JBL Wanted To Make CM Punk Look As Strong As Possible

JBL is a veteran in the pro wrestling world, having started his journey during the Attitude Era in the late 90s. He had a storied career, winning multiple championships along the way. He also has quite a few interesting stories to tell.

When CM Punk won the World Heavyweight Championship back in 2008, one of his first opponents was JBL. The two had a steel cage match at Madison Square Garden on August 23 of that year, where Punk managed to beat JBL.

While speaking on Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw, JBL stated that he wanted to make CM Punk look as strong as possible and put him over.

“I had a chance to put over CM Punk when he first came in, Cena, and those guys. That was my role and I said, ‘I’m gonna put you over as strong as possible.’ I remember the first time we were in Madison Square Garden, me and CM Punk – we were in the last match.

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I said, ‘You gotta make your name in The Garden. I’m gonna work my ass off tonight for you and I’ll put you over right in the middle,’ which is what was called. It was not really as if I came up with that.

But I remember that was just the respect you get from coming down in the business, guys from my past, you, guys [saying] to me, ‘Okay, here’s what I’m gonna do to pay it forward,’ and that’s what you should be doing. Everyone doesn’t do it it but when it happens, you get much love from people when you do something like that.”

JBL truly helped put CM Punk over in a huge way in their title matches and CM Punk will always be grateful for that.

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