For years, Brian James believed he and CM Punk had a deep-seated rivalry—until Punk’s recent WWE return changed everything. Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, James revealed the unexpected moment that made him realize the supposed feud was all in his head.
“For 10 years, I thought we hated each other. Turns out, he hadn’t thought a damn thing about me!” James laughed.
The tension stemmed from James’ perception of past backstage clashes, particularly during Punk’s early WWE run. However, when the two reunited, Punk greeted him with a hug, immediately breaking the ice.
James admitted that the moment taught him a valuable lesson about letting go of grudges and overthinking past conflicts. He even praised Punk’s new attitude, saying,
“He’s a different dude today. I told him, ‘Hey man, I really appreciate your attitude,’ and he said, ‘That’s the first time anybody’s ever said that to me.’”
The revelation highlights how wrestling’s backstage politics can sometimes be more about perception than reality. Now, James sees Punk as a valuable part of WWE’s locker room, proving that time can change even the most stubborn perspectives.
These remarks from Road Dogg echo what we’ve heard about CM Punk from several people who have worked closely with him, most recently The Undertaker: