Pipe Bomb: The Story of CM Punk vs John Cena

Wrestling Bios Presents - Pipe bomb: The Story of CM Punk vs John Cena
The Summer of 2011 of dubbed "The Summer of Punk" in the WWE, and for good reason too. CM Punk became the hottest and most talked about wrestler in the world during the Summer months of 2011. His comments on the mic and his actions in the ring didn't only capture the audience's attention, but it also grabbed mainstream media attention. CM Punk became wrestling's biggest story.
It all began on an episode of Monday Night Raw when CM Punk announced, on live television, that he would not be renewing his WWE contract and he was leaving the company for good. What made things interesting was that CM Punk was also the number one contender for the WWE Championship, and in the weeks that followed, it became clear that CM Punk wanted to defeat John Cena and leave the WWE holding the championship.
On the June 27 2011 episode of Raw, CM Punk would literally turn the wrestling world upside down when he dropped his "Pipebomb" promo. During this relentless tirade, CM Punk ripped into the WWE, the chairman, and the McMahon family before his mic got turned off. The promo sent fans into a frenzy as they tried to work out if the promo was a shoot, and overnight, CM Punk became the biggest thing in wrestling. In the weeks that followed, WWE capitlized on the hype by producing some very interesting and captivating promos featuring John Cena, Vince McMahon and CM Punk.
Everything led up to the Money in the Bank 2011 Pay Per View featuring CM Punk vs John Cena. In the build up to the match, the WWE creative department managed to tell one of it's best stories in years.
This mini documentary from Wrestling Bios takes a look at the CM Punk vs John Cena rivalry going into the 2011 Money in the Bank. Topics covered include:
01:11 - The ROH 2005 "Summer of Punk"
02:31 - The CM Punk Promo at WWE Capitol Punishment 2011
03:42 - CM Punk announces on Raw that he is leaving the WWE
05:30 - The CM Punk Pipebomb Promo
08:15 - The John Cena / Vince McMahon Promo that got Punk reinstated
10:51 - CM Punk's contract negotiations with Vince McMahon on Raw
12:55 - CM Punk vs John Cena at Money in the Bank 2011
15:13 - Vince gets fired by the Board of Directors and CM Punk returns to WWE
- Much More!
John Cena Rock Remix sample courtesy of JAYDEGARROW on KZbin
#WWE #CMPunk #Wrestling

[@Mattitude23]

You knew Punk struck a nerve on Vince when at the night of the contract signing, Punk brought up how Vince was a hypocrite being the biggest bully he has met in his entire life (despite the fact that the WWE was pushing for this whole anti-bullying campaign)

[@DensilGrant]

You really think so.

[@errdaykam4662]

I disagree with this as Vince has portrayed himself as the bully on tv for the longest time. Whilst it’s true he meant it as a worked shoot the fact that they could still portray it as being “for tv” means that I don’t think he got any heat for it.

[@MungareMike]

@@errdaykam4662 u really dont know the hazing culture inside WWE?? Cough JBL cough

[@marleytaylor7141]

@@MungareMike apparently he don’t lhh

[@Machete87]

i want hear Punk's take on the anti bullying campaign that Vince was pushing that yr only they killed his mic sadly

[@slanderman3296]

It's so crazy to think that was almost a DECADE ago. Getting old is bittersweet

[@Cameron_611]

CM Punk cut the greatest promo in the 2010s and he did it in a "Stone Cold" Steve Austin t-shirt!

[@robertzeigler152]

All because the vendors didnt have Cm Punk gear (or it wasnt in his size) lol

[@jordanjuarez8102]

I think the first comment is about all of 2010-2020. Notice the s in 2010s?

[@Cameron_611]

Jordan Juarez BINGO!!!

[@UnexpectedWonder]

Naw...John Cena and "The Viper" Randy Orton have had better ones.

[@scottodrowsky9835]

And in the end, they (WWE) still dropped the ball!

[@thedude5600]

This story was so BIG back in 2011, those who didn’t watch or weren’t around when this went down missed out on a truly captivating story. Even my dad who doesn’t like wrestling saw the pipe bomb promo and said “you don’t see that kind of TV often!” From the number 1 contenders match, until the 3 count at MitB this was a story that even the attitude era couldn’t deliver. This story arc also marked the kayfabe end of Vince running the WWE, amazing to think he battled both Austin & Punk for being out of control and we never got a Austin v Punk match out of it.

[@RazorChampion99]

The sad thing about this is that WWE still has not brought back the WWE ice cream bars.

[@kadams857]

😂😂😂

[@Orpheus033]

I'm shocked they didn't bring out Cena one's to spite him by now.

[@JR-he6fn]

RC99 Productions when he returns his first sentence should be “all this time away I only have one question, WHER OH WERE ARE MY WWE ICE CREAM BARS”

[@axlsixx4679]

@@JR-he6fn his first line is WHEN THEY THINK THEY HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS I CHAINGE THE CULTURE. i think.

[@ChadKizzleDixon]

Actually we have.... Ya hear me knocking? Then let me in

[@jadekardash7058]

When i was younger I thought CM Punk was an asshole, Growing up and learning more about wrestling and what goes on behind the scenes especially with his situation, I admire and respect him so much.

[@BlackHart730]

Well done my G. Never stop growing ✌🏾✊🏾

[@robertlustmord1636]

@@jeffreyriley8742 Backstage politics are real though.

[@domagojkersun9630]

The guy is a crybaby who got hes ass destroyed in MMA. Back in the days he would be an opening act where he would be in the ring and Kevin Nash would come to the ring and powerbomb hes ass.

[@CrashHeadroom]

@@domagojkersun9630 This. The guy is miserble to be around, "straight edge, listen to government I'm poppunk and you dont need to rebel while seeming like you are rebeling WOOO IM SO UNIQUE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE LIKE THIS!" type personality and there arn't many who have anything good to say about the guy. He has SOME wrestling talent for sure.... and it stops there. No mic skills, little to no charisma, a thug look about him and a failed MMA carrier leading everyone to realise he has little man syndrome.

[@80sbaby90sraisedme]

@@domagojkersun9630 Cena fan??

[@SmoothLion78]

CM Punk owned Cena during this time his mic work was impeccable.

[@David-fanboy]

The “I lost sight” promo in Boston just before money in the bank he cut on Cena seemed so real that Cena punched him when he called him the New York Yankees

[@MrGinja123]

I just want to ask "but where o where are my ice cream bars" 😂😂😂😂

[@shittalkerskywalkertm9430]

this whole storyline had me at the edge of my seat indeed. All Hail Wrestling Bios

[@eja2199]

I wasn't even watching wrestling during this time but I remember one of my brothers still watching and getting the money in the bank ppv. His entrance that night was one of the craziest I've seen still. That Chicago crowd was behind him 1000%

[@russianbear6384]

Fair play to Cena for going ahead with this

[@airfixx_8952]

Why? It was the hottest angle in many many years.... Why would Cena NOT want to be part of it?

[@northofnashira2575]

You've done nothing but fantastic work so far. This video is even better than your normal ones. Keep up the good work. I haven't watched much wrestling since Punk left. I used to go to my friend's place for all the PPVs, but now it's down to the Rumble and Mania.

[@WrestlingBios]

Thanks! Slightly different direction for this one, don't want the normal Bios getting a bit stale, so went with something different. Glad you enjoyed!

[@nurseelliott4256]

Those ice cream bars was pretty good. Punk definitely made his mark in wrestling history

[@ElevenThirtyThree]

The Killswitch Engage song ‘This Fire Burns’ was Punk’s best theme music.

[@mikecabral2420]

I love killswitch but I felt like cult of personality fit him better

[@brandonpage7087]

Mike Cabral, agreed!! I've long been a fan of Living Colour & hated how they had been largely forgotten & then lo & behold, CM Punk chooses Cult of Personality as his entrance music! I was thrilled & I still give major props to Punk for making Living Colour relevant again, & allowing for a new generation of youths, to discover them!

[@ryanhill5628]

Miseria Cantare by AFI

[@nonamebill7421]

I think cult of personality is a way better song in general. It's in my top 50 songs of all time. Whereas his Killswitch engage entrance song isn't my Idea of good music. That's just my personal taste. But I used to think the Killswitch engage song was a better fit as CM Punk's entrance song. However since Punk returned to AEW, I've come to the conclusion that cult of personality is perfect for Punk.

