On a recent edition of his “Hall of Fame” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Booker T recalled his conversation with CM Punk at WWE NXT Deadline 2023.
Punk opened the show with Shawn Michaels.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On his conversation with CM Punk: “CM Punk wasn’t hiding [at Deadline]. He wasn’t hidden away in some room, making a surprise appearance. He was running around and mingling. I ran into CM Punk in catering, I was sitting there talking to Jeremy Borash. I walked up to CM Punk and said, ‘CM Punk! What up, man?’ He stands up, and he goes, ‘What’s up, man? You flip flopper.’ [laughs]. I go, ‘You know how the business is. Sometimes you’re a heel, sometimes you’re a babyface.’ [laughs]. It was very cool. We talked, small talk. He seemed to be at peace and ready to re-write the legacy of CM Punk and finish it off properly. I can’t say anything bad about him. I know people wish I would say something bad about CM Punk. I ain’t kissing ass or anything, either. It just seemed like he was in a calm space.”
On CM Punk seems to be a different person: “And I don’t know, people can say, ‘Oh, he’s just working or whatever,’ What I said when he did the promo, I said it seemed heartfelt to me. Just thinking about being back in that moment because you really don’t know how the fans are going to accept you when you do come back. And then when you do come back, it’s like, ‘Wow, they still love me.’ It’s one of those types of deals. And you go, ‘Wow, let me go to work’ type of deal. But that’s what I felt. That’s what I felt more than anything when I saw him on Saturday. You know, he was the regular CM Punk that I always knew.”
On never having beef with Punk: “People say over and over, ‘It feels like I have beef with CM Punk.’ I’ve never had a beef with CM Punk, not once. I’ve never gotten to the point where I said something negative to where, ‘Hey, I want to fight CM Punk,’ stupid stuff like that. No no, this is about business. When he said he’s not here to make friends, he’s here to make business. In this business, you have to have friends in order to do business. You’re working with a lot of guys that you’ve got to trust in the ring. It’s not like a UFC fight where you don’t have to care about each other. In this business, you have to care about the guys you’re working with. It’s just that simple. There is no way around it. If you don’t, it’s going to show. It’s going to show very quickly and you’re not going to last very long. That’s not something I have to tell CM Punk. I’m not saying that to CM Punk at all. He knows that. There’s a reason why things didn’t work out in AEW. It’s because a lot of those guys probably didn’t care about each other.”
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CM Punk, one of the most iconic figures in professional wrestling, recently made a highly anticipated return to the WWE at NXT Deadline 2023. In a recent episode of his “Hall of Fame” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Booker T shared some insights from his conversation with CM Punk at the event.
According to Booker T, CM Punk was not hiding away at Deadline. He was actively mingling and engaging with people. Booker T bumped into CM Punk in the catering area and greeted him with enthusiasm. CM Punk responded playfully, calling Booker T a “flip flopper,” referring to the nature of professional wrestling where wrestlers often switch between being a hero (babyface) and a villain (heel). The interaction was described as cool and friendly, with both wrestlers engaging in small talk.
Booker T also mentioned that CM Punk seemed to be in a calm and peaceful state of mind. He expressed that CM Punk appeared ready to rewrite his legacy and finish it off properly. Booker T emphasized that he had no negative remarks to make about CM Punk and that he didn’t have any personal issues or conflicts with him. He clarified that professional wrestling is a business where trust and camaraderie among wrestlers are crucial for success. Booker T highlighted the importance of caring for fellow wrestlers and building relationships based on trust, which may have been lacking in CM Punk’s previous stint with AEW (All Elite Wrestling).
The return of CM Punk to the WWE has been met with immense excitement from fans worldwide. Many speculate that his heartfelt promo upon his return was genuine, as he expressed gratitude for the fans’ continued support. CM Punk’s popularity and connection with the audience remain strong, which is a testament to his impact on the wrestling industry.
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CM Punk’s return to the WWE has undoubtedly sparked a renewed interest and excitement among wrestling fans. As he embarks on this new chapter in his career, fans eagerly anticipate witnessing the legacy of CM Punk being rewritten and his impact on the wrestling industry once again.