Details Behind The CM Punk Interview So Many Are Talking About Today
Added 2023-06-15 17:30:25 +0000 UTCLike sands through the hourglass….this is another CM Punk story.
On June 15, Wade Keller on PWTorch said “"I am under the impression between now and Saturday, there's going to be something that comes out that media wise that is not gonna help matters, probably. I don't mean to be cryptic but I haven't heard the details or seen enough to say much but yea, I just don't know. I just think it's gonna be one of those weeks, I'll put it that way...From what I'm hearing behind the scenes in AEW, it's just gonna be one of those weeks."
We’ve learned more about what this is in regards to.
Last week, Fightful Select reported that KENTA vs. CM Punk was the planned direction for AEW Forbidden Door. Shortly following that, we were told that Punk "wasn't thrilled with working with KENTA and he may come across badly in an interview.” However, there’s a lot more to this than meets the eye, and that might have been by design.
There are a lot of facets to this that have unraveled since then that may become more clear. We’re told that an ESPN interview is supposed to drop sometime soon, where Punk was talking about a number of topics. Among those topics was The Elite, and word got back to several on the roster at the June 14 AEW Dynamite tapings, and some of it didn’t go over well based on second-hand reports of what Punk said, which could be seen as "his version of what is true."
We’re told that AEW did set up the interview and monitored things, but that CM Punk spoke in a way that would blur the lines, and create buzz for upcoming shows. Specifically, we’d heard that he’d answered questions in a way that would make the audience wonder if it was him angling for a story, or if he was shooting.
We've been told that Hangman Page was brought up in a manner that absolutely was not confusing in a work-shoot perspective, and were clearly intentional, and made very clear that he didn't like Hangman Page. Punk had said that there were spots in the Double or Nothing match that he felt like were Page "shooting" on him by chopping him in the face during the match.
We aren’t sure what eventually will make it into the final ESPN piece, but we heard that the interview was conducted last week. We’re told that Punk was very aware that it could come off polarizing based on his responses.
Recently, we’d reported that CM Punk was sent a series of documents that protected AEW, which included some non-disparagements.
Comments
😅😅😅. yeah I joke all the time that I've been trying to resign from work for years and they keep putting it a re-signing
Troy A Palek
2023-06-16 18:23:51 +0000 UTCSo the interview came out and... it's tame. Shoutout to Wade for drumming up all this outrage over nothing (again...)
Almaida
2023-06-16 16:17:25 +0000 UTCI wouldn't let him go without him putting over Hangman, clean
Dave O'Neill
2023-06-16 09:47:52 +0000 UTCThis is my hope as well! It would blow the roof off of the place.
Kenny Schafer
2023-06-16 03:19:39 +0000 UTCIf he tries to bury Hangman yet again just get rid of him. Hangman is one of the biggest babyfaces in AEW if not the biggest, and having someone drag his name in the mud not once, but twice seems counter productive. CM Punks career is nearing its end, hell he was already retired for years prior to coming to AEW. Why let him openly damage a younger, talented wrestlers image unless this leads to Hangman beating CM Punk for a title or something in the future. CM Punk is about CM Punk, he doesn't seem to give a shit about AEW..
Vain Valor
2023-06-16 03:18:37 +0000 UTCI’d bet Brett Okamoto. Ariel hasn’t been with ESPN for a few years now.
kidfavre4
2023-06-16 02:45:31 +0000 UTCwade keller is not stupid nor does he chase clicks. he is a journalist who went to school for journalism. he seeks truth, strives to minimize harm, acts independently, and does so with as much transparency and accountability as he can.
David
2023-06-16 00:08:19 +0000 UTCThat opening line for the article popped me extremely
De'Lorian Diggs
2023-06-16 00:07:29 +0000 UTCI think punk is coming back as a heel and this is just to drum up interest in the show, since it might need some help. I can't imagine he would shoot on hangman in an interview unless it was pre-approved. IF TK learned anything from the mess, is that CM punk leaks do seem to get the wrestling media ready to report, speculate, and..drum up interest in the product.
David Feig
2023-06-15 23:45:19 +0000 UTChooooo boy
e d
2023-06-15 23:21:47 +0000 UTCI've read tons of takes on the scrum. I read the well-written Fightful recap of events. I had a headache and shrugged my shoulders, saying don't have interest in drama. Sounds like more drama unless it's a work then who knows if it leads to more work or real drama. Shrugs shoulders.
