CM Punk’s First Ever WWE Opponent Recalls Going Off Script In Match

WWE

Former WWE star Maven has explained how he went against management’s wishes in CM Punk’s first ever WWE match.

With CM Punk being one of the most polarising stars in wrestling today, his WWE return at Survivor Series 2023 got the wrestling world talking.

While Punk joined WWE developmental territory in September 2005, his first televised match for the company actually took place a few months earlier on an April 2005 edition of Sunday Night Heat.

During this show, Punk teamed with Russell Simpson in his tryout match against Simon Dean (Mike Bucci) and Maven.

In his new YouTube video ‘I Was CM Punk’s First WWE Opponent‘, Maven recalled backstage details surrounding this bout, and explained how he and Dean actually went off script to protect Punk.

Maven revealed that WWE management wanted Punk to take the pin in this match, but Dean (Nova), the veteran talent in the match, chose for them to pin Simpson instead.

According to Maven, Punk and Simpson wouldn’t have known the directives from management, so they were just doing what the veteran wrestler they were working with had asked of them.

Believing that Punk already had backstage heat ahead of this tryout match, Maven explained:

“The one thing management wanted, they wanted us to get the pinfall victory, the one two three, on CM Punk. And for whatever reason, I have no clue, I mean he wasn’t a signed talent at the time, but he already had heat in the company.

There were already feathers he had ruffled. I don’t know how and I don’t know who’s.

“Nova (Simon Dean) saw it different. Nova wanted to give the guy a chance and Nova made the decision. Earlier on, when we were going over the match backstage he said ‘Once we come in, I’m going to knock you out, Punk. You roll to the floor.’ That way we can get the slam, one two three, on Simpson.

“I don’t know why Simon wanted to protect Punk. It could’ve been a favour to Stevie (Richards), like Stevie asked us earlier in the day, or he might have seen in Punk what the entire world would come to see years later.

“Simon was always a good gauge of talent. He might have known that Punk, for whatever reason, had heat backstage and he was doing everything in his power to protect him, knowing that if there was any trouble to be had it was going to fall on us, and by us I mean Simon.”

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Maven had previously recalled that he originally met Punk through Stevie Richards, who had personally asked Maven to make sure that Punk had a good showing in this bout.

Explaining how they avoided getting in trouble, Maven noted that Dean made Punk roll to the floor so that he couldn’t tag in for the finish, so their decision to pin Simpson would appear like they were improvising so that they didn’t run over their allotted time.

There has been a lot of speculation about potential dream matches for Punk following his WWE return. For the latest update on potential plans for a CM Punk vs Stone Cold Steve Austin match click here.

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• Maven
• tryout
• Debut
• cm punk
• wwe

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