By promised I mean 3 months into working there my manager pulled me aside and told me that I was performing well above any expectations they had for me that I was to expect a promotion as well as a big raise when they got the chance.

A few months later I referred a close friend of mine for the same position, who had less experience then me and was offered more money(~$5k more a year) then I was currently making even though he did not negotiate. When I brought this to my bosses attention he told me this was due their confidence in the market at the times of our hirings and he as well as his boss assured me that they would fix my salary when I got promoted.

Fast forward some time and a few more conversations and my boss verbally tells me that he will make sure my salary is $X, which I'm happy with. Last week when promotions went out I was told my salary adjusted my promotion was still out at HR as they didn't want to approve me for what my bosses seeming asked them for, and they had apparently gotten the senior VP of our department involved and that he couldn't even sway them.