CM Punk was the latest guest on Kevin Hart’s interview series “Cold As Balls,” where he sat down for a wide-ranging conversation about his career. During the show, Punk discussed his earliest inspirations, the motivation behind his career-defining “pipebomb” promo, his thoughts on the next generation of superstars, and his marriage to fellow wrestler AJ Lee.
Early Inspirations and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper
When asked by Hart what made him get into professional wrestling, Punk explained that his first exposure came by chance on a Saturday night. “I always just say wrestling chose me,” Punk said. “When I was a little kid, we didn’t have all the channels and all the streaming that the kids have nowadays. So one night, I got to stay up late to watch Saturday Night Live. And instead of Saturday Night Live, it was Saturday Night’s Main Event.”
He described being immediately drawn in by the larger-than-life characters and the spectacle of 1980s professional wrestling. “It was just insane,” he recalled. “There’s no rules in wrestling. You got Koko B. Ware has got a bird, Jake the Snake’s got a snake. The Bulldogs got dogs running around. And it just, it captivated me when I was a little kid.”
While the colorful world of wrestling caught his attention, it was one specific performer who made Punk believe a career in the business was possible for him. He identified WWE Hall of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper as his primary role model.
“Very easy. Roddy Piper,” Punk said when asked who captivated him the most. “Just because to me, you know, you look at everybody else that I grew up watching, and they were all huge, giant guys. And I was never that throughout my athletic career.” It was Piper’s ability to compete at the highest level against much larger opponents that resonated with the young Punk. “I could aspire to be somebody like Piper, because Piper was considered a smaller guy,” he explained. “And he was beating the crap out of Hulk Hogan. So I was like, ‘Alright, that’s me.'”
The Motivation Behind the “Pipebomb”
Hart also asked about the famous 2011 “pipebomb” promo where Punk seemingly went off-script to air his grievances with WWE. Punk confirmed the moment was a calculated move born out of genuine frustration. “All the above,” Punk responded when asked if it was intentional or a moment of going off-script.
He explained that his motivation came from a deeply held belief in his own abilities. “When you’re really good at what you do, and there is an element of ego to it, there is an element of narcissism to it… ‘Man, I’m the best.’ And you can respect everybody else around you, but you can know within your heart and your brain that… ‘I’m the best at what I do,'” Punk stated. “That was me throughout that whole two, three years.”
This self-belief was coupled with a feeling that both his own voice and the voice of the fans were being ignored by those in charge. “I knew if I got to do things my way, it would be good and it would be quality… But I feel like I was part of that new guard that I always had to push through, and you couldn’t get through to some of the old heads,” he said. This feeling ultimately led to his decision to create a moment that could not be ignored. “I just felt like I was at the pinnacle, and my voice wasn’t being heard. The fans’ voice wasn’t being heard,” Punk said. “So I kind of took it upon myself to just disturb a little bit.”
Thoughts on the Next Generation
When Hart asked for a “fresh take” on which younger wrestler is poised to become the next great champion, Punk identified two current WWE Superstars, including one he claims to be secretly mentoring. “We have a few on the roster,” Punk began. “The problem is, I think, personally, I don’t like any of them.”
However, he immediately singled out one second-generation star as a future top talent in the industry. “I think Bron Breakker is an obvious, bona fide WrestleMania Main Event superstar,” Punk stated.
He then pivoted to another young performer, revealing a previously unknown off-screen relationship with Dominik Mysterio. “Actually somebody that’s on the roster that I really do like, I’m kind of his mentor, is Dominik Mysterio,” Punk said. He continued by detailing their supposed daily interactions. “Dominik likes to tell everybody that he hates me and we don’t like each other. But every morning, Dominik starts his day with a phone call to Uncle Phil. That’s me,” he revealed. “And, you know, we talk. We talk about life.”
Partnership with AJ Lee
Punk also spoke about his marriage to fellow wrestler AJ Lee and the challenges they have navigated as a couple in the demanding world of professional wrestling. He revealed that the period after he initially left WWE in 2014 was particularly challenging for their relationship, as Lee remained with the company for another year.
“It was difficult, because when I left, she was still with the company for a year,” Punk said. “That was a hard year for us, relationship wise.”
However, he explained that successfully getting through that difficult period ultimately strengthened their bond and prepared them for their current situation. “But it made everything after that so much easier,” he continued. “Her understanding my business now that I’m back in it…” He described how they now support each other’s individual projects, whether in wrestling or other ventures, by managing their responsibilities at home.
“When she has important stuff to do, like she just had a short film debut at Tribeca Film Festival, she can go do that. I can watch our dog, Larry,” he explained. “And then when I’m here with you… she’s at home watching Larry.” He concluded with a definitive statement about their partnership. “I mean, I found my person,” Punk stated. “Like she is 100% my partner.”
Click below to watch CM Punk and Kevin Hart on the latest episode of “Cold As Balls.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Cold As Balls with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
