10 Ways CM Punk Changed WWE FOREVER
9. He Generated Interest In Paul Heyman/Brock Lesnar's Returns
During his aforementioned Pipebomb, CM Punk dropped a number of previously-unspoken names, including Colt Cabana, John Laurinaitis, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and Ring of Honor. But the most significant of all the names mentioned were those of Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar.
At the time of this promo, Heyman and Lesnar hadn't been seen (nor even mentioned) on WWE television in five and seven years, respectively. Not only did both men leave the company on less-than-ideal terms, but Lesnar was still signed to the UFC and still very much a part of their Heavyweight Title picture at that time.
But by merely mentioning the duo on WWE television, CM Punk galvanized a serious discourse about their eventual return to the company. After all, if they were mentioned on RAW, surely their relationship with WWE can't be that strained, right?
Well, sure enough, these musings were right, as Lesnar and Heyman would return to the company separately in 2012. One year later, Punk's aforementioned promo would serve as indirect inspiration to a feud with Lesnar, which culminated in Punk's last truly-great match at SummerSlam 2013.
Lesnar and Heyman have remained a (part-time) staple of WWE programming ever since. All because one promo got people talking.