CM Punk Speaks Out On His Departure From WWE

For the first time since walking out on the WWE 10 months ago, CM Punk recently took to his good friend and fellow wrestler Colt Cabana's podcast to finally provide insight on what lead to his decision to walk away for good. 

Punk explained that it was ultimately a culmination of factors, which included the pressure to return from injuries in spite of not being fully recovered, insufficient diagnosis of injuries, and the inability of WWE to fulfill his wishes in terms of the direction of his character. He reiterated at several points that this interview wasn't done solely to bash WWE, but instead to simply tell his side of the story.

On injuries:

- States that the biggest reason why he left was due to his health.

- Expresses his disgust for working with Ryback, who he refers to as "The Steroid Guy". Says Ryback broke his ribs when kicking him in the stomach too hard, and that he was never given a call or apology from him afterwards.

- Says he developed a painful lump on his back, which WWE doctors seemed to brush off, regardless of it continuing to get worse. At the advice of his future wife AJ Lee, he went to a doctor in Tampa to have the lump examined. The lump was discovered to be a staph infection, and the doctor suggested he could have died from it. Punk explained that having it removed was the most painful experience of his life. After having it removed and being placed on antibiotics, he says he slept pain free for the first time in a long time.

On the direction of the company and booking:

- Says that after his "pipebomb" promo, he was approached by various mainstream outlets for sponsorship deals. He pitched the idea to Vince McMahon but was denied. Not long after, Brock Lesnar came in, and he was allowed to have sponsors on his ring shorts.

- Says that The Shield was originally his idea. They wanted to pair Punk in a heel stable with Big Show, Daniel Bryan, and Seth Rollins. Instead, Punk suggested guys from development be brought up, and proposed Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Chris Hero. Triple H vetoed the idea, and swapped Roman Reigns for Hero. 

- While he pushed to be part of the main event at WrestleMania, he was instead put in a match with The Undertaker. Punk stated that afterwards, WWE officials suggested that match was the best on the card, and should have gone last. With this in mind, Punk felt he should have been paid like it. When Triple H suggested that this was the main event, Punk asked him if he was paid as much as Undertaker and the guys that wrestled after him (Triple H, Brock, Rock, and Cena). Triple H was silent.

On the end of his time with the company:

- Punk was asked to take a drug test the night on Raw when he walked out. He was told by Triple H that Batista took the same test. When Punk asked Triple H if he took the test, he was silent. Punk was livid that he of all people would be tested, and voiced his frustration of his poor health, and how little had been done to help him. It was then he decided he was done. In talking to Vince, Punk states "You have shackled me, you have creatively stifled me, you have made this a very toxic environment, I no longer want to be here

- Vince hugged Punk with tears in his eyes, while Triple H extended a handshake. Punk shook his hand and said goodbye.

- When Punk attempted to get ahold of royalty checks he was owed, he was unable to get a hold of anyone to answer his calls.

- Punk then hired a lawyer to get his royalty checks, and reach a settlement.

- Since leaving the company, Punk explains that he is the happiest he's been in a long time, and is enjoying being married, writing comics, and training.

The full podcast can be found on Colt Cabana's website, and on YouTube here.

Greatest Wrestlers Of The WWF/WWE Attitude Era

The Attitude Era is what many consider to be the greatest period in professional wrestling history.  Up to this point, wrestling was almost always centered on a more family friendly atmosphere.  However, as the 90s approached its end, that would soon change.

With more violence, sexual overtones, and controversial storylines, the Attitude Era went over the limit and then some.  It would change the way in which people viewed professional wrestling, and generate a tremendous following in the process.  With that said, here are who I consider to be the greatest wrestler's from the most recent peak of professional wrestling.

In terms of the selection process, factors involved include: longevity, star power, match quality, and overall contributions that have made each particular wrestler a lasting icon when looking back on this era.

10) New Age Outlaws - Ohh you didn't know? While they're a tag-team, they deserve a mention for being arguably the greatest tag-team of the Attitude Era and making big contributions in DX.  This was one of the "The last of a dying breed" (as Triple H would say...) when it comes to great tag-teams in the WWF/WWE, and they were always sure to entertain.

