During a recent appearance on “The MMA Hour” podcast, CM Punk discussed his return to AEW last year following his triceps injury and the backstage brawl at All Out 2022.
Punk also spoke about his plans for AEW Collision and his promo where he referred to The Young Bucks as “counterfeit bucks”.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On why he returned to AEW: “I have a lot of friends there. Even though I thought the separate show and separating everyone without getting everyone in a room and squashing it was not going to work, part of me was like, ‘Well, he’s not going to let me go. I’m either going to sit at home or I can try to do some good and if I can get a crew of people on television and do some fun shows, that sounded fun to me.’ Preferably, I would like to be out of here and then everyone is happy. I don’t do this because I need to. I do it because I want to and it’s supposed to be fun, especially at this level.”
On if he ever thought things would work out: “No. I knew, ‘this is never going to work.’ It’s not the way you facilitate things. I’ll always go back to so many stories in wrestling with people flying off the handle, socking each other, and then going on to make money. How many times does it happen on the basketball court? It happened a couple of years ago in a NHL practice game. The St. Louis Blues started beating the s**t out of each other. To me, that’s life and where I came from. To others, it’s the most outrageous thing in the world. I’m the devil.”
On his ‘counterfeit bucks’ line: “Going back to the Pipebomb. A lot of things that people don’t understand, ‘Oh, it’s a shoot promo.’ I never do anything that exposes the business. I know where the line is and I know where to dip my toe over the line. It changed the landscape of WWE. The reason I said Paul Heyman’s name and Brock Lesnar’s name is because I was not supposed to. Persona non-grata. To me it’s not that big of a deal, mentioning these two guys’ names, but everybody, because they knew the rules and parameters and that would specifically piss somebody off, I said it. To me, I’m getting away with murder, but I haven’t even kicked the dog. Everything I said was related to everything on television. Same with that line. If you want to think I was talking about somebody because I was talking about currency and bucks, that’s on you, but that’s the magic of CM Punk. I know where the line is. I say and do things that make you go, ‘This is phony bulls**t, but that guy. That guy is real.’ If now I’m real and I’m absolutely insane and everyone backstage hates me and I’m this diabolical person who is going to whip your a** if you do some f**ked up s**t. Great.”
CM Punk Opens Up About His Return to AEW and Backstage Brawl
Former WWE superstar CM Punk recently appeared on “The MMA Hour” podcast, where he discussed his return to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) last year after recovering from a triceps injury. He also shed light on the backstage brawl that took place at All Out 2022 and shared his plans for AEW Collision.
One of the main reasons Punk decided to join AEW was because of his friendships within the company. Despite his skepticism about the separate show and the lack of resolution among the wrestlers, Punk saw an opportunity to make a positive impact. He wanted to bring a crew of people together and create entertaining shows. For Punk, wrestling is not just a necessity but a source of enjoyment, especially at this level.
When asked if he ever thought things would work out in AEW, Punk admitted that he had doubts. He believed that the way things were being handled would not lead to a successful outcome. However, he drew parallels to other sports where heated confrontations occur but do not hinder individuals from making money. Punk acknowledged that his background in wrestling might make him seem like the devil to some, but it is simply a part of the industry.
During his promo at AEW Collision, Punk referred to The Young Bucks as “counterfeit bucks.” He explained that he always knows where the line is when it comes to exposing the business. The infamous Pipebomb promo from his WWE days changed the landscape of professional wrestling, and Punk understands the power of pushing boundaries without crossing them completely. By mentioning Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar’s names, despite being told not to, Punk was able to create controversy and intrigue. He believes in saying and doing things that make people question the authenticity of wrestling while still maintaining his own genuine persona.
The interview with CM Punk on “The MMA Hour” podcast provides fans with insights into his mindset and motivations for joining AEW. Punk’s return to the wrestling world has been met with excitement and anticipation, and his candidness about the backstage brawl and his promo adds another layer to his character. As AEW continues to grow and evolve, CM Punk’s presence will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping the future of the company.