Punk really took on some of the toughest talkers in the business and managed to leave them speechless. Allow me a moment to explore this using a baseball metaphor.
After Punk’s explosive “pipebomb” promo, the anticipation for Money In The Bank in Chicago was off the charts. The upcoming match against John Cena had high stakes. If Punk won, not only would he take the WWE Championship with him, but John Cena would also be shown the door.
In a bold move to keep Punk in the fold, Vince McMahon himself stepped in for some live contract talks on Monday Night Raw, just before MITB. As usual, Vince carried himself with his trademark arrogance until Punk reminded him who was really in control.
Punk wasn’t shy about pushing his boss (as permitted in their agreement), demanded the return of WWE ice cream bars (we still need those!), and delivered this unforgettable line: “Vince, I’ll kick you in the nuts and you’ll smile at me and like it, and show me some respect!”
The situation heated up when Cena joined the showdown, and Punk fired back at his claim that he had lost focus. Punk laid it out for Cena, highlighting the reality of his status in the wrestling world. Despite being a 10-time champion who clung to his underdog image, Cena had veered far from his roots. He was no longer the Boston Red Sox but had turned into the much-loathed New York Yankees. Yes, back to that baseball reference.
Cena wasn’t pleased with the comparison and hit Punk, prompting him to retreat—back to the very spot he delivered his previous iconic promo. Sitting on the ramp, he confessed:
“I’m glad you just punched me in the face John… because it hit me like a bolt of lightning exactly why I no longer want to be here. It’s because I’m tired of this. I’m tired of you. I’m just tired.”
With that, Punk let everyone know that after the Money In The Bank event, the WWE would be saying farewell not just to their championship title, but also to John Cena and CM Punk.
Now that’s how you sell a thrilling event! As Punk himself referred to Vince and Cena, they were akin to the George Steinbrenner and Derek Jeter of WWE. More baseball for you! This high-stakes Punk performance might often be overshadowed by the previous pipebomb, but it was every bit as compelling. It was nothing short of epic.
