Posted in: Mr. Tito
On This Day in Pro Wrestling History... 5 Years Ago, CM Punk Began his WWE Exit at SummerSlam 2011
By Mr. Tito
Aug 14, 2016 - 12:24:07 AM

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ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY... 5 years ago, the WWE held their annual SummerSlam Pay Per View event on August 14th, 2011. Initially, the long-term WWE plans by Vince McMahon were to headline this show with WWE Champion John Cena defending the title against Alberto Del Rio. You see, WWE was going to tour Mexico during the Fall of 2011 and the WWE Corporation wanted to proudly display Alberto Del Rio as WWE Champion during that tour. In fact, Alberto Del Rio wasn't even on the RAW brand to start 2011... He was on the Smackdown brand and actually chasing the World Heavyweight Championship. Del Rio won the 2011 Royal Rumble, the only 40 man Rumble match ever, and he would wrestle Edge at Wrestlemania 27. He lost to Edge and then lost to Christian in an unsuccessful attempt to win the vacant World Heavyweight Title left by the retiring Edge.

Soon thereafter, Alberto Del Rio was moved to the RAW brand... There, he would begin his slow build towards that long-term booked SummerSlam 2011 title shot. After a feud with the Big Show, Alberto Del Rio entered the Money in the Bank match at the same named Pay Per View. In fact, Del Rio WON the briefcase at Money in the Bank 2011.

But something else happened during this period of time that threatened to challenge the WWE's long-term booking.

CM Punk was a wrestler who scratched and clawed his way into the WWE and had to keep fighting the Creative system that didn't seem to appreciate him. He had 2 World Heavyweight Championship reigns as a member of Smackdown but both were brief and both were as a result of Money in the Bank cash-ins. WWE Creative just didn't make it a big deal that Punk was a World Champion and even began to dismantle the Straight Edge Society that Punk was working hard to get over. During late 2010, the WWE moved Punk to the RAW brand. After recovering from an injury, CM Punk took over the weakened Nexus brand and began feuding with John Cena. That was short lived as WWE decided to swap out John Cena for Randy Orton in order to build up Miz vs. John Cena at Wrestlemania 27 with the Rock being involved with that match. Punk would later express dissatisfaction with the Cena/Orton swap and the Rock's part-time involvement.

After some issues with his Smackdown run and early problems with his time on the RAW brand during eary 2011, CM Punk began to think about his future. In fact, his WWE contract was about to expire through July 2011. With that being said, the WWE sought to use CM Punk as an elevation opponent for John Cena at WWE Money in the Bank 2011. With Punk's expiring contract, the intent was for CM Punk to LOSE to John Cena and John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio would happen at SummerSlam 2011 as intended.

Then, the WWE made a BOLD decision for an exiting wrestler... On the June 27th, 2011 edition of Monday Night RAW, following a John Cena vs. R-Truth Tables match in which CM Punk provided distraction to help R-Truth win the match, Punk grabbed a microphone and sat on the entrance stage. WWE boldly gave CM Punk free reign on what to say which is unheard of for a highly scripted WWE and one that has been careful in handling exiting wrestlers. Punk delivered the "Pipebomb" speech in which he tore up John Cena, the Rock, the McMahons, Triple H, John Laurinaitis, and the fans for enabling the WWE Corporate structure to happen. Afterwards, the fans were buzzing and mainstream media gave CM Punk's promo serious attention.

Suddenly, plans for WWE Money in the Bank 2011 began to change. WWE had something here with CM Punk following his "Pipebomb" promo and contract negotiations intensified. After all, if CM Punk leaves, he could help a competitor ("maybe I'll go back to Ring of Honor", Punk said in the Pipebomb speech), and WWE wanted no part of that. Money and perk offerings began to greatly improve during the contract negotiations as did the likelihood that CM Punk might actually win the WWE Title from John Cena. During the weeks that followed the "Pipebomb" speech, the WWE began pushing the "sense of urgency" that CM Punk could legitimately leave the WWE with the WWE Title. The lines between sports entertainment and reality began to blur and wrestling fans bought it 100% hook, line, and sinker. Better yet, Money in the Bank 2011 was in CM Punk's hometown of Chicago.