[@horrorfan4-life689]

Punk is one of the best of all time on the mic. He really is one of the best all around wrestlers that there has been. Punk was able to get a message across without yelling or anything fancy. There is very few that have been able to do that. Arn Anderson and Jake Roberts are the two best at speaking soft but his words hitting hard.

[@GigaChadh976]

Hell no he isn’t one of the best of the best all time.

[@Joshua-hf5ui]

​@@GigaChadh976 okay chad

[@Gotti17]

I still have hope of a punk return ... Wrestling needs him ... imagine the pop when that music hits

[@tonistark33]

OMG I can hear it now

[@Gotti17]

If they could keep it quiet and return at Wrestlemania

[@jasonmerced718]

It should be when he enters the Royal Rumble as a surprise #30 entry

[@abdoul5176]

They ruin everything though.

[@jtoumai]

@@jasonmerced718 and new music

[@Eric-wu7bp]

Do the story of CM Punks 434 day reign as WWE Champion

[@JAIMEGARCIA-gw9re]

I hated that so much. Personally, I think his run was too long.

[@jordannewsom3606]

@@ChristopherJames1993 hot potato like the title changing every month

[@WRESTLEWITHANDY]

Another awesome vid, cant believe this was almost a decade ago

[@VERDICTInsanity]

I was gripping my sofa while CM Punk dropped the Pipe Bomb. It’s also one of the few feuds that Vince was organically pulled into

[@blankshell]

Absolutely love these docuseries. Great job making these, thank you!

[@1979mattant]

Another brilliant video, you are the best wrestling channel on KZbin, keep up the good work mate!

[@ocvidsstuff4224]

Wrestling can be very strong as a story telling media when it blurrs the veil between fiction and reality. It's really strong when wrestling uses that carateristic that defines it. It would be totally relevant to use it a lot more nowadays.

[@Makainternational]

This is the greatest wrestling channel in the entire universe! Much love to wrestling bios!

[@NaZtRdAmUs]

Great video! really laughed at the end..."get the tables" keep up the goodwork mate.

[@itsshaz1333]

Cm punk is one of my favourite wrestlers ever just because of his mic and in ring skills that are second to none, but mostly his charisma and personality is what got him over with me.

[@licentiousdreams]

Your research into every topic of your videos is top notch. On top of that, you make every topic so enjoyable to watch that no matter how little I knew or cared about the topic I can't help but watch every video in its entirety. I wish you the best on your venture into the world of KZbin. Keep up the great work boss man.

[@MrGinja123]

That's why I love this channel he researches everything

[@trevorc8198]

When Punk became white hot thats when I started watching again. Prior to that didnt watch WWE since the passing of Eddie Guerrero

[@hooksncrosses3419]

Same here. I stopped watching WWE after WM 20. I just got fed up with the product. Then a mate of mine told me about the pipe bomb so I tuned back in.

[@GODCONVOYPRIME]

And here I thought I was the only one. Well with the exception of returning for CM Punk's reign.

[@chiko88rocket]

I just started watching again after 19 years trying to catch up on what I missed. This would have been good to see

[@FunFilmzProductions]

You should really check out hbk vs undertaker rivalry going into wrestlemania 25.

[@blackflagsnroses6013]

White hot? Ratings continued to drop in the “summer of Punk”

[@joekerr2348]

I was there live in Chicago's mib. Craziest crowd and night ever.

[@manpr03]

Yea ok

[@dilloncompton6102]

Most overhyped promo on the internet of all time

[@PinkStarburst717]

This storyline got me back into wrestling, taker losing at mania dropped me back out

[@michaeltrenier]

AGREED

[@Nephalem2002]

For me I lost interest mid brand split after Balor got injured. No offence to him at all, injuries are common and Im happy he got better. Just the writers afterwards didn’t really have anything interesting for me.

[@leviuzumaki3903]

@@Nephalem2002 the sad part for me is he never got a push after that you know

[@serbonkers4130]

As much as i dont like cena, they have awesome chemistry and brought out the best from each other. Reminds me of the hbk v y2j feud.

