10 Fascinating WWE Backstage Facts About CM Punk
8. Shawn Michaels Stood Up For Him
CM Punk and Shawn Michaels looked every bit like old mates reuniting when The Punker made a surprise appearance at NXT Deadline in December 2023, which was all the more surprising considering Punk's open adoration for Bret Hart. Though his bond with 'HBK' might not date back as far as his childhood fandom, Michaels was vital in helping Punk over some early WWE hurdles.
Former WWE writer Dave Lagana told the story, noting that he was often in creative meetings where Punk was buried by everybody with stroke other than 'The Heartbreak Kid' himself. Speaking on his I Want Wrestling podcast in 2011 of meetings that occurred during 2006/07, he said;
"The [creative] meeting quickly turned into another CM Punk bash fest...It was a new voice in the room that changed everything. 'Um, if you don't like something the kid is doing, why don't you work with him to fix it...Instead of killing him.' That voice belonged to Shawn Michaels."
By this time, Michaels had obviously seen something in Punk he deemed worthy of following up on. Years earlier, he was on the other side of the ailse...