Fan
2023-06-15 23:11:08 +0000 UTCIt's all a work now
Doogie
2023-06-15 21:54:06 +0000 UTCA hyphen makes a big difference lol
Flameducky
2023-06-15 21:16:22 +0000 UTCTony should of had the balls to let Punk sit at home
Matty Nice
2023-06-15 20:32:32 +0000 UTCPunk is up there with Hogan as one of the softest Wrestlers ever. Imagine Flair, or Austin , getting so in their feels about an errant strike in a match. He should of manned up and hit him back like Lesnar did Strowman
Matty Nice
2023-06-15 20:31:01 +0000 UTCThis totally made me think of "Clerks" where Dante tells Randall "But you hate people" And Randall goes "But I love gatherings, isn't it ironic?" - Legitimately what I think every time he is upset about making headlines/people talking but knowing it is part of the business and loving being able to work it when needed. It is a a catch-22 for performers.
jennifer griffin
2023-06-15 20:28:26 +0000 UTCHelwani for sure
Alex Marano
2023-06-15 20:10:55 +0000 UTCAfter the main event of Collision, CMFTR are celebrating in the ring, lights go out. Everyone thinks its the HoB. Lights come back on and its The Elite face to face with them. Place explodes.
B. Joseph
2023-06-15 19:37:44 +0000 UTCJen, I think you summed it up really well & Adam has some solid points too. He has a really good wrestling mind and a love for the business but there was a magic to Punk when he first hit the scene (honestly all the ROH roster did at that time) which was really re-energizing what had become a super stale US product. It was abreath of fresh air. Now...while he is a good nostalgia pop and a huge influence for a lot of folks,YMMV if you don't have that as a reference point.
jennifer griffin
2023-06-15 19:33:03 +0000 UTCall I want is for the Elite to resign and for amends to be made. That's all really. Oh and the damn game to come out in 2 weeks
Reinmaker
2023-06-15 19:24:19 +0000 UTCLet’s fucking go 🔥 Light the fire 🔥
Matt Snyder
2023-06-15 19:24:04 +0000 UTC“However, there’s a lot more to this than meets the eye, and that might have been by design.” The sentence right after “we were told that punk wasn’t thrilled with working with Kenta.”
Christopher Eckhoff
2023-06-15 19:07:24 +0000 UTCI hope all this Punk nonsense makes everyone involved zillions of dollars, but the guy is Ebola.
Nick O’Shea
2023-06-15 19:00:24 +0000 UTCAh boy, here we go..
CSDX
2023-06-15 18:59:15 +0000 UTCThis all goes to show the conspiratorial folks that if ever something dramatic happened that seems to be a shoot then it’s definitely a shoot! If it were a work then we would know it! That couldn’t be kept secret.
Cody
2023-06-15 18:58:57 +0000 UTCMeltzer, Alvarez, and Keller...The O'Reilly, Hannity, and Carlson of wrestling media. This is gonna be fun.
Kurtis Allen
2023-06-15 18:56:32 +0000 UTCGOAT
Ol’ Dustin
2023-06-15 18:55:09 +0000 UTCGoing after Hangman, in a work or shoot, is definitely a good way to get some heat with most of the AEW audience
Will McLean
2023-06-15 18:54:52 +0000 UTClike he made it sound like a scandal or something… 😭
Brion Harris
2023-06-15 18:54:12 +0000 UTCLol that's it? Fucking Keller trying to insinuate
Ryan
2023-06-15 18:35:58 +0000 UTC“All” wasn’t a characterization. I mean in general that any controversy from the point of punks return to the first episode of collision could be a work to generate interest. Like I said, I am probably wrong but anytime there is a punk controversy, interest explodes and I am sure that is great for Fightful which is most definitely deserved due to their hard work and dedication to bringing fans behind the curtain peek into the world of PW
Super Dave Osborne
2023-06-15 18:32:54 +0000 UTCThat’s what I’m thinking as well
Justmask
2023-06-15 18:14:57 +0000 UTCI agree I think this interview in particular is a work, also Sean see you In Lexington tomorrow for smackdown
Justmask
2023-06-15 18:14:38 +0000 UTCYes. It’s a work
Timo Jenkins
2023-06-15 18:13:12 +0000 UTCSooo it’s a work?
Justmask
2023-06-15 18:07:39 +0000 UTCI did? “we were told that Punk ‘wasn't thrilled with working with KENTA’” - so that’s 100% a work?