[@jasonmerced718]

The last best storyline in WWE

[@albertthepeacock8020]

Rusev/Lana/Lashley storyline:Hold my championship belt

[@JustKenExisting]

@jay facts

[@ZaibatsuuHQ]

@@albertthepeacock8020 If you enjoy this bs, that's pretty sad.

[@emceehawaii7542]

@@ZaibatsuuHQ it's a joke dude

[@madddoggnogood1491]

Daniel Bryan vs The Authority

[@gezeo750]

So I didn't realize but the contract signing segment was nearly 25 MINUTES!! It's crazy to see WWE gave Punk that much time to work with! They put a LOT of trust in him during the build up to their MiTB match!

[@manniking233]

Punk is the last truly big star WWE created. Fight me!

[@martinfawkes595]

Emmanuel Agyei-Boakye and even that was only for a couple of weeks.

[@ericfisher1360]

Easy, Punk was a Character before he ever went to WWE.

[@user-we1sj3oj9n]

He was a star before he came to wwe

[@yashbspianoandcompositions1042]

Roman reigns:- Let me introduce myself

[@manpr03]

New fans 🙄

[@petercastillo2752]

This year is the 10th anniversary! It's hard to believe how much time has passed.

[@grahamcurran8744]

Great video, I didnt follow wrestling at this time due to frustrations with what was being produced. So I never understood this punk is awesome stuff that goes on now-a-days. I'd say tho seeing this all unfold was pretty cool.

[@im_spiz]

It’s clobbering time 🕕

[@jawa2685]

Through the years, punks legend and myth has definitely grown

[@rexgamewell]

woW bio! I remember when you had 1k sub's now you have 70k!

[@jamesaitchison9478]

That was an entertaining video, well researched and in depth.

[@edge7799]

Great job.Your one of the best biographer on KZbin and I want to know if you could make a Cm Punk vs HHH and vs Jericho bio. I am wrestling fan since 1984. I'm into CM Punk since I stumble on is 2011 return. I stopped watching wrestling in 2002 and I was at No way out in Montreal to see Hogan and Stone Cold return and its was a ppv but I only watched wwe from time to time but couldn't connect to any superstar at the time.I would have loved to fallow Punk's 2011 to 2012 babyface era.From what I saw on KZbin they are portions missing of these eras.Continue your good work.

[@shawnoandrew]

Excellent video as your videos always are.

[@tylers7048]

I don't care for CM Punk but I do love Wrestling Bios 💪😘👍 Regal Pt 4

[@MrGinja123]

I really want him to do it

[@tylers7048]

@@MrGinja123 Me too brother. Regal 4 will be beautiful

[@heyyou9693]

From 1999 or 2000, I had lost interest in wrestling until around this time. I didn't follow it that close, but saw what Punk was doing. I didn't get back into it fully until 2015 however.

[@owlhater270]

Love the "cult of personality " mix. Who did it? I wanna hear it.

[@BladeXYoutuber]

Andrew ncer same

[@Machete87]

In living colour. Honestly i preferred punk's older music when he 1st debut'd, but i do love cult of personality.

[@1roundleft821]

@@Machete87 no he's talking about who remixed it.

[@beefgravystudios]

Great vid. Thank you for stopping the story where you did. End on a high note and not dwell on how it botched later.

[@g-dub5272]

The greatest moment in that garbage PG era....the pipe bomb. I knew exactly where I was, what I wearing etc and me marking out realizing this is an epic moment

[@nellsun2521]

True. Although to be fair, this moment now looks like it's from a golden era, compared with today's unwatchable product.

[@ZaidKhan-dc4wo]

That MITB match feels like the Wrestlemania 20 match between Hogan and The Rock. The crowd were behind heel and they made it more special.

[@airfixx_8952]

WM18, dude.

[@Dannytcp69]

Seriously, how has this channel not got more subscribers?

[@dangalangman7379]

Best wrastlin channel on KZbin.

[@SimmyBassline]

nice bonus outtakes on the end Mr WB!

[@hbleslmh7940]

CM PUNK loved by fans because, he is authentic, just normal guy and he himself is wrestling fan.

