CM Punk had one of the most controversial moments on the September 11 SmackDown in Mexico City during a backstage interview before defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Sami Zayn.
According to Fightful Select, the interview with Cathy Kelley was part of WWE’s internal rundown. Punk’s explicit line about Zayn hurting his hand while “jerking it,” however, wasn’t scripted.
Punk said the following:
“Sometimes you got to reward bad behavior. Sometimes bad behavior needs to be taught a lesson. And Sami Zayn, sometimes when you’re the champion, I don’t think you understand. It’s like you won the idiot lottery. So Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, they’re part of the problem. I also got Gunther, Finn, Balor, all eyes are on the champion. But if you think I came to Mexico City, where some of the greatest pro wrestling fans in the world reside, to lose my title to a guy who broke his hand jerking it to his nine day fluke title win, you got another thing coming.”
The comment was a reference to Zayn’s first world title reign, which began at Night of Champions on June 27 and ended just nine days later when Punk defeated him on the July 6 RAW. That night, Punk replaced Cody Rhodes, who had been attacked by Gunther.
Punk continued to taunt Zayn:
“The air here is rare. We are at elevation 8,000ft. And the air is even more rare when you’re on the champ shoulders. When I lift you up high into the clouds and drop your ugly face down onto my knee and shatter your face, hopefully so we can wire it shut so we never have to listen to the thinner excuses in the air here.”
“But you’re going to give when you lose again and understand why I am CM Punk. Why I am undisputed. Why I am the champion. Best in the world, Mexico. CM Punk. My name is CM Punk and I have approved this message. Very poetic. Good luck tonight.”
The trash talk aged poorly, though. In the main event, Zayn defeated Punk after interference from Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, and Kevin Owens, hitting a Helluva Kick to recapture the Undisputed WWE Championship and start his second reign.