8 Wrestlers You Didn't Know HATE Each Other For Real
5. CM Punk & Tony Atlas
To hear CM Punk himself tell the cult classic story is - in sharp contrast to how he felt about others later in his career - a reality check that while the pair might have been saying "f*ck you" to one another back in the mid-2000s, 'The Voice Of The Voiceless' had no choice but to actually let this one go.
It was too deranged for him to hold the grudge.
It was during Punk's time as ECW Champion that he elected to make a trip back to Ohio Valley Wrestling to take part in a 2007 dark match alongside Colt Cabana, Joey Matthews & Seth Skyfire against KC James, Michael W. Kruel, Paul Burchill & Shawn Spears. Punk went on record saying it was only to toast Matthews' last night, and for the fun of having the match, but beforehand, he was greeted by Tony Atlas, who - in his role as a visiting veteran - flagged up that Punk's signature wrist tape made it look like he had broken arms, and that they might not look the part on TV.
Per The Punker, he was polite during the exchange, and elected not to flag the obvious - that he already was on TV, and was in fact holding gold in the spot. He was less reserved when he found himself called out in public as Atlas addressed the rest of the hopefuls in a post-show speech. Directing his words at Punk as he sat with the trainees, 'Mr USA' said; "If you don't listen to your coach, you're never gonna get called up to the big show...most everybody here was nice, one person in particular was an a*shole! A lot of you are really good...but some of you are an A*SHOLE!"
It was at this point Punk realised what was actually happening, and replied in kind, leading to the following hilarious exchange;
"Are you talking to me?"
"Yes. You're an a*shole!"
"Well f*ck you...you don't know who the f*ck I am!"
"I told you to take the wrist tape off and you didn't. Go to hell, you'll never make it to TV!"
Punk noted they shook hands on it years later, but spoke of the developmental scene being so littered with office stooges in the era that he was sure the supposed disrespect of a legend would land him in bother when he got back to his main roster duties.