50 Things You Learn Binge-Watching Every WWE Royal Rumble
18. CM Punk Was A Kid At Christmas In 2008
It's always a treat when you've watched so much wrestling you forget some sneakily brilliant moments that rekindle the magic of childhood wonder. That happened to your writer when watching the 2008 Rumble. Quick bit of context: This was the third Rumble in a row (it was a quiet Sunday), so imagine the pop when Roddy Piper's music hit and he came face to face with old rival Jimmy Snuka as Madison Square Garden lost it.
They weren't the only ones - CM Punk was loving life too. He grinned from ear to ear as he rested and watched two old heroes do battle in the middle of a WWE ring for the first time in decades. Obviously, this couldn't top John Cena's epic return to win the whole match, but it was a killer nostalgia blast. WWE would lean on that nostalgia in the Rumble heavily as the years rolled on; especially during mid-portion lulls.
Punk's reaction to what he was seeing contrasted with The Undertaker's. That particular icon had entered the bout as #1, so he was dead on his feet by the time Roddy and Snuka came to blows. If anything, 'Taker likely appreciated a breather in the corner. Over on the other side, it's fairly obvious both Punk and John Morrison were having a mini mark out session over all of this.
It isn't hard to understand why.
The Garden meant so much to WWE lore, and so did legends like Piper and Snuka. Their feud had been a banner moment in the 1980s, and now here they were coming full circle in 2008. Punk was absolutely ecstatic to witness it up close and personal.