WWE Fired CM Punk On His Wedding Day. Punk Speaks Out

[cero2k]

Source: pwinsider.com HERE

Here are the some highlights of the CM Punk interview on Colt Cabana's "Art of Wrestling" podcast, which may very well be the best in-depth interview with a top former WWE personality all year.

Please note these are just some major highlights. Since it's a holiday weekend, I cannot recap everything in detail immediately, but as I have time over the next few days, I will indeed re-listen and write a more detailed recap because of the nature of the interview and the level of story this obviously is. There is a LOT of ground to cover here.

Before you read these highlights, I highly advise you to check out the original interview as I think all would be best served by listening to this in Punk's own voice at www.ColtCabana.com. In case the site is down, you can go to iTunes.com and subscribe to Cabana's podcast at this link to get the episode. You will hear a MUCH more detailed version of these discussions on Cabana's podcast.

Quick Highlights:

*Punk made it clear that he's the happiest he's personally been in many years and that at times, he will come off bitter while discussing what happened, but it's "OK to be bitter" and that's part of going through the process of dealing with everything and that his appearance wasn't meant to be an attack on WWE, but a discussion of what his led to his departure.

*The most amazing thing to come out of the interview is that Punk didn't quit WWE after all - he was fired. While he left the company in January, he was told weeks later by Vince McMahon via text that he was suspended for two months. The next day, Vince told stockholders that Punk was on a "sabbatical." When the suspension ended, no one in WWE contacted Punk. When Punk finally reached out asking where royalties that were owed to him were, he got a run-around from WWE Execs until he received termination papers informing him he was in breach of contract on his wedding day. So, they technically fired him on his wedding day in June 2014, which Punk said was "going too f***ing far." Punk claimed the company tried to find him in "retro-breach" in June, instead of claiming he breached his deal back in January 2014 and he knew legally, that wouldn't stick.

*Punk said he left WWE the day after The Royal Rumble for one main reason: his health. During the podcast, Punk went into great, esquisite detail about the last several months in the company, which includes Punk being so injured that he's working with broken ribs (thanks to Ryback), a concussion (which he ignored after WWE medical asked him if he was OK to go on a European tour, so he toughed it out, which he noted was his own mistake) and injured knees. During the November tour, Punk was getting so sick that he was puking and dry heaving every night after wrestling, had a fever for months and had no appetite. WWE medical had given him so many antibiotics by that he pooped himself in the ring on Smackdown all while watching his checks shrink. Punk described it as the worst he ever felt in his life and being unable to sleep because he was so sick. This went all the way through the end of his WWE run.

*At the Royal Rumble, Punk suffered a concussion early on and still worked the entire match. The next day, he passed the company's concussion test (which he described as "bullsh**") while texting Colt Cabana and wearing headphones. WWE then told him he passed the test but they wanted him to go run the ring ropes to check him again. Punk said he felt like they wanted him to go run the ropes like some 2 week rookie in front of everyone and refused. At that point, Punk demanded they just decide he has a concussion and admitted that until then he was just trying to deny he was hurt and tough it out.

That same day, the company began pressuring him about signing visas for future tours and taking a drug test instead of listening to his requests to "f***ing help me" because something was obviously wrong with all the issues that had built up. Deciding he had enough, Punk said he decided to tell Vince McMahon and Triple H he was going home. Punk's version of this conversation is something to behold as he calmly tears into Triple H for cutting off his momentum in 2011 (Punk goes into great detail on issues with HHH), complains to Vince that he's stifled Punk's creativity and tells them both it's garbage they aren't considering Daniel Bryan for the main event of Wrestlemania 30, passing him by the way they've passed Punk by. He told them he was done and didn't want to do this anymore. Vince hugged him goodbye in tears and told him he was family, yet later suspended and fired Punk.

*Punk also told a story of going to WWE's doctor because he found a lump on his back during the same time period as the November 2013 European tour. The WWE Doctor, identified by Punk as Dr. Chris Amann, diagnosed it as a fatty deposit. Punk told several stories of asking for Amann to cut it out, but Amann says no because it wasn't hurting Punk. Punk explained that WWE docs cut things out of the wrestlers on a regular basis. Amann declined several times to remove it with Punk describing him as "lazy" in explicit, colorful terms. The day of the 2014 Rumble, Punk told Amann that it was now badly hurting and purple and bigger. Amann told him he couldn't do it then because Punk had to work the Rumble. After the Rumble, Punk demanded it be cut out right now and Amann noted that Punk would need to be on antibiotics, to which Punk responded that had been put on antibiotics WWE docs have given him for three months, which is why he pooped his pants.

