Bully Ray recently took to the “Busted Open Radio” podcast to share his thoughts on AEW airing the All In 2023 backstage footage between CM Punk and Jack Perry on last week’s episode of Dynamite.
On last week’s show, the footage aired to further the ongoing feud between FTR and The Young Bucks.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On airing the footage: “It backfired. People in the arena — I don’t care if it was 10 people or 100 people or whatever, people were chanting for CM Punk.”
On the footage helping CM Punk: “I think that they actually make CM Punk look like a sympathetic figure here because Punk said what he said on Helwani’s show, and exactly what he said people saw. For face value, people are like, ‘Okay, Punk did exactly what he said he did.’ Anybody can say whatever they want, there was no reason to air the footage. There was no reason to say the Bucks wanted the footage aired, this guy wanted the footage aired. One person wanted this footage aired.”
Bully Ray’s tag team partner D-Von Dudley met CM Punk for the first time at WrestleMania 40, and he talked about the encounter in a recent appearance on the “Gabby AF” podcast.
D-Von said, “This past weekend at WrestleMania, me and my wife and kids, we were in the elevator and Dominik [Mysterio] comes in. I’d known Dominik for a long time, even when I was producing. Then all of a sudden the next stop was CM Punk. He looked at me, I looked at him. I was like, ‘Yo, what’s going on, man?’ He was like, ‘D-Von! Hey!’ I was like, ‘Hey, nice to meet you, man. I’ve never met you before.’”
He continued, “And I told him the whole story of how he met Bubba [Ray Dudley] first, and I said, ‘But don’t worry about it. I’m the better looking of the Dudleys.’ He kind of cracked and smiled. I was like, ‘No, all jokes aside, pleasure meeting you, man.’ He came off as one of the most pleasant guys I think I’d ever met.’”
In a recent episode of the “Busted Open Radio” podcast, Bully Ray shared his thoughts on AEW airing backstage footage between CM Punk and Jack Perry during last week’s episode of Dynamite. The footage was shown to further the ongoing feud between FTR and The Young Bucks. However, according to Bully Ray, it backfired as people in the arena started chanting for CM Punk.
Bully Ray believes that airing the footage made CM Punk look like a sympathetic figure. He mentioned that Punk had previously made certain statements on Helwani’s show, and the footage showed that he did exactly what he said. This created a perception that Punk was being truthful, and there was no reason to air the footage. Bully Ray emphasized that only one person wanted the footage aired, and it wasn’t necessary to involve others.
In a separate incident, D-Von Dudley, Bully Ray’s former tag team partner, met CM Punk for the first time at WrestleMania 40. D-Von shared this experience during an appearance on the “Gabby AF” podcast. He described how he and his family were in an elevator when Dominik Mysterio entered, followed by CM Punk. D-Von greeted Punk, and they had a friendly interaction. D-Von even joked about being the better looking of the Dudleys, which made Punk smile. Overall, D-Von found Punk to be one of the most pleasant individuals he had ever met.
The podcast episode featuring Bully Ray’s comments and D-Von Dudley’s encounter with CM Punk can be found on YouTube.
This incident involving the airing of backstage footage and D-Von Dudley’s positive encounter with CM Punk highlights the ongoing popularity and impact of the wrestler. Despite being away from the wrestling scene for several years, CM Punk continues to generate interest and support from fans. His authenticity and likable personality have resonated with many, making him a sympathetic figure in the eyes of the audience.
The decision to air the backstage footage may have unintentionally worked in CM Punk’s favor, further solidifying his position as a fan favorite. It also demonstrates the power of storytelling and how carefully crafted narratives can shape public perception within the wrestling industry.
As the wrestling landscape continues to evolve, incidents like these serve as reminders of the importance of strategic decision-making and understanding the potential consequences of actions taken. Airing footage or revealing behind-the-scenes moments can have unintended consequences, both positive and negative, on the wrestlers involved and the overall storyline.
In conclusion, the recent airing of backstage footage featuring CM Punk and Jack Perry on AEW’s Dynamite has sparked discussion and debate within the wrestling community. Bully Ray’s comments shed light on how the decision may have backfired, while D-Von Dudley’s encounter with CM Punk showcases the wrestler’s pleasant demeanor. These incidents highlight the ongoing popularity and impact of CM Punk, as well as the importance of thoughtful decision-making in the wrestling industry.