10 Fascinating Facts About WWE In 2011
CM Punk making history! Randy Orton shooting on WWE! Legends turning down contracts! 2011 was mad.
CM Punk wasn't the only one who went shoot, shoot, shooting on WWE in 2011. Other top stars had their say in the media, and it caused a ton of controversy backstage. Meanwhile, Vince McMahon was despondent to learn that someone sought after would rather stay put in TNA than ink a lucrative deal with his company.
That story stopped one of wrestling's most-wanted dream matches from happening.
2011 was a time, people. Punk went into 'pipebomb' mode, Edge retired from the ring for approx nine years due to seriously depressing injuries, Brock Lesnar was still tearing it up in UFC but already teasing some WWE cameos, and the Anonymous Raw GM storyline was supposed to be wrapped up once and for all with something that would've been erm...better than Hornswoggle.
Historic venues had their last hurrah, WWE Draft history was made before your very eyes, WrestleMania XXVII remains the most unique entry in the famous pay-per-view series, and The Miz barely remembers any of it.
Here are a whole host of interesting facts you might not have known about the year of 40-man Rumbles, behind-the-scenes grumbles and more!
10. CM Punk’s MSG Stat Still Stands
To this day, CM Punk is the last man to win the WWE Title inside the hallowed halls of Madison Square Garden. It feels strange to say that WWE’s most famous venue hasn’t hosted the top prize-switching wrestlers since Survivor Series 2011, but it’s true. Punk was the last guy to do it when he beat Alberto Del Rio that November.
The belt has changed hands in places like Manchester, England and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia since, but not at MSG.
Punk was probs a bit peeved at Survivors 2011. The Rock returned to the ring for the first time since 2004 for a bumper tag bout with John Cena vs. The Miz and R-Truth, so that was WWE's leading story for the pay-per-view. Punk's annoyance at being pushed behind other top names would become something of a trend until he left the promotion in 2014.
Still, at least he can boast something: Being the last wrestler in promotional history to win the big one inside the "World's Most Famous Arena". It's actually a bit of a shocker that Punk hasn't brought this up in a promo. Perhaps that speaks to the Garden's decreased importance.