Paul Heyman Reveals How He Helped CM Punk in His Early Days – “They Didn’t Know What To Do With Him”

Paul Heyman and CM Punk partnership are considered as one of the greatest in recent times. From the very beginning, Punk has been vocal about Heyman’s contributions to his career. Even in the infamous ‘pipebomb’ promo, Punk proudly proclaimed him a ‘Paul Heyman Guy.’

In a recent clip of Inside the Ropes, we see Paul describing his first interaction with Punk. The two met each other way before CM Punk came into being.

“I met Phil Brooks, CM Punk when I was at the tail end of my five-year contract when I joined WWE. This was right after ECW One Night Stand, the first one. I was asked to go to OVW (Ohio Valley Wrestling) and write and produce their television for Wednesdays. One of the talents that I got sent early on was Phil Brooks.” 

By then, Punk worked for Heyman’s protege Gabe Polsky in Ring of Honor and made a name for himself for being a great performer and “for having ideas of his own.” Paul Heyman joked about how WWE dreaded people having “ideas for their own characters to break through the glass ceiling that obviously existed.”

CM Punk came to WWE because of his prevalent internet presence

Paul Heyman spilled the real reason why WWE was so confused about CM Punk. Punk got selected due to his internet presence, but then WWE talent management did not know what to do with him. “They brought CM Punk in because he had all this buzz on the internet, and they really didn’t know what to do with him.”

“He had a dark match that wasn’t on the television. A certain person went up to him and said, ‘Hey, what’s your finish?’ Well, his finish was a pedigree up the top rope called the ‘Pepsi Plunge.’ Heyman revealed. “Not the best political thing to present to WWE at the time.”

Talent management wanted CM Punk to do “one of those flippy-dippy things like Jeff Hardy.” Which Punk didn’t do. WWE wanted Heyman to OVW and wanted Heyman to fire him.

“What do you mean fire this kid? I don’t fire talent, I don’t hire talent, I develop talent.” Heyman believed, “this guy is the main event, this guy is a superstar; this guy belongs on top, will succeed on top, and will make you money on top.”

Although WWE thought Heyman was nuts, he “worked, directed and protected” Punk. Punk was the first person Heyman brought in for the revamped ECW.

See the full interaction below –