9) Kurt Angle - Oh it's true.  Right from the start, Angle excelled tremendously in his transition from amateur wrestling to professional wrestling.  His wrestling ability speaks for itself when considering the sheer consistency in terms of quality matches.  Outside of the this, Kurt was excellent on the microphone, and a natural as a heel during this era.

8) Kane - Although Kane tended to hang mostly around the mid-card during this period, he was still booked as the dominant monster he should be, which is something that has since changed.  Teaming with X-Pac, Mankind, and The Undertaker, he frequently held the Tag Titles, and had several memorable feuds with the top guys of this time. When the lights went out, and flames emerged, hell was sure to come.

7) Chris Jericho - Y2J made a tremendous splash upon entering the WWF, in what was one of the most memorable debuts in WWF/WWE history.  Being given a much deserved push to the main event scene, as well as having been involved in great feuds for multiple Titles, Jericho demonstrated why he is one of the greatest all-around performers in the business. 

6) Triple H - With the formation of DX, Triple H generated increased popularity which he had never really received prior to the emergence of the Attitude Era.  Upon forming the McMahon-Helmsley faction, he was a mainstay in the main event scene, and had some great rivalries with the likes of Mankind, Steve Austin, and The Rock.  Say what you will about his backstage politics, but Triple H certainly deserves credit for the wrestler he became.

5) Shawn Michaels - Even though HBK was away from wrestling during several peak years of the Attitude Era, there's no denying his influence in making it a huge success, even before the Era was established.  The feud between DX and the Hart Foundation played a major part in the transition into the Era, and HBK's over-the-top shenanigans throughout 1997 and 1998 really set the tone for the road ahead.

4) Mankind - Whether it was Mankind, Cactus Jack, or Dude Love, Mick Foley was always one of the guys who set the tone for this period with his hardcore style and loveable character.  He was a constant when it came to the fight against the likes of The Corporation and The McMahon-Helmsley faction, and defined what the Era was all about.  One of the most memorable moments came when he won his first WWF championship on Raw, which many consider to be a turning point in the Monday Night Wars.

3) The Undertaker - Whether he was the Deadman or the American Badass, the Undertaker was a staple in the Attitude Era.  The Ministry of Darkness was one of the coolest stables wrestling had ever seen, and 'Taker played the role as the demonic leader to perfection.  When switching to the American Badass gimmick, he was able to do so effectively, and it showed that he had the versatility to go outside of his character he was used to for the better part of a decade. Title or no title, Undertaker was almost always hovering around the main event scene, and a constant threat for the belt.

2) The Rock - The switch from more PG friendly wrestling into the rise of the Attitude Era brought tremendous potential for many wrestlers of the time, and The Rock was one of them.  Upon making the transition into a heel role, The Rock showed his ability to captivate an audience on the mic, and the people ate it up.  The People's Champ brought countless memorable moments, both in his promos, and through his charisma in the ring.  Whether he was a face or a heel, there was little that could be done to prevent the crowd from joining in on his signatures catch phrases, and there may never be anyone who electrified quite like The Rock.

1) Steve Austin - The greatest, and possibly most influential wrestler of the Attitude Era is none other than the Texas Rattlesnake.  From the time he gave his famous 3:16 speech, Austin was well on his way to becoming something big, and the essence of the Attitude Era brought out the best of his talent.  Between his constant feud with Vince McMahon, as well as his unpredictability, it was always worth tuning into Raw to see what he would do next.  Austin's defiance of authority, and fight against the evil Mr. McMahon brought the wrestling world to a whole other level in terms of mainstream appeal, as virtually anyone can relate to taking a stand against the authority. With tremendous promos, and tremendous matches, Steve Austin was the heart and soul of the Attitude Era, and there may never be another character quite like him ever again.

