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Add FightsATW on GoogleCM Punk recently returned from a two-month hiatus to hand Sami Zayn a major defeat and, in turn, secure his third WWE Championship win. While the win was a sweet deal in its own right, there is one match he constantly replays in his head, against the late Eddie Guerrero.
Talking to Stephanie McMahon on her podcast, CM Punk shed light on the weight that Guerrero was carrying on his shoulders at the time of their match.
“There’s a three-way that I had with Eddie and Rey in Indianapolis. Eddie had just gotten fired because he got a DUI. Plus, he was getting a divorce. I walk in the locker room and Eddie is just kinda sitting there. He probably had just flown in and was probably exhausted,” he said. “He was struggling to stay sober at this moment because he wants his family back and wants his job back.”
Undoubtedly one of the most celebrated matches of its time, the March 1, 2002, showdown at IWA Mid-South’s Spring Heat in Indianapolis saw the then-23-year-old CM Punk defending the heavyweight championship against Guerrero and Rey Mysterio in a triple threat match. At the time, Guerrero had been released from WWF and was rebuilding his career on the independent circuit, while Mysterio was between WCW and his eventual WWE debut later that year.
The match showcased three very different styles. And after about 15 minutes of fast-paced action, Guerrero pinned CM Punk following a Frog Splash to win the championship. In hindsight, it can be said that it brought together three future wrestling legends at very different stages of their careers.
According to CM Punk, when he approached Guerrero prior to the match, the latter asked him to put it together with Mysterio, mostly because he was fighting his own internal battles. Despite having to do that, he still considers it one of his most memorable performances.
“To this day, it’s one of my favorite matches. Anytime I see it come up on my feed, I send it to Rey. And vice versa. Every time I see Rey, I grab him and say, ‘Hey I love you. We’re still here,’” he said.
“I Want..”
After all these years in the WWE, is there something that CM Punk wishes to see change with the promotion? In the same podcast, he hinted at those aspects that he felt, if implemented, could elevate the wrestling experience.
“I want the producers or agents to really focus on helping and giving constructive, positive feedback and showing things instead of just saying things; and I also need the talent to be sincere in wanting to get better and grow and keep an open mind and different perspectives on how to receive that information then apply it,” he said.
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