Incendiary CM Punk Interview Set To Drop TODAY
Is CM Punk about to burn everything down ahead of his AEW Collision return?
An ESPN interview with CM Punk ahead of the former AEW World Champion's return to wrestling is expected to drop later today - and the content sounds like it may leave a few people upset.
News of the interview's existence started doing the rounds on Thursday. PWTorch's Wade Keller tested that "something that media-wise is not going to help matters" was going to come up before Saturday, when Punk returns to the ring for AEW Collision's launch. "It's just gonna be one of those weeks," Keller added.
It has since emerged that this may refer to an interview with ESPN's Marc Raimondi, though other factors are in play as well.
Fightful Select reports that Punk "wasn't thrilled with working with KENTA and he may come across badly in an interview," referring to previously-reported plans for the 44-year-old to wrestle the NJPW star at Forbidden Door later this month. KENTA, who has never been shy of criticising Punk publically (worked or otherwise), tweeted in response:-
Hahaha. Me too.It is ZERO interesting without money. Also I’m so pissed that they planned our match without my permission and going to make it with NO BAG. This is my personal fued. F**K YOU. https://t.co/AE0x8Y9sji
— KENTA aka Lil’K (@KENTAG2S) June 15, 2023
Fightful notes that Punk addresses The Elite in the ESPN interview. Word reached AEW's backstage area during this Wednesday's Dynamite tapings, which "didn't go over well," though this is based on second-hand reports on Punk's words.
Punk is believed to have spoken in a way that blurs the lines and generates buzz for upcoming shows. Some of his responses to questions were presented in a way that would make the reader question if he was working or shooting.
One topic without any ambiguity, however, was 'Hangman' Adam Page. Punk's words on his fellow former AEW World Champion were "clearly intentional," with the Chicagoan reportedly making it clear that he doesn't like Page, having said that he felt there were spots in the duo's Double Or Nothing 2022 bout where it seemed 'Hangman' was shooting on him.
How much of this material will make it into the final version of ESPN's interview remains to be seen, though it should be published later today. Nonetheless, Punk understands how polarizing he may come across in it.