[@taylormademyself89]

Chick Magnet Punk dropping bombs better than anyone else then now and forever lol

[@MarkieMX]

The last actually great moment in WWE. Stopped watching in 2003, Punk was the only thing I tuned back into.

[@xancypillosi9497]

I tuned into punk getting mauled in real fighting. Loved it

[@wolfieform9514]

C.m.punk was without doubt the most controversial wrestler at the time 👍😎👍

[@randomramblings2325]

Thanks great video pleased do a CM Punk AEW retrospective is it looks he may be coming back to the WWE and if that is the case, talk about ironic.

[@DJDoubleCee]

For a long time, I thought C.M. Punk’s pipe bomb was real. Especially since his mic got cut off towards the middle of it.

[@hermanbooger5431]

That's why it's called a SHOOT sir.

[@sastiadhikary3292]

It's real

[@drgrasshopper9924]

@@sastiadhikary3292 it's not

[@11deanski33]

@@drgrasshopper9924 it was a worked shoot. He said stuff they didn't expect him to say a few times in a the lead up to MITB.

[@johnnieriot13]

I don’t think this proves WWE can make “must see tv when they want to” so much as it proves they can make must see tv when they rip off ideas.

[@brandonpage7087]

I definitely remember the pipebombs!! This was definitely an exciting time! I really haven't watched wrestling since then, lol.

[@hermanbooger5431]

CM Punk vs John Cena is DEFINITELY on my top 5 list as best feud ever!!!!

[@Fick45]

I was still in elementary school when this happened, I graduate college in April, crazy to think this was that long ago

[@Nephalem2002]

So far we have; The 80’s.. The Attitude Era.. The Ruthless Aggression Era The PG Era The Authority Era The Second Split Era The Covid19 Era...

[@lioneljones6484]

Great video, how about doing one about the who ran over stone cold steve Austin storyline, ending with the 5 man hell in a cell match that would be a good one to do

[@blackmantis3130]

People still don't realize this was a work.

[@sokmetopurt7271]

Does anyone know how I can watch TNA online,I didn't start watching until 09 and would love to revisit the show to catch up on missed episodes

[@1979mattant]

This was the last time the WWE was good to watch, It's absolutely shocking now, Having Reigns and Lynch shoved down your throats at every opportunity, I haven't watched it properly for years, I hope Punk goes to AEW, if he went back to WWE he would be buried by HHH, AEW should make him the highest-paid wrestler on the planet and he would make them the number one promotion.

[@derjude5758]

Pls put more bloopers at the end of your vids lmfaooo

[@azapro911]

Biggest moment of the decade, Punk knew what the company's problems were then and would be in the future.

[@airfixx_8952]

To be fair, WWE in 2021 is a VERY different product to what it was in 2009-2011 (back then NXT was a game-show FFS!)..... Arguably it has very different problems today.

[@marlonroberts5954]

Trish Stratus did the same thing CM Punk did at Unforgiven . . . Trish's contract with WWE ended when she got a WWE Women's Championship match against Lita . . . Trish won the title

[@orangejuice1813]

Vince- Everyone is replaceable. Cena- Really now? Vince- Please no.

[@DiscoJoseph]

Great vid!

[@rozzie101]

When Stone Cold Steve Austin retired the WWE as a wrestler, I stopped watching wrestling. 2010 - 2011, I kinda tuning in here and there. The pipe bomb brought me back as a fan....

[@cbennett196631]

Sure you didn’t…you are like everyone else, you tune in regularly and watch

[@freesolodagr8658]

I left wwe when cm punk left he was the only reason I turned on raw weekly in the 2010s he was as was tv-14 in the pg era and Paul Heyman did his best work with punk The day punk comes back the pop will be huge

[@jongthedasher]

Punk made me watch WWE again. Absolutely an all-time favorite for me!

[@ToTheFlyingDevice]

So many captures of CM Punk in this remind me of GG Allin.

[@mdiaz013184]

5:38

[@chrishaapala7997]

One of if not the biggest mistake WWE ever made was not doing more to keep CM Punk, I mean dude was pretty much single handedly keeping them relevant, at this point John Cena was stale and there was really nobody else with the talent or the caliber on the MIC of CM Punk.... By the way if you haven't done it yet please do a career video on CM Punk I bet it would probably be one of your most watched, keep up the awesome work

[@alperen141]

Is there any follow-up episode about this?