*After leaving WWE and still not feeling any better weeks later, his wife AJ Lee convinced him go to her doctor. Her doctor (without knowing who Punk was or having any background information), immediately looked at the lump and diagnosed Punk with a MRSA staph infection. The doctor proceeded to squeeze the lump so hard the puss hit the ceiling. Punk said getting it cleaned out was the worst pain in his life and he needed specific medications for the infection, so none of the meds WWE had been giving him were any help. So, Punk had been wrestling the last few months of his WWE run with a staph infection in his back, which he stated was ignored and/or misdiagnosed by WWE's medical staff. When the doctor asked Punk how long he had the lump and Punk told him a few months, the doctor told him, "You should be dead."

*Punk talked about how badly hurt he was during his 2011-2014 WWE run and that on two occasions, he literally came out of surgery (and in one story, was walking out of the hospital following knee surgery) to find out he was being brought back almost immediately to TV with no time off. After elbow surgery, he was told he was being brought back to the road and TV to cut promos and after the knee surgery, was told he was being brought back in three weeks to work a TLC match against Ryback. Punk's version of these stories were enough to really make you shake your head and really need to be heard in his own voice.

*Punk described his wrestling career as a failure as he failed to get to the main event of Wrestlemania and that he's come to terms with that as he's moving on to the next stage of his life. He said that it was ridiculous that so many current roster members have not been in the Mania main event position. Punk talked about politicking to get to that level, but it was never about winning or being the guy. He said he needed to get there so he could learn to work at that level and get better, draw more and be an asset to the company. He said he would hear he wasn't a draw, but every chance he had, he "shoved it down their f***ing throats." He said that it all comes down to an "out of touch old man" (Vince McMahon) and his decisions.

*Punk said he knew he had the best match at Wrestlemania 29 and he was praised for it, but he knew he didn't get the money that John Cena, Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, Rock, and Triple H got for the show.

*Punk said that for anyone complaining he left WWE in a lurch, he didn't hold WWE up for money and didn't ask for anything and didn't walk out in the middle of a storyline. He was chokeslammed by Kane and he was gone. He went home for his health and sanity, although he did note he was frustrated with seeing smaller checks and not getting answers as to how the WWE Network will change the pay scale. Punk noted that everyone was afraid to ask Vince McMahon and even Randy Orton was coming to him asking if he knew anything.

*Punk said that when WWE fired him and issued him a contract breach, he hired a very "vicious" Los Angeles lawyer to go after WWE to fight the breach and in the end, he got a settlement that gave him everything he asked for "and more." He said he's just not allowed to talk about the settlement, but pretty much made it clear he got everything he wanted and noted it was stupid of WWE to even advertise him for the next WWE 2K15 videogame. He said he is completely done and clear of WWE and they will never, ever have a working relationship ever again.

*Punk said they were terrified that as an independent contract for the last ten years, that he would take them to court and ruin their way of doing business.

*When WWE later asked to issue a joint statement between the two, he told them to "F*** off."

*Punk talked in detail about WWE using the independent contractor status, noting the company does concussion testing to help themselves, not the wrestlers. He noted all the money the NFL Player's Union is forcing the NFL to pay for old injuries and medical concerns of players and that WWE is doing all this to prevent wrestlers from being able to say that they aren't. Punk said that if WWE truly cared for the talents, they would allow a union to be created for the talents.

*Punk also noted that he was to star in "12 Rounds 2" while he was WWE champion. When signing the paperwork, he noticed the filming dates were the same as a WWE European tour and Triple H. Triple H told him that was not the case but he will look into it. The next day, WWE announced Randy Orton would star in the move with HHH never calling Punk to inform him of the change because, as Punk said, "He thinks I'm a piece of sh**." Punk said it was indicative of the lack of respect he was shown by those in the company.

*Punk said wrestling Ryback took "20 years off his life" and talked in detail about how badly hurt he was working with, as Punk described him, "Steroid guy."

*WWE was afraid he was going to TNA, but his lawyer told WWE that he despises wrestling now and will never wrestle again.

