NWA owner Billy Corgan appeared on Mat Men with Andrew Zarian and was asked about NWA’s interest in CM Punk, a free agent, after AEW released him due to his backstage altercation with Jack Perry at All In.
“Many people behind the scenes have asked me, ‘should we make a play for Punk? Have you reached out to Punk?’ The answer, in terms of reaching out, is no. I respect him a lot. He deserves top money. He’s a top star. That sounds almost self-defeating, ‘you’re almost admitting that you wouldn’t want him.’ No, trust me, the NWA would go hand over fist to have Phil walk through the door and be part of the NWA, even for a pay-per-view,” said Corgan. “What I would say to Phil, and I’m not trying to use this as an open forum, I’m saying to you what I would say to Phil, and again, I have not reached out and I certainly know how to get in touch with him. What I could say to him is, he would have a lot of fun in the NWA. I think Phil, the person, loves professional wrestling. He’s had his public confrontation….I’m very similar, I got sued by a record company for $150 million. I eventually made a deal with them and continued working for them. I’ve had massive battles behind the scenes with every segment of the record and touring business, some of which aren’t public. I have a reputation in rock n roll, behind the scenes. If Phil, the person has a rep with whoever, he doesn’t have that rep with me because I feel I understand where he’s coming from.”
Corgan noted that Punk loves wrestling before diving into his pitch to Punk to join the NWA.
“That man loves professional wrestling. He may not love the professional wrestling business, but he loves professional wrestling. My only appeal to Punk would be, if you want to have some fun, I can’t pay you what you’re worth, but if you want to have some fun, come have some fun in the NWA. We’ll kick some ass, we’ll have some laughs, and I’ll buy you a vegan sandwich,” he said.
Corgan continued, “I’m a rockstar, I’ve been a rockstar for over 30 years. There are moments in my life, as a rockstar, where I’ve played Madison Square Garden. Sold it out, I’ve done it. There is no argument, but there are times where you’ve been there and done that, like Phil has, where you need to go back to the ground and say, ‘How did I get here, where this thing that I love doesn’t feel like the thing I love? Where it’s gotten so twisted and turned around, and somehow, I’m the bad guy on something I don’t feel like I’m the bad guy in.’ I’m not trying to get in the middle of what happened. I wasn’t there, but I do understand the man’s heart, I feel. I’m not his friend, I wouldn’t claim to be his friend, but I would like to see him, whether it’s with the NWA, or any other promotion, that he recaptures his smile. He deserves that. The business should rally around guys like Punk because the business benefits from stars.”
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NWA owner Billy Corgan recently discussed the possibility of CM Punk joining the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) during an appearance on Mat Men with Andrew Zarian. Corgan expressed his respect for Punk and acknowledged his status as a top star in the wrestling industry.
While Corgan revealed that the NWA has not reached out to Punk, he emphasized that the organization would be eager to have him on board, even if it was just for a pay-per-view event. Corgan stated that he believes Punk would have a lot of fun in the NWA and highlighted his love for professional wrestling.
Corgan, who has had his fair share of battles in the music industry, related to Punk’s public confrontation and expressed his understanding of where he is coming from. He mentioned that he does not hold any negative opinions about Punk and believes that the wrestler would enjoy his time in the NWA.
In his pitch to Punk, Corgan admitted that he may not be able to pay him what he is worth but promised a fun experience in the NWA. He even humorously offered to buy Punk a vegan sandwich, showcasing his willingness to accommodate Punk’s preferences.
As a rockstar himself, Corgan shared his own experiences of reaching a point where something he loved no longer felt the same. He encouraged Punk to rediscover his passion and recapture his smile, whether it be with the NWA or any other promotion. Corgan believes that the wrestling business should support and rally around stars like Punk, as they ultimately benefit the industry as a whole.
In conclusion, while there have been no official talks between CM Punk and the NWA, Billy Corgan expressed his admiration for Punk and extended an invitation for him to join the organization. Corgan’s understanding of Punk’s situation and his desire to see him happy and thriving in the wrestling world make the NWA an appealing option for the former WWE superstar.