Adam Frazier
2023-06-15 18:07:30 +0000 UTCThat makes two of us
Fightful Select
2023-06-15 18:05:41 +0000 UTCRead the article friend
Fightful Select
2023-06-15 18:05:15 +0000 UTCKENTA hates him lol
Hunter Camp
2023-06-15 18:05:12 +0000 UTCDefine "all." I wouldn't doubt if this specific interview was. But the whole thing wasn't
Fightful Select
2023-06-15 18:05:04 +0000 UTCHey buddy!
Hunter Camp
2023-06-15 18:04:11 +0000 UTCI’m so over all this Punk drama, but this just sounds like he’s trying to get people to watch Collision. I mean he’s probably going to open the show with a promo and this interview will just make some fans wonder what he’ll say.
FWPJR.
2023-06-15 18:02:11 +0000 UTCAnd people wonder why Punk hates so many dirt sheet writers.
Chris Kessler
2023-06-15 17:59:25 +0000 UTCWell. Here we go again.
BagOfGroceries
2023-06-15 17:58:41 +0000 UTCare you or do you click refresh and the anticipation is stressing you out?
slick
2023-06-15 17:57:27 +0000 UTCStarting to wonder if this is all a work to generate interest as I don’t think they have received the response and engagement that they assumed with the return of Punk. I could be and probably am wrong but I wouldn’t put it past them
Super Dave Osborne
2023-06-15 17:56:29 +0000 UTCNothing quite like the babyface burying the new show to work the fans amirite?
Mauricio Castro
2023-06-15 17:54:57 +0000 UTCHe was a star when WWE was at it's absolute dimmest - and even though he's a great character and great on the mic, his in-ring work pales in comparison to the rest of the AEW roster in my opinion.
Adam Frazier
2023-06-15 17:53:24 +0000 UTCno interest in cm punk.
BugabooJonez
2023-06-15 17:53:23 +0000 UTCPunk doesn't want to work with KENTA? Sounds like someone needs to grow up and be "professional"
Adam Frazier
2023-06-15 17:52:30 +0000 UTCI don’t care anymore. If it’s Punk being his typical dickhead self, I lost my $50 bet on it taking him only 3 months after his debut to piss off the majority of the roster. If it’s him “working” I have no energy to care until it leads to The Elite (+ Ibushi) vs Punk and hopefully FTR/Starks (Tony has made me give negative shits about Wardlow)
Talk About Your Psalms Talk About John 3 16 Femboy 3 16 Says I Just Licked Your Ass
2023-06-15 17:51:54 +0000 UTCDAX YOU GOTTA STAY WITH ME KENTAS TRYING TO ROLL ME UP
GarretRan
2023-06-15 17:50:22 +0000 UTCA+ reference, brother.
Jen
2023-06-15 17:49:46 +0000 UTCNever work yourself into a shoot, brother.
Josh Cooper
2023-06-15 17:49:17 +0000 UTCI’ve just found and watched this - very interesting. I sincerely hope we are into clever work territory.
David Pick
2023-06-15 17:49:10 +0000 UTCI think if you didn’t watch during that time, there is no magic to Punk. I have fond memories of him being one of the few bright spots in WWE. He shined when everything else was dim. That good faith doesn’t work for a lot of people who don’t have those good memories and just see this nonsense.
Jen
2023-06-15 17:48:30 +0000 UTCI hope that’s the last time anyone says this. Any sort of handshake needs to stay as private as possible. I want to mark the fuck out when we get a blackout and Kenny/Punk standing face to face
David Pick
2023-06-15 17:46:33 +0000 UTCThis is why I give Fightful five bucks and not other sites that say cryptic shit and makes you think big bad CM Punk burn your entire crop fields
Jose Bautista
2023-06-15 17:46:04 +0000 UTCThis is all just exhausting. I was so hyped for him to make his initial return and now I’m just tired. So so tired.
Jen
2023-06-15 17:45:22 +0000 UTCPro wrestler does a worked interview, shocker.
Chris Kessler
2023-06-15 17:45:09 +0000 UTCHe was completely unlike anyone else during a time wwe was very Cena and bland.
thenumber9door
2023-06-15 17:45:00 +0000 UTCThere is a full version out there where he includes collision. Also mentions all these shows have a chance to hash things out so stay tuned.
slick
2023-06-15 17:44:30 +0000 UTCFrom what I’ve seen he purposely avoided using the word Collision though, didn’t he? I saw a 2 minute clip and it felt very on purpose.
