In a recent interview with No Contest Wrestling (via Fightful), CM Punk opened up about the origin of a viral photo he took with WWE Hall of Famer Steve Austin when he was a teenager. In the picture, Punk sports a hairstyle reminiscent of Eminem’s early days, a look that has since become iconic among fans. Punk shared the story behind the photo, recalling how he was just a young fan at the time, long before his wrestling career took off. Years later, Punk and Austin would not only meet again but would go on to interact with each other on WWE TV, a full-circle moment in Punk’s career. You can hear more from Punk’s reflections on his journey and the impact that moment with Austin had on him.
CM Punk said:
“I’m a smart wrestling fan, proudly wrestling in backyards, and gaining a reputation in the Chicagoland area. All the wrestlers would stay at the Clarion Hotel next to the Rosemont Horizon, which is the Allstate Arena now. I think we dipped in there, Steve saw me, and he’s like, ‘Hey kid. Can I get a picture with you? [laughs]. I’m just kidding. Me and my friends were just a bunch of dumb kids, ‘Oh, the wrestlers hang out here? Let’s go hang out with wrestlers.’ I’m underage sitting in the bar of the hotel and wrestlers are coming in. We’re ordering pizza. ‘Come get pizza.’ Wrestlers are like, ‘Free pizza.’ We’re delighted to just be rubbing elbows with these guys. There are probably a million other pictures from that day, but the me and Steve Austin one has become famous.“