I highly advise you to check out the original interview as I think all would be best served by listening to this in Punk's own voice at www.ColtCabana.com. In case the site is down, you can go to iTunes.com and subscribe to Cabana's podcast at this link to get the episode. You will hear a MUCH more detailed version of these discussions on Cabana's podcast. As I noted, I will have a MUCH more detailed recap on this interview when time will allow over the course of the holiday weekend.

[Serujuunin]

Oh. My. God. Small wonder Punk left in the manner he did if even half of this is true. I'd like to hear the whole thing myself.

[cero2k]

Here's the interview

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[Chris Everlast]

Let's hope he has a good time writing comics - as long as I won't have to see CM Cunt on my TV again.

[Serujuunin]

Here's the interview

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Thanks Cero! I'll be listening when I get home for sure.

[Big Red Machine]

Here's the interview

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Thanks Cero! I'll be listening when I get home for sure.

Same. Hopefully it will be interesting and not just a moan-fest.

[Serujuunin]

That was actually really interesting. I feel so bad for him for all the things he's been through, poor dude. I definitely knew it wasn't his way to just walk out like they said he did.

[Big Red Machine]

It would be interesting to hear Hunter/Vince's side of this.

[cero2k]

It would be interesting to hear Hunter/Vince's side of this.

i would too, if and only if they're legit and not some corporate shit response defending WWE.

having said that, i don't see a lot of spots in the story where hearing another side of the story would really change my opinion on things. Punk is already agreeing that he kept coming back when he shouldn't, he keep working injured, the mentality that the champ doesn't rest, and he never seeked outside doctors, so a lot of the points that couldn't not be 100% true don't seem that important.

I also don't think there is a big reason for Punk to lie or exaggerate things now. He waited all this time, he's doing for free, he already got what he wanted from WWE, don't really see a bit point in changing things

[Big Red Machine]

It would be interesting to hear Hunter/Vince's side of this.

i would too, if and only if they're legit and not some corporate shit response defending WWE.

having said that, i don't see a lot of spots in the story where hearing another side of the story would really change my opinion on things. Punk is already agreeing that he kept coming back when he shouldn't, he keep working injured, the mentality that the champ doesn't rest, and he never seeked outside doctors, so a lot of the points that couldn't not be 100% true don't seem that important.

I also don't think there is a big reason for Punk to lie or exaggerate things now. He waited all this time, he's doing for free, he already got what he wanted from WWE, don't really see a bit point in changing things

Just finished listening to it, and I totally agree with you. There is some stuff in here (especially with that on-staff doctor) that is legitimately scary. In some ways it reminds me of that big expose on Dixie from a few years ago.

[cero2k]

Just finished listening to it, and I totally agree with you. There is some stuff in here (especially with that on-staff doctor) that is legitimately scary. In some ways it reminds me of that big expose on Dixie from a few years ago.

indeed. it almost makes me think that they didn't learn anything from Eddie and Benoit, i'm guessing if Punk wasn't straightedge he'd be drowning in painkillers right now. It also makes me wonder how seriously injured guys like Ziggler and Cena could be at this moment, or how fucked are Dragon and Rey rey that they can't come back after so long. This surely explains Cena's miracle recuperation powers.

[Bob-O]

This needs to be listened to, print doesn't do it full justice.

With all things considered, it makes me wonder where we'd be had they gone with Punk's idea of the 3-way between Rock and Cena, or figured him into his definition of the Wrestlemania Main Event somehow. Would he still be around? Would he, in fact, be dead? Would they have gone with Bryan vs Sheamus last year instead of centering the whole show around DB?

It also makes me wonder if Orton fails drug tests on purpose for the time off...

He also notes in the interview that The Shield was originally supposed to be Big Show, Daniel Bryan, and Seth Rollins but HE pitched using 3 FCW guys (which I believe, as creatively, they made their debut in his angle and he would have had input). He pitched Rollins, Ambrose, and Ohno, but Triple H wasn't much for fat slob Chris Hero so he went with Roman Reigns instead then took credit for coming up with it.

[cero2k]

He also notes in the interview that The Shield was originally supposed to be Big Show, Daniel Bryan, and Seth Rollins but HE pitched using 3 FCW guys (which I believe, as creatively, they made their debut in his angle and he would have had input). He pitched Rollins, Ambrose, and Ohno, but Triple H wasn't much for fat slob Chris Hero so he went with Roman Reigns instead then took credit for coming up with it.

the funny thing was that when The Shield debuted, without knowing this, there was a lot of talk from the fans that they wanted Hero in the Shield. Comes to show that sometimes, fans and wrestlers do agree on what's best for business

[Big Red Machine]

This needs to be listened to, print doesn't do it full justice.