Five WrestleMania Matches That Should Have Happened

WrestleMania, widely known as "The Grand Daddy of Them All", has been the stage for some of the biggest high-profile matches over the course of its history.  While it has featured many "dream match" scenarios, there have also been several missed opportunities over the years.  Recent discussion has developed in regard to the idea of dream match scenarios, such as the prospect of Austin vs. Punk or Cena vs. The Undertaker sometime down the road.  When thinking about these possibilities, I thought about other matches that "should have" happened, especially those that were very possible at different points in time.  The following is a list of 5 matches that should have happened, both in the business sense, and also for pure spectacle.

Steve Austin vs. Bill Goldberg

In the midst of 1998, Austin and Goldberg were head to head as the biggest modern stars in the wrestling business.  By the time Goldberg finally made his way into the WWE in 2003, the possibility of this match lacked solid footing.  In the case of Austin, he was soon on his way out, and was also not up to par physically.  His role as guest referee of Goldberg's match with Lesnar was the closest interaction he would have.  Apart from poor timing, it has been said that Austin and Goldberg were on uneasy terms with each other, and neither was willing to take the blow and put the other over.

Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan

When Ric Flair entered the then WWF with his "big gold belt", this brought tremendous potential in terms of possible matches.  The opponent that seemed most obvious?  Hulk Hogan.  At this point in time in late 1991, Hogan and Flair were widely considered the two biggest names in wrestling.  There was the face of NWA in Ric Flair, and the face of WWF in Hulk Hogan.  For nearly a decade up to this point, both were the main man of their respective organizations.

WrestleMania 8 served as the golden opportunity to capitalize on this match-up, however the WWF opted to go with Flair and Savage instead.  Although this never unfolded at Wrestlemania, the Flair vs. Savage match-up was a solid alternative, and proved to be a classic. While Hogan and Flair would finally meet several years later in WCW, it is a shame that it couldn't happen in a WrestleMania ring, with a grand stage atmosphere.

Shawn Michaels vs. The Rock

The Icon vs. The Great One, The Heartbreak Kid and the Brahma Bull.  No explanation is really needed for this one.  In Michaels, you have one of the greatest in-ring performers of all time, and one of the greatest mic workers ever in The Rock.  Unfortunately, timing was one of the biggest reasons this dream match never went down.  In the years Michaels spent away from wrestling beginning in 1998, The Rock was in the midst of his path to greatness.  By the time Michaels returned in 2002, The Rock was on his way out sooner after, leaving a small window of opportunity for this match-up.  There is little doubt that The Rock and Michaels would put in an instant WrestleMania classic.

The Undertaker vs. Sting

Speculation has regularly popped up in regard to the prospect of Sting "possibly" committing to WWE for a one and done match at WrestleMania.  As each year has passed, the window of opportunity has appeared to pass with it, making it appear very unlikely that we'd ever be able to see this match. Between 'Taker's deteriorating health, and the notion that Sting would likely never set foot in a WWE ring, the possibility of this match has appeared bleak. However, with Sting's recent arrival (finally!) to the WWE, this dream match has gained more footing than ever before.

Steve Austin vs. Hulk Hogan

This serves as the ultimate dream match-up, featuring the two biggest icons of each of their respective eras.  The old breed meets the new breed, and only at WrestleMania could such a match happen.    In 2002, these two crossed paths in the feud involving the NWO against Austin and The Rock. Word has it that the original plan for WrestleMania 18 was Hogan vs. Austin, however neither could agree on taking the loss.  Instead it was Austin who would face Scott Hall, and The Rock would face Hogan.  Although the atmosphere of The Rock and Hogan was excellent in its own right, it would have been even a little more special with Austin in his place.

Top 10 Intercontinental Champions of All-Time

Since it's inception in 1979, the Intercontinental Championship has been involved in some of the greatest feuds and matches in WWE history.  While the belt is not nearly as esteemed today, there is no doubting it's importance and value in years past.

Originally considered the secondary belt to WWE/F title, this belt has been used as a key element in regard to propelling wrestlers towards the top, and often serving as a platform for one day going after the WWE title.  Without further ado, here is who I consider to be the 10 Greatest IC champions of all-time.

10.    The Rock (2 reigns, 339 days):  While his first reign as the face Rocky Maivia wasn't the most memorable run ever, The Rock demonstrated his inner greatness when making a heel transition in the Nation of Domination.  Upon showing prowess on the microphone and great feuds over the title with Austin and Triple H, The Rock showed that he was destined for the next level.

