Mick Foley tried to make CM Punk see WrestleMania 29 from a different perspective.
Punk believed that 2013 should have been his year. After winning the WWE Championship in late 2011, Punk would remain champion for over 400 days. Missing out on the main event of WrestleMania 28 as this was reserved for The Rock vs. John Cena, Punk was hopeful that he would be placed in the marquee match one year later. However, not only did Punk lose out on the main event match, but he also lost the title too.
At the 2013 Royal Rumble, Punk lost the title to The Rock and Cena won the Rumble match, meaning that the Mania main event was locked in once again. Unable to be inserted into the match to make it a triple threat, Punk was still placed in a major match as he would go one-on-one with The Undertaker at a time when The Streak was still unbroken.
Although many Superstars would have loved to face The Undertaker on The Grandest Stage, Punk disagreed and was left dejected and frustrated by the decision. Foley, who was a close friend of Punk’s at that time, told Punk that his placement on the card should not be a factor.
While speaking on Busted Open Radio, Foley recalled speaking to the former World Champion prior to the marquee match and telling Punk that the fans decide what is the match of the night:
“Phil and I were pretty close at one time and he couldn’t get motivated for The Undertaker. He felt like they had taken that main event spot away from him. I’d say, ‘Phil, the main event is what the fans decide the main event is. You go out there and you decide what your own WrestleMania moments are.’ I don’t like to brag about much but I felt like Edge and I had the match of the night in 2006 and no one will be able to tell me differently. That was my WrestleMania moment. I didn’t need someone stamping the words main event on it to tell me how I felt when the match was done,”
The Hardcore Legend does have a point in his statement to Punk. Fans associate Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin with WrestleMania 13 more than they do with the actual main event of The Undertaker vs. Sid and they associate The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 18 more than Chris Jericho vs. Triple H.
Punk would face The Undertaker in the 3rd match from last at WrestleMania 29 in what many considered the match of the night and one of the best matches in Taker’s WrestleMania streak.
In a new interview, Mick Foley recalls a text he received from CM Punk back in 2014.
Mick Foley Played A Part In Released WWE Star Returning
Despite no longer in a position of authority on screen, the Hall of Famer has frequently tried to do what is best for business off-camera. When a WWE Superstar was released, Mick Foley told Triple H to seek them out as they were described as “an entirely different person.”
H/t to Fightful.