With all things considered, it makes me wonder where we'd be had they gone with Punk's idea of the 3-way between Rock and Cena, or figured him into his definition of the Wrestlemania Main Event somehow.

Hopefully something like the way I built it up in my fantasy booking, LOL.

Would he still be around? Would he, in fact, be dead?

I think he would have retired in May. He was still beaten up ad frustrated about Network payday issues and stuff like that, but I think he would have worked through his contract.

Would they have gone with Bryan vs Sheamus last year instead of centering the whole show around DB?

I don't think so. The fan reaction to Dragon was too big to ignore, and that had nothing to do with Punk.

[Bob-O]

This needs to be listened to, print doesn't do it full justice.

With all things considered, it makes me wonder where we'd be had they gone with Punk's idea of the 3-way between Rock and Cena, or figured him into his definition of the Wrestlemania Main Event somehow.

Hopefully something like the way I built it up in my fantasy booking, LOL.

Would he still be around? Would he, in fact, be dead?

I think he would have retired in May. He was still beaten up ad frustrated about Network payday issues and stuff like that, but I think he would have worked through his contract.

Would they have gone with Bryan vs Sheamus last year instead of centering the whole show around DB?

I don't think so. The fan reaction to Dragon was too big to ignore, and that had nothing to do with Punk.

All good points.

the funny thing was that when The Shield debuted, without knowing this, there was a lot of talk from the fans that they wanted Hero in the Shield. Comes to show that sometimes, fans and wrestlers do agree on what's best for business

Hero just made sense at the time. Now that it's established itself and ran it's course, it's hard to imagine The Shield any other way. But at the time, you had two guys that were absolutely blowing up developmental and... Leakee? Haha, I remember Micheal Cole kept calling them "the three developmental studs", and beyond the obvious issue with that statement (studs lol shutupcole), if that was what they were going for, Hero was just so obvious to everyone that doesn't get to make those decisions.

-

Also, found this amusing. Triple H and Vince kept telling Punk that he WAS is the Main Event of Wrestlemania. Wrestling Undertaker WAS a Main Event. Wrestling Triple H WAS a Main Event. Apparently, back at Wrestlemania 18, Triple H politic'd his ass off to go on after Rock and Hogan even though EVERYONE he pitched it to laughed at him saying "No disrespect to Jericho or the title, but we're talking about ROCK vs HOGAN here... you understand that, right?"

[Big Red Machine]

Hero just made sense at the time. Now that it's established itself and ran it's course, it's hard to imagine The Shield any other way. But at the time, you had two guys that were absolutely blowing up developmental and... Leakee? Haha, I remember Micheal Cole kept calling them "the three developmental studs", and beyond the obvious issue with that statement (studs lol shutupcole), if that was what they were going for, Hero was just so obvious to everyone that doesn't get to make those decisions.

-

Also, found this amusing. Triple H and Vince kept telling Punk that he WAS is the Main Event of Wrestlemania. Wrestling Undertaker WAS a Main Event. Wrestling Triple H WAS a Main Event. Apparently, back at Wrestlemania 18, Triple H politic'd his ass off to go on after Rock and Hogan even though EVERYONE he pitched it to laughed at him saying "No disrespect to Jericho or the title, but we're talking about ROCK vs HOGAN here... you understand that, right?"

I actually remember enjoying Leakee as a babyface in FCW and not being too thrilled when he started up his heel Roman Reigns character.

As for the Triple H thing, according to Jericho's book, he and Hunter both politicked to try to go on BEFORE Rock vs. Hogan because they knew that the crowd would be dead after Rock vs. Hogan, and it was Vince who was adamant that the WWF Title match had to go on last because it was the title match.

[Bob-O]

As for the Triple H thing, according to Jericho's book, he and Hunter both politicked to try to go on BEFORE Rock vs. Hogan because they knew that the crowd would be dead after Rock vs. Hogan, and it was Vince who was adamant that the WWF Title match had to go on last because it was the title match.

Fair enough. I knew there was something very ironic about them telling Punk that, though.