Reportedly, CM Punk signed a new WWE Contract at the WWE Money in the Bank 2011 Pay Per View and the booking plans were officially changed. CM Punk would go on to defeat John Cena after Cena chose to be distracted by John Laurinaitis who was selling that the WWE Corporation was concerned with the match's outcome and tried to interfere. Big mistake by John Cena and CM Punk would capitalize to become WWE Champion. CM Punk celebrated with his Chicago fans and left through the crowd. In the days that followed, CM Punk took pictures of himself in various places with the WWE Title. Some suggested that CM Punk should actually go to other promotions and attempt to defend the WWE Title...

But he didn't.

Immediately following Money in the Bank 2011, the WWE held a 2-week tournament to decide a brand new WWE Champion. On the 2nd week, Rey Mysterio actually won the tournament and became WWE Champion. In what would continue the WWE's Creative blunders following Money in the Bank 2011, Rey Mysterio would have to wrestle and defend that newly won WWE Title against John Cena on the SAME NIGHT. Of course John Cena became WWE Champion again. After the match, however, CM Punk appeared (with new theme music, Living Colour's "Cult of Personality", a perk of his new contract) and stared down John Cena to end that RAW. Obviously, you have 2 WWE Champions and that would create the WWE Title vs. WWE Title match at SummerSlam 2011.

The new WWE Title tournament AND deciding the WWE Title vs. WWE Title match at SummerSlam 2011 was made by the new "Chief Operating Officer" Triple H. CM Punk winning the WWE Title at SummerSlam 2011 made the "Board of Directors" relieve Vince McMahon of his duties during the following night on RAW and put the "COO" Triple H in charge of the WWE. Triple H had been taking it easy as a wrestler through this point and this was his real transition into a non-wrestling role. Behind the scenes, he was also gaining ground by being in charge of live events, about to take over developmental (2012), and was getting more of a say in Creative. Following Money in the Bank 2011, he was all over Monday Night RAW and directly involved in the dispute regarding the WWE Title between John Cena vs. CM Punk. In fact, Triple H made himself Special Guest Referee!

CM Punk vs. John Cena at SummerSlam 2011 was yet another classic between the two. Their Money in the Bank 2011 match received 5-Stars and "Match of the Year" by many publications. This match was also good although the timing was a bit off with Triple H was a referee. He seemed to take some air out of the match but it was well worked none-the-less. The match had a controversial finish, as Triple H counted 1, 2, 3 despite John Cena's leg being on the ropes. Triple H didn't see it and seemed upset that he missed the call. No problem... I believe that most wrestling fans would have LOVED to see another John Cena vs. CM Punk match. Hell, give us 10 more while you're at it. John Cena and CM Punk had a natural chemistry that allowed the Money in the Bank 2011 and SummerSlam 2011 to be great. WWE essentially had their modern "Rock vs. Austin" right in front of them.

However - Do you remember those long-term plans that I discussed above about Alberto Del Rio winning the WWE Title at SummerSlam 2011? You know, so that he could tour Mexico as WWE Champion during the Fall 2011? Well, those plans were about to be kept...

Out of no where, Kevin Nash appears and attacks CM Punk as he celebrates retaining his WWE Title. Nash, by the way, was a known longtime friend of Triple H dating back to their "Clique" days during the mid-1990s in the WWE. Kevin Nash (Diesel), Triple H, Sean Waltman (X-Pac, 123 Kid, Syxx), Scott Hall (Razor Ramon), and Shawn Michaels were very close friends backstage and practically formed a mini labor union where they'd band together creatively and also on money payouts. With the kayfabe lines blurred and Triple H's character during 1999 being built on the famous "Curtain Call" 1996 incident in which HHH, Nash, Hall, and Michaels all broke character and saluted Madison Square Garden fans in the ring... It was very well established that Triple H and Kevin Nash were friends. Triple H was the Special Guest Referee and Kevin Nash was attacking and Jacknife Powerbombing CM Punk. Gee, I wonder what's up? Especially with Triple H calmly walking out of the ring and looking back...

Alberto Del Rio arrives with a knocked out CM Punk, cashes in the Money in the Bank briefcase along with bringing his own referee to soon count the 1, 2, 3 to become WWE Champion after Del Rio delivers his kick to Punk's head. Triple H was on the outside selling that he was shocked... The "Summer of Punk" was officially over and Vince McMahon's long-term plans of having Alberto Del Rio become WWE Champion by SummerSlam 2011 remained in tact.

Fine - The storyline should now focus on CM Punk (a) getting revenge on Kevin Nash and (b) getting revenge on the guy likely to have made Nash's interference happen, Triple H. In fact, early reports had Triple H vs. CM Punk headlining Survivor Series 2011. Not a bad idea...

But that didn't happen. Kevin Nash was unable to pass a physical with WWE's medical staff to be able to wrestle CM Punk at the Pay Per View following SummerSlam 2011, Night of Champions 2011. Instead, the match against Triple H was pushed up to Night of Champions. The match was considered by many critics, including yours truly (Mr. Tito), to be a joke of a match with tons of Kevin Nash interference involved despite Nash being unable to pass a WWE physical. In the end, CM Punk eats the Pedigree and loses in what would prove to be his final match ever against Triple H. In fact, they would tag up 2 Pay Per Views later at Vengeance 2011 with CM Punk getting pinned in a match against the Miz and R-Truth.

The damage was done.

WWE tried to redeem itself to CM Punk fans by having him defeat Alberto Del Rio for the WWE Title at Survivor Series 2011. Punk would go on to hold the WWE Title for more than a year before losing to the Rock at Royal Rumble 2013. HOWEVER, between Survivor Series 2011 and Royal Rumble 2013, CM Punk barely main evented Pay Per Views let alone editions of Monday Night RAW. The Rock would beat CM Punk TWICE at Royal Rumble 2013 (for WWE Title) and at Elimination Chamber 2013. Punk would then lose to John Cena on an edition of RAW soon thereafter to build up John Cena for his Rock rematch at Wrestlemania 29. For the rest of 2013, CM Punk would have bigtime feuds with Undertaker for Wrestlemania 29 and Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam 2013 but he was on the losing end of both feuds. Through early 2014, CM Punk was required to put over Roman Reigns on a January 2014 edition of Monday Night RAW. Punk was told that he had no chance of winning Royal Rumble 2014 and boldly decided to walk out of the company for good. He was not impressed by his potential Wrestlemania 30 match-up against Triple H.

The booking decisions heading into the event and actually at SummerSlam 2011 itself BROKE CM Punk as a WWE wrestler. The WWE had found their next "white hot" wrestler following that 6/27/11 "Pipebomb" RAW promo but the WWE opted to stick to Alberto Del Rio's push instead along with Triple H's storyline as Chief Operating Officer. They took CM Punk's momentum for granted. WWE wouldn't flinch on their Alberto Del Rio plans and it appeared that Triple H had a personal hatred for CM Punk. After all during the "Pipebomb" speech, CM Punk referred to Triple H as "Doofus Son-in-Law" while later mocking Triple H's acting skills in the WWE Films movie The Chaperone. Punk had so many backstage factors going against him that they actually tore down his momentum following Money in the Bank 2011's peak. SummerSlam 2011 began to nail his WWE coffin and the actions taken by the WWE in the years to come would nail it shut.

Truth be told, Alberto Del Rio didn't get over as a Main Eventer as a result of this SummerSlam 2011 decision. He has struggled ever since and is now even considering leaving the WWE once his contract option is up later this year. 5 years later, he is not the major superstar that he was envisioned of becoming by Vince McMahon during 2011.

Worse yet, we never found out WHY Kevin Nash interfered in that SummerSlam 2011 match. It was never clearly explained or revealed why he attacked... He would later wrestle Triple H in a Ladder Match at the TLC 2011 event despite "not being able to pass a physical" a few months before that. Nash would disappear from television after that with a few WWE appearances here and there but nothing relevant to CM Punk's storylines.

CM Punk, since his exit following Royal Rumble 2014, has since tried his hand at Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) by joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) promotion. His first fight is scheduled for UFC 203 on September 10th, 2016 which will be his first since signing with the promotion during December 2014.

On this day in pro wrestling history... CM Punk's WWE exit began at SummerSlam 2011.

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