CM Punk may be ‘home’ in WWE, but Bully Ray believes that the Chicago-Made wrestler is coming across as far from genuine.
During his first episode of RAW in close to a decade, Punk spoke about being ‘home’ and was grateful for the warm reception he’s received.
On a recent edition of the “Busted Open Radio” podcast, Bully took issue with Punk’s comment about being home given his previous anti-WWE rhetoric. He said,
“Stop! Because when CM Punk says, ‘I’m home,’ it sounds like a crock of s**t to me’. You can’t call someplace home that you’ve gone on record to say caused you mental and physical harm, so I would much rather see Punk talk about being back in WWE rather than home. When CM Punk says home, it doesn’t come across as genuine to me.”
Bully also took issue with Punk’s promo on SmackDown in which he spoke about not “working with someone who just punches people in the face backstage.”
While the line was supposed to be in reference to Kevin Owens punching heels backstage, many fans saw it as a nod to his AEW departure. Ray said,
“Zero reaction to that line. And when I say zero reaction, only a small portion, the internet [fans], and AEW’s faithful fans … that line hit to the people it needed to hit, but in the live audience, it was as if AEW never even existed. They don’t even know about the company. I think the line was so vague that it was only meant for a couple of people to understand.”
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CM Punk’s return to WWE has been met with mixed reactions, and one person who isn’t buying into his “homecoming” narrative is Bully Ray. The former wrestler and current podcast host expressed his skepticism about Punk’s comments during a recent episode of Busted Open Radio.
Punk, who hadn’t appeared on RAW in nearly a decade, spoke about being “home” and expressed gratitude for the warm reception he received from the fans. However, Bully Ray took issue with this statement, considering Punk’s previous criticisms of WWE. He argued that Punk can’t call WWE home when he has openly talked about the mental and physical harm caused by the company.
Bully Ray suggested that Punk should instead focus on talking about being back in WWE rather than using the term “home,” as it doesn’t come across as genuine. This criticism highlights the tension between Punk’s past grievances with WWE and his decision to return to the company.
Another point of contention for Bully Ray was Punk’s promo on SmackDown, where he mentioned not wanting to work with someone who just punches people backstage. While the line was intended to reference Kevin Owens punching heels backstage, many fans interpreted it as a subtle jab at Punk’s former employer, All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
Bully Ray noted that the line had zero reaction from the live audience, except for a small portion of internet fans and AEW loyalists. He suggested that the line was too vague and only meant for a select few to understand. This observation highlights the challenge of delivering nuanced references that resonate with both hardcore and casual wrestling fans.
Overall, Bully Ray’s comments shed light on the skepticism surrounding CM Punk’s return to WWE. While some fans are excited to see him back in action, others question his sincerity and wonder if his return is simply a business move rather than a genuine homecoming. Only time will tell how Punk’s second run in WWE unfolds and whether he can truly make himself at home in the company once again.