[@RoKKr023i]

the silence at the end of the bomb spoke volumes.

[@damienlahoz]

bro that music in the beginning tho, what a cool mashup that was

[@BishopM1]

WBs. We need more Punk videos. Cover his 434 day title run. I know you like covering older stuff more but it’s been over 10 years now.

[@projektnine]

Please do a Miz vs Daniel Bryant... The promo the Miz cut on Talking Smack was AMAZING.

[@theproject9577]

Bro please please do a nice long video on Jim Ross/JR or maybe even two parter!!!! I was just thinking of people and realized you havnt done one on him...have you??

[@JoseSanchez0795]

This was great!!!!

[@kimberlykerr9106]

wrestling bios can we please get a pg bio would love to watch it only know a lil about them but rember loving there intro and tag moves

[@modernnorseman3615]

Punk is one of the greatest icons in wrestling. He had a different fighting style. And it was like he meant what he said. And when he spoke people listened. Legend

[@scottodrowsky9835]

Punk actually LIKES Cena, which is the funny thing here.

[@ArizonaHeat602]

It's ironic because this is exactly why Vince screwed Bret in Montreal.

[@apark02]

CM Punk in 2011, Brock Lesnar returning in 2012 and Daniel Bryan in 2013 and early 2014 was the last time WWE was interesting. Its been a steady downfall since

[@stephengilbreath840]

It may have been a work, but he told the straight up truth, which is why AEW was born

[@vennilachandrashekar1972]

Are you doing a video on one of the worst factions: *The Authority?*

[@craigfin3222]

Summer of Punk was the last time WWE was any good.

[@TaliaIGhul]

CM Punk, the only thing WWE had going for them at the time. He was an attitude era-level talent in the PG era.

[@paulsletten8985]

Ima fan since they had 3 W's. Those ice cream bars were the bloody truth the light and the way.

[@gorky1317]

I watch Wrestling Bios for one reason.... Because if you Ever need to mention Hulk Hogan, you say "Hulk Hogan" - not Hoke Hogan, or Hulk Hulgan. Reliving the War also counts a bit :P

[@Greatone1976]

Punk made wrestling good..I watched it during the attitude era.. and he was as close as you could get to that..the late 90s was a great time in pro wrestling

[@elwoodwesley9115]

Yea Vince backed up wrong person cena was not the hero ppl wanted.

[@jeremyhegg9367]

At the very least they should've drawn out the tournament to crown a new WWE champion for a couple weeks and saved the pretty fresh and interesting face/face match of Mysterio versus Cena for Summerslam without Cena looking like a total heel for beating Rey the same night he won the title. They could still have Del Rio cash in on the winner afterwards without having to have Punk lose and the whole Nash text message nonsense, Triple H beating Punk to remain COO, then getting "removed from power" a couple weeks later anyway, etc. Then, Punk could return around Survivor Series to beat whoever the interim champion was and go from there (and actually have him main event shows as champion too obviously). That way, his 434-day reign as champion goes even longer uninterrupted from Money in the Bank 2011 onward into 2013. I would've even gone one step further and either had his reign continue until WrestleMania 29 in a triple threat with Rock and Cena (imagine what that would do for Punk if even The Rock couldn't beat him on the first try at the Royal Rumble) or had his by then probably close to 600-day reign against Undertaker's 20-0 undefeated streak, rather than whole Paul Bearer angle they went with. And maybe after getting his sought after WrestleMania main event, Punk would've stuck around past 2014 too. Its funny a couple years later, they didn't have a problem with Brock Lesnar leaving for months at a time while WWE Champion, but God forbid C.M. Punk isn't on TV for a whole week after becoming champion.

[@troywright359]

there's so much subtlety to the angle that you had to skip over

[@joeyking2098]

Definitely the greatest wrestler of the millennium I would love to see him come back to wwe

[@realtalunkarku]

Ooooooof

[@philliparthur8672]

I'd rather see him in AEW I can't stand WWE anymore.

[@bwilliamsadhd]

Honestly this was one of the best feuds in wwe