CM Punk’s impressive tenure in WWE may never have transpired if not for WWE Hall of Famer Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat.
After signing with WWE in 2006, Punk would debut on TV the following year and would be regularly featured until walking out of the company in 2014.
Speaking to “Wrestle Binge,” Steamboat recalled working at a Ring of Honor event where he would first see potential in the future WWE & AEW World Champion. He said,
“It was Ring of Honor and they brought me up to be the special guest referee, and he was working with Samoa Joe. It was 12-15 years ago and they brought me as the special guest referee for the main event match. So I was the third guy in the ring and I listened to CM Punk lead the whole match for the whole hour, and that told me right there that this kid’s got it.
The psychology part, what to do, when to do it, why to do it at this time, why to do it at the beginning and not at the end, so forth and so on. He had all the nuts and bolts connected and that impressed me.
“At that time, I went back to John Laurinaitis, who was talent development, and said that you need to take a look at CM Punk and get him up here for an audition. John said, ‘We’ve had him up here for a couple of times, we put him in the ring with one of our regulars for five minutes and didn’t see much.’ I said I was a referee in his match and he went through an hour Broadway and he called the whole match and this kid has the ‘I got it’.
“He’s got the ‘it’ thing and I think you should take another look and put him with one of our better, topper guys and let him do a 15 or 20-minute audition instead of a 3 to 5-minute, quicky in and out. So they got him up, he got in the ring for 20 minutes and he got hired.”
CM Punk was released from AEW earlier this month following an investigation into his backstage altercation with Jack Perry at AEW All In.
Punk has claimed that he will be busy for the next two months, which would make him free in November, leading to speculation among some that he will return to WWE at Survivor Series 2023.
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CM Punk, a renowned professional wrestler, owes part of his success to WWE Hall of Famer Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat. Steamboat played a crucial role in recognizing Punk’s potential and advocating for his inclusion in WWE.
Punk’s journey in WWE began in 2006 when he signed with the company. He made his television debut the following year and quickly became a regular feature in WWE programming until his departure in 2014. However, none of this might have happened if not for Steamboat’s keen eye and belief in Punk’s abilities.
In an interview with “Wrestle Binge,” Steamboat recounted an event at Ring of Honor where he first witnessed Punk’s talent. Steamboat served as the special guest referee for a match between Punk and Samoa Joe. Throughout the hour-long match, Punk showcased exceptional leadership skills, demonstrating a deep understanding of wrestling psychology and timing.
Impressed by Punk’s performance, Steamboat approached John Laurinaitis, who was responsible for talent development at the time. Steamboat urged Laurinaitis to give Punk another chance, emphasizing that a brief audition with one of WWE’s regular wrestlers wouldn’t do justice to Punk’s abilities. Instead, Steamboat suggested a 15 or 20-minute audition to truly showcase Punk’s potential.
Laurinaitis initially expressed skepticism, mentioning that they had already evaluated Punk in shorter auditions without seeing much potential. However, Steamboat insisted that Punk’s ability to lead an hour-long match demonstrated his exceptional talent and the “it” factor that sets him apart.
Eventually, WWE took Steamboat’s advice and gave Punk another opportunity. This time, Punk had a 20-minute audition with one of WWE’s top wrestlers, which ultimately led to his hiring by the company.
Punk went on to have a successful career in WWE, winning multiple championships and becoming one of the most popular wrestlers of his generation. His unique persona and outspoken nature made him a fan favorite and a significant draw for WWE.
Although Punk left WWE in 2014, he recently made a highly anticipated return to professional wrestling, signing with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). However, his time in AEW was short-lived, as he was released following an investigation into a backstage altercation with Jack Perry at AEW All In.
Despite his recent departure from AEW, there is speculation that Punk may return to WWE in the future. Some fans believe that his busy schedule for the next two months, which would make him available in November, aligns with the timing of WWE’s Survivor Series event in 2023.
In conclusion, CM Punk’s impressive tenure in WWE may not have been possible without the support and recognition of Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat. Steamboat’s belief in Punk’s abilities and his insistence on giving him a proper audition played a crucial role in Punk’s journey to becoming a WWE superstar. Whether Punk returns to WWE or continues his career elsewhere, his impact on the wrestling industry is undeniable.