punk wins WWE World Heavyweight Championship |
2009-2010 | CM Punk formed the Straight Edge Society |
2010-2011 | CM Punk became the new leader of the Nexus |
2011 | CM Punk captures WWE Championship |
2011-2013 | CM Punk regains WWE Championship, holds title for 434 days |
2014 | CM Punk fired from WWE |
2023 | CM Punk returns to WWE at Survivor Series |
CM Punk's Rivalry With Vince McMahon Began In Summer 2011
CM Punk Lied To Vince McMahon About His Pipebomb Promo
After Punk dropped his pipebomb that rocked the WWE Universe, he planned to win the WWE Championship and leave the company with the title. Vince McMahon got involved and offered Punk a new WWE contract, attempting to meet the demands of CM Punk, who wanted to be featured in the WWE opening signature, new merchandise, his own private jet, and for the re-release of the WWE Ice Cream bars, among other things. After a confrontation with John Cena, Punk tore up the contract and walked away.
Punk defeated Cena at Money in the Bank (July 2011). Vince McMahon got involved and attempted to get the title back from Punk by having Alberto Del Rio cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase, but to no avail. Punk landed a Roundhouse Kick to Del Rio and left through the WWE Universe, blowing a kiss at Vince McMahon and saying "goodbye" to WWE.
Punk later revealed on Sport1 Wrestling, in regard to the Pipebomb promo, that he pulled a fast one and gave Vince a fake outline of what he was going to say that night.
"I had to make an outline for Vince, and I didn't say anything I wrote in the outline. I just knew that I needed him to agree, and then I went out there and said whatever I wanted." (H/T: Fightful)
Vince McMahon Tried To Force CM Punk To Break His Sobriety And Drink Alcohol
Former WWE Superstar Chris Masters has revealed that WWE Chairman Vince McMahon once tried to force CM Punk to drink alcoholCM Punk Was Not Taken Seriously By WWE
CM Punk's Final Days In WWE
Fast-forward to January 2014. By this time, Punk was beginning to suffer the effects of the WWE lifestyle. Punk was wrestling hurt, as his body was banged up, and he was suffering from an infection. During the 2014 Royal Rumble match, Punk suffered a concussion to top off the list of ailments.
CM Punk had a heated argument with Triple H and Vince McMahon prior to a WWE live event following the Royal Rumble. Punk aired his grievances with the company to McMahon and Triple H. Furthermore, he expressed his displeasure about the creative presented to him for the upcoming WrestleMania 30 event, as Punk was booked to wrestle Triple H.
During Punk's appearance on "The Art of Wrestling" podcast with Colt Cabana, Punk said to Hunter: "All due respect, I do not need to wrestle you, you need to wrestle me." He spoke about how Triple H and Vince McMahon sabotaged his 2011 run by having "The Game" go over Punk at Night of Champions in 2011, cooling his momentum. Punk walked out of the meeting and never worked for the company again for nine years.
To make matters even worse, CM Punk was officially fired from WWE on his wedding day to former WWE Divas Champion, AJ Lee. Punk mentioned this as well on the podcast of how that event transpired:
"The day of my wedding I got a FedEx in the mail. It was my termination papers. I was fired. So, take that, everyone who says I need to be... I'm a quieter (sic) on Twitter. I was fired on my wedding day. Very calculated, very deliberate. As much as I chuckled at it and didn't let it affect my day, I was like 'once again, you pushed too f***ing far; you pushed the wrong guy.' ... There's no working relationship and there never will be ever again. That wedding day thing, you know, is pretty ridiculous." (H/T: Cageside Seats)
Vince McMahon responded to how Punk's firing was handled, apologizing to Punk publicly and admitting that it was handled when interviewed by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin on the Stone Cold Podcast months later:
"I would like to do this. I would like to apologize. Sometimes in a big corporation, the legal people don't necessarily know what talent relations are doing and conversely. Punk got his severance papers moreover on the day he got married. That was coincidence. So I want to personally apologize for that." (H/T: Cageside Seats)
CM Punk Made His Shocking Return To WWE At Survivor Series
CM Punk Makes Amends With Triple H, Vince McMahon's Involvement
CM Punk's Controversial WWE Departure & Return, Explained
CM Punk may have returned to WWE, but his departure from the company was highly controversial and needs explaining.CM Punk returned to WWE at Survivor Series, having signed a multi-year deal with the company and being welcomed back with open arms. Reportedly, Vince McMahon had zero involvement in Punk's return to the company. This alone can add further speculation as to how Vince feels about Punk personally and professionally. Despite the mostly positive reaction, we may have to wait and see how Punk's current WWE tenure will go in the months to come.
