Was CM Punk’s Pipebomb Promo A Shoot?

On June 27, 2011, CM Punk cut a legendary promo on Monday Night Raw, it was a promo that echoed a lot of fan’s frustrations with the WWE and Vince McMahon – and also had a lot of people asking if it was a work or a shoot.

Or maybe something in between? I am Luke Owen and was CM Punk’s pipebomb promo a shoot?

The June 27th edition of Monday Night Raw saw a main event of John Cena vs. R-Truth in a table’s match. But as Cena tried to AA Truth through the table, CM Punk ran out from the back in a Stone Cold Steve Austin t-shirt and interfered – which allowed Truth to score a win over the WWE Champion.

Punk then walked back up the ramp, sat down, and cut the now-famous pipebomb promo. A promo which insulted Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, Triple H, John Laurinaitis, John Cena and more.

He named-dropped Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling – a big no-no in WWE. He name-dropped Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar – names who wouldn’t return to WWE for another year.

He took a pop shot at the main event of the following WrestleMania. He broke the fourth wall and spoke to Colt Cabana, he said the word “wrestler” and even talked about the notion of Vince McMahon dying and what will happen to WWE once that happens.

As he starts to tell a personal story about Vince and Be A Star, Punk’s microphone is cut off and then goes off the air. 

In storyline, Punk was suspended by WWE the following day who posted on their website: “Raw’s abrupt conclusion Monday night was not due to technical difficulties.

The decision to suddenly end the broadcast in that manner was made by WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon, who gave this quote to WWE.com: ‘CM Punk was suspended indefinitely for his unprofessional conduct as soon as Raw went off the air.’”

In the WWE produced documentary Best in the World, Punk claims the 27th June episode of Raw was his second to last TV taping and he was feeling jubilant – which only improved when a writer approached him and told him that he was being given a live microphone to air his grievances, which he called:

“An entire WWE career of frustration being just let out, and not just mine. Every diva and superstar in the back, every person who was released unjustly. I think everyone who has ever worked here has felt frustration.”

It had been reported that Punk’s contract was coming due on the night of Money in the Bank and this was then used as part of the storyline. Dave Meltzer wrote in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

“Punk’s contract actually expires a few days before the PPV but signed an agreement to stay on through [Money in the Bank]…Where things stand on Punk’s negotiations are being kept very close to the vest. WWE creative has been told Punk finishes up [after Money in the Bank]. Those with knowledge of the situation said that he has not signed a new deal, but that they are in negotiations for a new deal.”

Punk confirmed this in the Best in the World documentary, saying he only signed the extension for Money in the Bank if he was in the main event.

In an interview with Marc Maron – recorded before he left the company in 2014 – Punk again stressed the promo was a shoot saying,

“It was the most dangerous attitude to have: I don’t give a f**k. What are they going to do, fire me? I’m not re-signing.”

He also added that Vince McMahon showed him more respect for it afterwards saying,

“Vince is the kind of guy who lives by the law of the jungle. Only the strong survive, lion is the king of the jungle. It’s weird, but that’s who that guy is. If you’re a pussy, he doesn’t got time for you. He’ll walk all over you.”

The promo caught a lot of attention from the wrestling world, with veterans of the business like Steve Austin, X-Pac, Mick Foley and JBL praising his work. But only a handful of people believed that Punk just cut a truly real shoot promo.

In fact, Dave Meltzer wrote in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that several parts of it were designed to not only promote the Money in the Bank pay-per-view, but also set-up some WWE returns.

“One person noted that the mention of every name, Colt Cabana, Heyman and Lesnar, all play into different current talks. Apparently he recently asked for Cabana, his longtime best friend, to get a main roster position as one of his deal points to return… Heyman and Lesnar have either made a deal or at least are in very serious negotiations to have a business relationship with WWE.”

In the end, the general belief is that Punk’s promo wasn’t a work or a shoot, but somewhere in between. Similar to Joey Styles’ promo on Raw, and John Cena’s promo on Roman Reigns in 2017, Punk’s pipebomb was a worked shoot.

Dave Meltzer said on Twitter that Punk scripted out the whole thing from his own mind, and it has been reported that he got certain elements of it signed off by WWE creative and Vince McMahon.

Wade Keller wrote in the Pro Wrestling Torch,

“If the thrasonical Punk was really shooting, he could have made fun of Cena’s punches looking fake. He could have said WWE is so bad, fans should just tune in to TNA Impact on Spike TV instead. He could have said one of these weeks he’ll show up at the Impact Zone.”

Punk not bringing up TNA was a red flag for a lot of people that this wasn’t a full shoot. Dave Meltzer wrote in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter,

“About the only thing seemingly off limits was any mentions of TNA.”

On his Something to Wrestle podcast, Bruce Prichard claimed 100% of the promo was a work. WWE’s Triple H noted in an interview with Grantland that if the Pipebomb had been a real shoot, it wouldn’t have been on the air.

“So let me get this straight, you think we put him out on TV, he broke f**king everything we were supposed to do, and then sat down Indian-style and started blistering everybody, and we didn’t think Let’s take him off the air? If that would’ve been a shoot, it would’ve been off the air the second he started.”

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