In August 2023, Ryan Nemeth was sent home from AEW Collision following a confrontation with CM Punk over a tweet he had made.
At the time, Nemeth called Punk “the softest man alive” after the latter’s return promo on the premiere episode of AEW Collision in which he called The Elite “soft.”
On a recent edition of the “Wrestle Binge” podcast, Nemeth explained that his tweet was in character and the remark was reasonable considering his heel persona.
He said, “There are some things I can talk about and some things I can’t talk about. I can very happily tell you about my tweet. The top good guy on the TV show was missing for eight months due to what I was told was a triceps injury, right. On his very first night back, he, in character, called someone else soft. I thought, ‘Well, I’m a heel, this is a babyface, we both work for the same wrestling company. He gets injured more than anyone who has ever wrestled, and on his very first night back, in character, called someone else soft.’ I thought, ‘What else am I supposed to do? Of course I must respond to this. In character,’ and I did. Anything beyond that, I’m probably not safely able to talk about at this time. I think that’s a very reasonable thing for a bad guy heel to say in response to a heroic babyface who seemed to be a little hypocritical. Is that fair?”
In August 2023, a confrontation between Ryan Nemeth and CM Punk at AEW Collision made headlines. The incident stemmed from a tweet made by Nemeth, in which he referred to Punk as “the softest man alive.” This remark was made in response to Punk’s return promo on the premiere episode of AEW Collision, where he called The Elite “soft.”
Recently, Nemeth appeared on the “Wrestle Binge” podcast to shed light on the situation. He explained that his tweet was made in character and that the comment was reasonable considering his heel persona. Nemeth clarified that there were certain aspects he couldn’t discuss but was happy to talk about his tweet.
Nemeth elaborated, stating that the top good guy on the TV show had been absent for eight months due to a triceps injury. On his first night back, Punk, in character, called someone else soft. As a heel, Nemeth felt compelled to respond to what he perceived as hypocrisy. He believed it was a reasonable thing for a bad guy heel to say in response to a heroic babyface who seemed to be acting hypocritically.
The incident between Nemeth and Punk highlighted the blurred lines between real-life personas and character portrayals in professional wrestling. While fans are aware that wrestling is scripted entertainment, the emotions and rivalries displayed by the performers can often blur the lines between reality and fiction.
The confrontation also sparked discussions about the impact of social media on professional wrestling storylines. Wrestlers have increasingly used platforms like Twitter to enhance their characters and engage with fans. However, this incident serves as a reminder that tweets made in character can still have real-life consequences and ignite conflicts behind the scenes.
It is worth noting that both Nemeth and Punk are highly talented wrestlers who have made significant contributions to the industry. CM Punk is renowned for his outspoken nature and has been involved in various controversies throughout his career. Ryan Nemeth, the younger brother of WWE superstar Dolph Ziggler, has been making a name for himself in promotions like AEW.
In conclusion, the confrontation between Ryan Nemeth and CM Punk at AEW Collision shed light on the complexities of professional wrestling and the impact of social media on storylines. While the incident may have been rooted in character portrayals, it highlighted the blurred lines between fiction and reality in the wrestling world. As fans continue to follow the careers of these talented wrestlers, it remains to be seen if this incident will have any long-term effects on their professional relationship.