David Pick
2023-06-15 17:43:53 +0000 UTCJust Punk being Punk. And its old.
NateF_81
2023-06-15 17:43:44 +0000 UTCI didn't watch wrestling during the Punk era in WWE. I started watching again about the time he tried his hand at mma, so the last couple years have been my introduction to him and I really don't know what the big hype is. He hasn't done anything in Aew that makes me think he is great. His matches are ok, but nothing special. Why is this guy worth the trouble?
Ralph Cody
2023-06-15 17:43:30 +0000 UTCAny confirmation as to who conducted the interview? Raimondi or someone different?
Landon Carmichael
2023-06-15 17:42:42 +0000 UTCSomething something work a shoot something something work yourself into a shoot brother
Raphael Soohoo
2023-06-15 17:42:32 +0000 UTCI’m so confused.
thankyoubrother
2023-06-15 17:42:31 +0000 UTCExcept he did mention collision in the second half of the promo last night. Even said if you love us and hate someone else or hate us and love someone else- you get to see all of it here at AEW during the second half
jennifer griffin
2023-06-15 17:42:20 +0000 UTCObviously a work. He’s legally forbidden from slandering the company.
Niners94
2023-06-15 17:42:12 +0000 UTCI'm being kinda sarcastic and just mocking people who are condescending and get mad towards people who pay attention to dirt sheets
Steven
2023-06-15 17:40:35 +0000 UTCPunk scared of KENTA, smh that Subsection 11, Paragraph E coming in handy for Pepsi Phil.....
GarretRan
2023-06-15 17:39:49 +0000 UTCI don’t think the internet loves it as much as you might think. It’s fatiguing, for me at least.
Dave Stroble
2023-06-15 17:39:38 +0000 UTCCm punk love's making headlines
Kyle Pribila
2023-06-15 17:39:17 +0000 UTCThey are working us now... Clearly .. anyone see Omegas post-show promo last night talking about chances to hash things out and for us to stay tuned for every show?
slick
2023-06-15 17:39:10 +0000 UTCLooking forward to seeing the interview. Sounds like he's trying to gather interest in his return
Noir
2023-06-15 17:39:00 +0000 UTCI absolutely can’t wait to see this. Crazy Phil blurring the lines. My *hope* here is the Elite are blurring the lines too. Kennys little post Dynamite promo last night where he purposely ignored Collision existed - these guys aren’t dumb. They all know what they are doing and saying.
David Pick
2023-06-15 17:38:50 +0000 UTCI am so fucking tired of this worked shoot shit
Tempo1337
2023-06-15 17:38:39 +0000 UTCPunk is (possibly) working people in this interview and the fans have been in an uproar all day lmaoooo
Brie
2023-06-15 17:38:10 +0000 UTCI couldn’t have been happier leading into Punk’s previous return and through a lot of his AEW stuff but I’m feeling the opposite this go-round. I have to assume that we’re all being worked and they’ve made amends backstage in order for any of this to make sense to me. Nothing about this feels good.
Dave Stroble
2023-06-15 17:38:09 +0000 UTCBuckle up, Buckaroos.
Ian Henry
2023-06-15 17:38:03 +0000 UTCSo it's just a stupid, "oooooh is this is a work or is this not a work, you're a stupid mark idiot for even caring!!!!" situation the internet loves
Steven
2023-06-15 17:37:22 +0000 UTCThere is nothing oblivious about the reporter.
Fightful Select
2023-06-15 17:37:14 +0000 UTCIdk if the dude can't get a break, or has gotten too many. I hope whatever it is doesn't affect the other talent, or the product itself.
Rincewind
2023-06-15 17:37:09 +0000 UTCSo he's probably working, got it.
Almaida
2023-06-15 17:36:54 +0000 UTCOh I can't wait to see this
Wesley Wiggins
2023-06-15 17:36:47 +0000 UTCOut of all instances for something to be a work, this interview would be one of them giving timing and the probably oblivious-ness of an ESPN reporter.
Joshua Cooper
2023-06-15 17:36:37 +0000 UTCI am tired of CM Punk and all this drama tbh.
Scott Payne
2023-06-15 17:36:35 +0000 UTCWE LOVE TO SEE IT
Landon Carmichael
2023-06-15 17:36:26 +0000 UTCSweet Christmas
Andrew Bates
2023-06-15 17:36:05 +0000 UTCOh Phil…
Busby
2023-06-15 17:35:26 +0000 UTC
