Dylan jackson
CM Punk has a lot to talk about. The WWE superstar spoke candidly about several topics on Monday, including Vince McMahon’s alleged sex crimes, a physical altercation that led to his dismissal from All Elite Wrestling and potential plans for WrestleMania 40.
Former WWE Chairman McMahon is reportedly under federal investigation and facing a civil case for sexual abuse and trafficking. Punk briefly alluded to the disgraced WWE boss on the March 25 episode of Monday Night Raw. Punk elaborated on his feelings about the allegations in a new interview with “MMA Time” host Ariel Helwani.
“There’s no positivity in this,” Punk said. “I didn’t read all the allegations, I read text messages and said, ‘Oh, fuck this.’ It’s indefensible.
“I’m kind of shocked at how stupid he was, writing things down and leaving that paper trail, it’s horrible,” he added.
Punk expressed support for the alleged victims and agreed that the professional wrestling business would be better off without McMahon.
“There are victims here. So what CM Punk thinks about Vince and the CM Punk-Vince relationship means nothing here,” Punk said. “All these things take a backseat. I’m more worried about moving forward, how these people are going to survive going through this trauma. He ruined his life by ruining other people’s lives, so there’s a part of me that thinks, ‘We have him. . Good. Take him to the basement.'”
Punk compared McMahon’s allegations to the double murder and suicide committed by former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit in 2007. Benoit murdered his wife, Nancy Benoit, and their seven-year-old son, Daniel, before hanging himself in Fayetteville, Georgia. residence. Punk and Benoit were working together at the time.
“The biggest thing I can draw a comparison to is when Chris Benoit committed a murder-suicide,” Punk said. “I was friends with Chris Benoit and I’m crying on camera because at the time we didn’t know and the week before I was traveling with him and he grabbed me and took me to the trainer’s room and his little son is in the training room. pinning their hands and putting Xs on them.
“Obviously, I have no memories of Benoit traveling with me and murdering people in a gym. I’ve never been in a room with Vince where he was sexually assaulting someone,” Punk added. “But there’s a part of me where, just like with Benoit, I was like, ‘Okay, yeah, I can see it.’”
Punk re-signed with WWE in November 2023, making a surprise appearance at Survivor Series in Chicago. The return was kept under wraps with Punk confirming that the contract was signed on the spot that night. It ended a nearly decade-long absence from WWE following a messy split between the promotion and its five-time world champion.
Punk returned to professional wrestling following his departure from WWE in 2014 with AEW, the second biggest promotion in the US. The excitement surrounding his involvement was extinguished after a physical altercation with AEW Executive Vice Presidents and fellow wrestlers Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson. Punk returned to AEW programming nine months later for the debut of his new flagship program, AEW Collision. Punk confirmed that Collision was released as an effort to separate Punk from select behind-the-scenes talent; however, Punk stated that he told AEW founder Tony Khan that it was a bad idea.
“Just let me go,” Punk reportedly told Khan. “Get me out of here.”
Peace was short-lived after a verbal altercation with AEW wrestler Jack Perry. Punk claims that AEW senior commentator and producer Tony Schiavone asked Punk to clamp down on Perry over a proposal involving real glass at Collision. Perry referenced this incident live during a pre-show match at AEW All In in August 2023. This led to a physical confrontation between Punk and Perry backstage shortly before Punk wrestled his final AEW match in front of over 70,000. fans at Wembley Arena.
“I walk over and think, ‘Why do you insist on doing this stupid internet shit on TV?’ And he said, ‘Well, if you have a problem, do something about it.’ I’m like, ‘Come on, man, I would fucking kill you. What are we doing?’” Punk said.
Punk confirmed that the exchange between Punk and Perry was physical.
“I thought I was doing the responsible thing, I didn’t punch anyone, I just choked someone a little,” Punk said. “Samoa Joe was there, he told me to stop, so I quit. I turned to Tony, said this place is a joke, man, you’re a clown, I gave up.”
Khan publicly announced Punk’s termination on a subsequent episode of AEW programming. The executive stated that he feared for his life during the exchange between Punk and Perry. Punk denied having behaved in a way that would have aroused such fear in Khan and accused AEW of trying to ruin his reputation.
“I can’t tell you what Tony felt, but I never did anything to make him fear this life,” Punk said. “He is who he is.
There was a concerted effort to slander me and ruin my character. That was the genesis of the whole drama,” she added.
Punk will participate in media panels during WrestleMania 40 on April 6th and 7th. Stories suggest he could play a role in the match between Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre on Night 2, possibly as a special guest referee. Punk is recovering from a triceps injury that made him ineligible to perform at WrestleMania 40. He shared the belief that Rollins vs. Punk for the World Heavyweight Title was planned to headline Night 1 of WrestleMania 40 before his injury.
