While CM Punk has been out of the AEW Galaxy for almost a year now, his infamous fight with Jack Perry took place shortly before the opening match of last year’s Everything included At Wembley Stadium, the “Second City Saint” is constantly questioned about his former home and the impact his time at the club has had on his perception in the industry.
Is Punk really a “locker room cancer” as many AEW fans suspected before he was fired by Tony Khan for good reason? Everything included, collisionand the brand as a whole into an unpleasant working environment? Or is this all just propaganda from the AEW camp, which wants to save face before one of the biggest embarrassments in its five-year history?
When asked about his reputation by The Ringer’s The Masked Man Show Live from Fanatics Fest NYC, Punk assured every listener that it was all, well, “bullshit.”
“That’s all bullshit. None of that is reality. ‘Oh, he’s a cancer.’ Listen, not everybody is nice to me. I treat you accordingly. If you’re a piece of shit and you act like that to me, I’m going to treat you like that. If you’re nice, smile, want to have a good time, let’s have a good time. I’m all in love,” Punk explained on Fightful.
“It’s not that I’m two different people, there are just certain people who spread these lies and say these things about me because they can’t control me and they can’t control what I do and what I say. They absolutely hate that and so they try to control the way other people think about me or see me. That’s bullshit. You have to make your own judgement and draw your own conclusions.”
Is punk all bad? No. Is punk all good? No, he’s not that either. No, ultimately, punker, like (almost) everyone else who has graced this earth, is a complex personality with positives and negatives, ups and downs. Granted, many of punk’s ups and downs come on the international stage, as fans watch him pick fights, throw digs—and get into locker room brawls—and promote younger talent on national television in front of thousands or millions of fans watching at home. While some people might take a step back and try to be a little more decisive in their decisions, it’s clear that’s not Punk’s style, and considering how often he’s in the news, it’s clear that his fearlessness in terms of influence has paid off.
Shawn Michaels hints at a bigger role for CM Punk in NXT
Speaking of Punker’s desire to become a locker room leader in the world of professional wrestling, Shawn Michaels recently commented on his planned appearance on the very first episode of NXT on The CW, saying that the show will be special for several reasons, including the “main role” that the “Second City Saint” will play in the show.
“I can’t say that yet. So he’s going to be there,” Michaels explained on WGN Radio via TJR. “He’s obviously going to play an important role for us, and like I said, there’s definitely going to be more surprises to come.”
HBK is now turning his attention to getting back on the road with NXT on a regular weekly television schedule, stressing that this opportunity is important because even though Orlando is the home of the brand, it is valuable for young performers working on their WWE careers to be able to tour.
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“The NXT Universe is, as they say, really excited to come to Chicago. Here in Orlando, our talent, we love our home base and our arena, but going on tour is a really big event for us and our talent,” HBK noted.
“So they’re excited to come here and perform in front of one of the greatest crowds that anybody in the world knows about, which is the Allstate Arena in Chicago. It’s definitely one of the best crowds to perform in front of and our NXT Superstars are really excited to be able to do just that.”
For fans who aren’t already in the know, Punk’s interest in NXT is no secret, as his posts about the promotion have left many fans wondering if he will eventually take Michaels’ place as head of WWE’s developmental brand in a hybrid on-screen/behind-the-scenes role, but before that can happen, the “Best in the World” has a lot of in-ring work to do, including his upcoming strap match with Drew McIntyre in Berlin. Who knows, if McIntyre gets his way, Punk might miss NXT’s show in Chicago, just like he did the last time WWE was in the “Second City”: bleeding and unconscious.
