CM Punk has shared the backstage moment that confirmed his legendary 2011 Pipe Bomb promo had struck a chord, revealing that Vince McMahon's immediate reaction told him everything he needed to know.

Appearing on What's Your Story? with Steph McMahon, the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion reflected on the unforgettable June 27, 2011 edition of Raw, where he delivered one of the most talked about promos in wrestling history. After returning through the curtain, Punk says McMahon greeted him with a simple but unforgettable message.

"When I came back it was 'I smell money,' is what he said," Punk recalled. "At the time, that was the stamp of approval, that was it. That was everything right there."

The now famous Pipe Bomb saw Punk sit cross legged at the top of the entrance ramp as he unleashed a brutally honest promo aimed at WWE, its leadership, and the wrestling industry as a whole. He referenced promotions including Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling while also highlighting the fact that his WWE contract was due to expire in just weeks.

The momentum from that promo carried into Money in the Bank 2011, where Punk defeated John Cena in front of his hometown Chicago crowd to capture the WWE Championship in one of the company's most memorable main events.

During the interview, Punk also reflected on what became known as the "Summer of Punk," describing it as the defining chapter of his career. He explained that the success of that period made him feel as though he had reached a completely different level as a performer.

"I feel like I busted my a*** in my career to get to that moment where I was finally recognized," Punk said. "I can either go home and squander this or I can ride this lightning bolt, and I rode the lightning bolt and it really made me feel like I had finally leveled up."

Looking back, Punk described the Pipe Bomb as "just magic" and said the entire run remains one of the fondest memories of his career.

Punk is once again at the top of WWE after recently defeating Sami Zayn to become Undisputed WWE Champion. He is now preparing for his first title defense, which will see him face Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam.