An AEW star has revealed the advice they gave to CM Punk about not main-eventing WWE WrestleMania back in 2013.
While WrestleMania 42 would see CM Punk in the main event of night two, defeating Roman Reigns for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, that position on the card wasn’t always the case.
Back in 2013, not only was WrestleMania a single-night event, but CM Punk found himself outside of the main event, being the sixth match on the card (seventh, if the pre-show match was included.
WrestleMania 29 saw CM Punk face The Undertaker, with the Phenom continuing his undefeated streak with the victory at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Punk was apparently “really down” to not be in the main event, with that match being John Cena defeating The Rock for the WWE Championship. Mick Foley would share advice that he gave to the WWE star in that moment during an interview with Big Issue, saying:
“I remember when CM Punk was really down because he wasn’t in the main event at WrestleMania. He thought he deserved it, but he *was* wrestling The Undertaker!
“I was like, “Phil ((as Big Issue notes) CM Punk’s real name), it doesn’t matter who they advertise as the main event. Edge and I were not the main event at WrestleMania 22, and we felt like we had the match of the night. I don’t care if they give us the main-event bill. If you go out there and steal the show at WrestleMania, that’s your WrestleMania moment.”
“Don’t let anyone else define to you what being a success is. You get to define that for yourself. In so many cases, some of the most rewarding jobs are not rewarding financially. If my younger self asked me, “What’s the secret to success?” I’d say: you just try to make the world a little better place than you found it. I really believe in that.”
The World Heavyweight Champion has previously stated that a WWE WrestleMania main event was “dangled like a carrot” in front of him during his first run.
WrestleMania 41 would see Punk main event Night 1, losing a Triple Threat that also featured Roman Reigns to Seth Rollins. Addressing the main event status at the key WWE PLE, Punk was asked if he feels he appreciates the honor of being in that position more than his first run, describing it as “probably sweeter“.
That WrestleMania Moment
Being a two-night WWE PLE, there are arguments to be made as to whether the final match of Night 1 holds the same weight as the main event of Night 2. WrestleMania 42 saw Cody Rhodes defeat Randy Orton to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship on April 18, with Punk defeating Reigns to become World Heavyweight Champion the following night.
Clearly, WWE are booking strongly when it comes to the main event of both nights, leaving little doubt about how they want that spot to be perceived.
With Foley suggesting that the “WrestleMania moment” means more than the position on the card, it’s something that has been built over the decades. Stars talk about their “WrestleMania moment”; they don’t talk about where the match as an element of a match lineup. The show is big enough to hold its reputation as an all-encompassing entity.
It would not be surprising if every star went into their match treating it as a high-profile encounter; main event-worthy, if you will. The idea of a star going into a match at the iconic event with anything less than a “steal the show” attitude is surely anathema to what would be expected.
For any star on the expansive WWE roster, a WrestleMania moment is likely a career highlight, particularly in their early years, with limited opportunities across both nights.
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