9.   The Honkytonk Man (1 reign, 454 days):  As the all-time record holder for longest streak as champion, it's tough to leave Honky off this list.  An ideal heel, The Honkytonk Man was able to claw and cheat his way through matches to hold onto the belt.  While he may not fit the billing of the  "greatest Intercontinental champ of all-time" as he claimed, there's no doubting that he has his place as one of the most memorable champions of all-time.

8.   Chris Jericho (9 reigns, 318 days):  As the all-time record holder for most reigns as Intercontinental champ, Y2J has had plenty of memorable matches for the belt with the likes of Kurt Angle, Edge, Rob Van Dam, and various others. Apart from this, Jericho is one of the last few guys in recent years to make the title feel important. His in-ring work, mic skills, and overall talent brought back legitimacy to the IC belt.

7.   Pedro Morales (2 reigns, 619 days):  Unlike most other wrestlers, Morales first won the IC belt after having previously been the WWE champ (then called the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship), making him the first wrestler ever to do so.  As the all-time record holder for most combined days spent as IC champ, Morales was able to establish a high esteem for the title.  With feuds against Billy Graham and Don Muraco, the title was always highly coveted.

6.  Don Muraco (2 reigns, 541 days):  Having won the title from Morales both times, the original Rock had two very successful runs when the title was near it's peak in value.  One of his most memorable title defenses came against Jimmy Snuka  at Madison Square Garden, where Snuka flew off the top of the steel cage.

5.  Razor Ramon (4 reigns, 438 days):  First winning the title in September of 1993, The Bad Guy was a staple of the Intercontinental title in the mid-90s.  With feuds against the likes of IRS, Jeff Jarrett, Diesel, and of course Shawn Michaels, Razor carried the belt well and put on plenty of memorable performances.

4.   Bret Hart (2 reigns, 290 days):  The Hitman is a perfect example of someone who used the IC belt as a stepping stone to the top.  When The Hart Foundation was dismantled and Bret tried his hand as a singles wrestler, he was able to establish his credibility by winning the strap.  With great matches against the likes of Mr. Perfect, Shawn Michaels, and Rowdy Piper, it was evident that Bret was well on his way to the WWF championship.

3.   Shawn Michaels (3 reigns, 406 days):  Based on appearance alone, the IC belt always seemed to look great on HBK.  Even more great, were his tremendous matches during the  midst of him reaching his prime.  First winning the title from The British Bulldog in late 1992, Michaels would go on to face the likes of Marty Jannetty, Jeff Jarrett, and of course Razor Ramon, in what would include plenty of memorable moments. HBK fit the mold of the workhorse in the ring during his time with the belt, which was a role that many of the greats who had held the title up until this point possessed.

2.   Mr. Perfect (2 reigns, 406 days):  The Perfect Wrestler, and the Perfect IC Champion,  Mr. Perfect carried the belt at a peak era.  It simply just felt right having the belt around his waist.  One of the greatest technical wrestlers of all-time, it is surprising that Perfect was never elevated to the WWF world title scene.  Either way, the credibility of the IC title benefitted tremendously by being in the hands of perfection.

1.   Randy Savage  (1 reign, 414 days):  Ohhh Yeahhh.  The greatest Intercontinental Champion of all-time is none other than the late great "Macho Man" Randy Savage.  At a time when Hulk Hogan was the WWF champ, Savage was right there next to him as the two biggest icons in the WWF.  With the title around his waist for over a year, the credibility of the belt was at its peak, and the star status of Savage continued to grow.  To conclude his run as IC champ, Savage on what many consider one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all-time with Steamboat at WrestleMania I.  As a guy whose face is on many peoples Mount Rushmore of professional wrestling, Savage will forever be remembered as a great wrestler and a great champion.


Honorable Mentions:  Rick Rude, Tito Santana, Ultimate Warrior, Ricky Steamboat, Pat Patterson, Steve Austin, Jeff Jarrett, Greg Valentine