VIDEO: CM Punk Cuts a Straight Edge Promo on Smackdown

Do you remember when CM Punk was a straight edge savior? It seems like a long time ago, but it was only two years ago. CM Punk would talk about being straight edge and say that anyone who isn't straight edge is weaker than him. It was an interesting gimmick, but Punk would say almost the exact same promo every week. It was always "Straight edge means I'm better than you", "You people make me sick", and "You are poisoning your body with drugs and alcohol". I got tired of hearing the same speech every week, but I guess Punk wanted the fans to get tired of it. A good heel is someone you have a hard time liking, and I didn't like Punk's gimmick even though I was a CM Punk fan. I noticed that I had one of those straight edge sermons from CM Punk in my personal DVD collection and I thought it was worth posting.

The promo was on Smackdown on September 18, 2009. It was the first Smackdown after Breaking Point. At Breaking Point, CM Punk successfully retained his World Heavyweight Championship against the Undertaker. The victory was controversial because Smackdown General Manager Teddy Long ended the match when CM Punk had Undertaker in a submission hold, but Undertaker did not tap out.



That promo was two and a half years ago. It's amazing how different CM Punk is now. CM Punk was the World Heavyweight Champion when he cut that promo. About two weeks later, he lost the title to the Undertaker at the Hell In A Cell Pay-Per-View.

According to WrestleZone,

"The decision was made to have Punk lose the World title in the opening match at the Hell In A Cell PPV due to him having heat with management due to an incident on the recent European tour. According to sources, there was apparently an issue on Punk's dress code during the tour. The story goes that at one point Undertaker pulled him aside and explained that he's the World champion and representing the WWE brand and name overseas, so he should dress better. Punk reportedly said something along the lines of "what about John Cena?" which wasn't taken very well. The incident got back to WWE management and they decided that they weren't thrilled with Punk's actions and response and the decision was made. While it was already likely Punk was dropping the title at the PPV, it was decided that he would lose what would ultimately be a quiet squash match in the very first match on the show."

After that, CM Punk's main event status ended. I was sure he would never be a World Champion ever again in the WWE. CM Punk's feud with John Cena in the summer of 2011 saved Punk's career and Punk became a World Champion at the Money in the Bank PPV for the first time since he lost his World Heavyweight Championship to Undertaker at Hell In A Cell. Less than two years ago, Rey Mysterio shaved CM Punk's head and now CM Punk will walk into WrestleMania XXVIII on April 1 as the WWE Champion.