TNA Hall of Famer Amazing Red has opened up about his attempts to get signed by WWE, including a 2005 dark match against CM Punk that left him believing the company was never seriously interested in hiring him.
Speaking with Chris Van Vliet, Red acknowledged that some of his memories from the period are hazy after years of wrestling and suffering concussions.
Red originally expected to work a quick squash match against Matt Morgan. Instead, he was informed that he would be facing Punk, with WWE Hall of Famer Ricky Steamboat assigned as the agent.
According to Red, his cousins and Jimmy Wang Yang explained the significance of being given a dark match, telling him it meant WWE could potentially be considering him for a contract.
That made what Red had heard about Punk’s own situation particularly significant. Red recalled being told the match was “CM Punk’s last-ditch effort to be signed.”
Steamboat was invested in helping Punk succeed and asked Red to work as the heel. Red, meanwhile, hoped the match would also give him an opportunity to showcase some of the offense that had made him stand out elsewhere. He wanted to perform moves including the Code Red, his flatliner and a standing shooting star press, but said his ideas were repeatedly rejected. Red recalled Jimmy Wang Yang telling him, “They’re kiboshing all your stuff, bro, purposely.”
The match itself did not go the way Red hoped either. He remembered himself and Punk “messing up and botching,” leaving him disappointed with his performance during what he believed could have been a major opportunity.
Afterwards, Red spoke with then-WWE executive Johnny Ace, who questioned whether he had experience working inside larger wrestling rings. When Red mentioned his experience with All Japan Pro Wrestling, Ace was impressed, but the conversation did not lead to a contract. “Well, you look blown up, so we’ll give you a call.” Red said he was also given another piece of advice: “Get bigger.”
Looking back, Red felt WWE had never genuinely intended to sign him. At the time, that left him bitter because he believed an opportunity to join the company had slipped away. Years later, Red encountered Punk backstage when Punk had become a champion. Although their 2005 match remained in his mind, Red decided against confronting him. “I was very bitter about that day.”
With time, however, Red came to view the situation differently and recognized that Punk had also been fighting for his own career that night. “I’m grown now to understand he had a job too. This was his thing, no hard feelings.”
Red also made it clear that whatever frustration he once carried over the experience does not translate into personal animosity toward Punk today. “No, no, I don’t hate him. I love that dude, honestly.”
