How did CM Punk’s pipe bomb promo transition his WWE career? Reflecting on the 13 year anniversary of the incident

CM Punk offered a highlight moment 13 years ago in 2011 when he called out Vince McMahon and WWE in the final segments of the June 27 episode of Monday Night RAW.

The Best in the World called out the then-chairman and the company for how they used him and explained why he would leave the company as a WWE Champion a few weeks later. CM Punk said in the segment that he liked his rival John Cena, and respected him, but didn't like what he was doing backstage and his relationship with Vince McMahon. He also dished out some harsh words for current Chief Creative Officer Triple H.

CM Punk's pipe bomb remains one of the top moments in WWE and certainly a career-altering moment for the veteran wrestler. After that, he became one of the most popular superstars and a fan favorite, as he wanted to change things in WWE. He also forever etched himself in history as the Voice of the Voiceless. It also led to the title match at the Money in the Bank event when he beat John Cena and left the company as the WWE Champion.

Given how popular Punk became after the pipe bomb and the MITB win, WWE continued this storyline for months, with The Best in the World eventually returning to the company a few weeks later and having an impressive title reign that lasted 434 days.

Even though he and the company parted ways on not-so-amicable terms in 2014, what happened in 2011 helped CM Punk become a top star and one of the faces of WWE.

CM Punk says he didn't believe the 2011 pipe bomb would get so 'big'

CM Punk's pipe bomb changed the landscape in WWE and created a lot of reactions not only in the upper management but also among WWE stars.

The Best in the World admitted that its impact was bigger than expected and revealed the backstage reactions.

"When I was done with that, I remember walking back up the ramp on the fly, thinking, well, I can’t go through the curtain because I just did this promo. If I go through the curtain, kayfabe-wise, I’m fist fighting somebody. I went side stage, which was just another little tiny thing that made people go, hmm, that was weird. And when I got into the back, there was nobody anywhere...It was a weird scene. I didn’t know it was gonna become as big as it did, but I knew just based off those reactions, we had something," Punk said. [ITR Wrestling]

After an unsuccessful stint with AEW, Punk returned to WWE at Survivor Series in November 2023 and has now started a feud with Drew McIntyre, which is expected to lead to a match at Summerslam.