WWE News & Notes 2014: CM Punk Breaks Silence, Vince McMahon Responds, Sting vs Triple H at Wrestlemania Rumors
CM Punk and Colt Cabana broke the internet over the Thanksgiving holiday after the "Straight-Edge Superstar" finally said his peace regarding his departure from the WWE and the wrestling business, prompting WWE Chairman Vince McMahon to respond Monday during an interview with Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Punk was Cabana's guest in last week's edition of the "Art of Wrestling" podcast and discussed his many grievances with the company prior to leaving the industry for good. Punk stated that he never quit the WWE but was fired from the company on his wedding day in June due to a breach of contract.
Prior to being fired, after taking time off from Royal Rumble, Punk was suspended for two months by the company but was never contacted by the WWE after his suspension was over, nor was he contacted when he was inquiring about royalties that he felt were due to him.
Punk was also upset with the medical care that he received from the WWE, the five-time WWE world champion critical of their concussion tests. Punk stated that he was concussed during the Royal Rumble and yet passed the company's tests the next day, despite the fact that he felt like he was suffering from concussion-like symptoms. On top of the head injury, Punk said he had a lump on his back that kept getting bigger, more painful and turning purple which he wanted treated, but WWE physician Dr. Chris Amann refused proper care due to the fact that Punk had to participate in the Royal Rumble. The lump ended up being a MERSA staph infection which he had worked through after being misdiagnosed, according to CM Punk, which could have had dire consequences for his health, according to a second opinion he received from his wife's doctor.
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Punk discussed with Cabana confronting Triple H and Vince McMahon prior to his departure from the company, telling McMahon that Triple H was stifling him creativity, including burying his push in 2011 when he was at the peak of his popularity -- which included outselling John Cena in merchandise -- and were making a mistake of not pushing Daniel Bryan at the start of the year for the Wrestlemania 30 main event when he was white-hot with the WWE Universe, as well as fumbling the ball with Batista's return, making him a face rather than heel.
In addition, Punk was talked about how much he hated working with Ryback in separate programs, calling him a "stiff" worker who broke his ribs on one occasion when he kicked him in the gut, press-slammed onto the floor instead of onto a table and concussed him during another match.
"That took 20 years off my [expletive]ing life," said CM Punk with Cabana when discussing working with "The Big Guy."
This past summer, Punk ended up suing the WWE after the decorated champion's royalties were withheld and he was accused of breach of contract, eventually coming to undisclosed terms with the company for what he describes a hefty amount of money and allowing the company's usage of his likeness on the new "WWE2K15" video game and WWE merchandise that the company is looking to unload.
Punk says that he has other things going on with his retired life, including writing for Marvel Comics' Thor series, and that he is pretty much done with the industry of wrestling, especially with the WWE.
"There's no working relationship and there never will be ever again," said Punk to Cabana on his podcast. "That wedding day thing was pretty ridiculous."
WWE did make a statement regarding Punk's accusations about the company's medical staff saying to Yahoo: "WWE takes the health and wellness of its talent very seriously and has a comprehensive Talent Wellness Program that is led by one of the most well-respected physicians in the country, Dr. Joseph Maroon."
"Wrestling Observer Radio" reports that, while McMahon is upset with the podcast, the chairman of the company is not nearly as angry as Triple H, who is described as livid with the Punk interview. Ryback was also furious with the podcast, taking to Twitter and saying that Punk "quit for being fragile and insecure" before he took down his post.
McMahon responded to one of Punk's allegations on "The Steve Austin Show" podcast, broadcasted on the WWE Network. While he admits he did not listen to Cabana's podcast, McMahon told Austin that it was coincidence Punk got his severance papers on his wedding day and publicly apologized for the confusion. McMahon says that he has had differences with other talent in the past -- including Austin, Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior -- and hopes he and Punk could some day put their differences aside and work together again because that is what is best for business.
Cabana, who had a brief stint with the WWE between 2007 and 2009, is now considered persona non grata within the company after giving Punk the platform to express himself. Cabana, who came up in the indy scene with Punk and is close friends with the former champion, said that he wanted to give him a forum where he could allow him to give his side of the story and as well as inform fans as to how things went down.
"Punk has had this incredible story basically kept to himself for a long time now," wrote Cabana to fans on his podcast's mailing list. "There's been so many people bugging and pushing and intruding. I hope this gives HIM closure & I hope it gives YOU closure."
Part Two of the Punk-Cabana podcast is slated for Wednesday -- in which he will take questions from fans, regardless of the topic, if they are respectful.
In other WWE news, Sting's plans for a match at WrestleMania 31 seem to point at "The Icon" battling Triple H at the yearly event despite the fact that the former World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and TNA Wrestling champion was hoping to face The Undertaker. But according to RF Video's Rob Feinstein, it does not seem like "The Dead Man" will be ready in time for WrestleMania 31, which means Sting may go up against "The Game." Sting made his WWE in-ring debut at Survivor Series last month, costing Triple H and The Authority control of the company after interfering on behalf of Dolph Ziggler in the main event match.
Lastly, the WWE is looking to sign indy wrestler Uhaa Nation to NXT deal, calling him a "high priority." Nation, who is 6'0" and 240 lbs, is described as both a power wrestler and a high-flyer, who was very impressive during his tryout at the WWE Performance Center in September. The company sent scouts to his Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) matches in California to check on his progress, with the young star believed to be headed to Orlando, Florida very soon.
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