Drew McIntyre had a nasty reply ready for CM Punk during their infamous promo battle referencing Vince McMahon last year.

The name of the former Chairman has essentially been banned from WWE programming after ex-employee Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against McMahon accusing him of sexual trafficking among other things.

This didn’t stop CM Punk from referencing his former boss during a promo battle with McIntyre on the March 25, 2024 episode of Raw. Punk startled his rival by asking him about being ‘The Chosen One,’ a nickname given to Drew by Vince during his first WWE run.

On the March 25, 2024, edition of RAW, CM Punk asked Drew McIntyre who gave him the nickname "The Chosen One."

During a recent interview with Inside The Ropes, Drew McIntyre revealed that he wanted to respond to CM Punk by saying the man [Vince McMahon] "that fired you on your… pic.twitter.com/1CdvbEWZpV

— NOTO Sports (@noto_sports) February 26, 2025

The Scottish Warrior opened up about what was going through his mind at the time during a new interview with Inside the Ropes. He revealed that he had an equally bold response that he refrained from saying out loud:

“What’s going through my mind is: ‘The same person that fired you on your wedding day.’ But I’m a professional.”

• Vince McMahon Originally Wanted Brock Lesnar To Assume Failed Gimmick Of Ex WWE Star

For The Company: Drew McIntyre

CM Punk infamously got the papers of his WWE firing after his 2014 walkout on the day of his wedding with AJ Lee. In an interview with Steve Austin, Vince McMahon later claimed that the whole thing was an accident and apologized to Punk.

Drew McIntyre claimed that the whole promo battle was off the cuff with two guys who genuinely disliked each other going at it. Still, he refrained from the retort for the benefit of the company:

“It was a choice for me to make. Do I go back and then we see where we end up? Or do I bite my tongue and say OK, this round belongs to you. I’ll be a professional. I’ll do it for the company as well as the de facto babyface, even though I’m really the real babyface of the situation. So I let him have it. For the company, not for him.”

Drew McIntyre will be competing in the Elimination Chamber match this Saturday. This comes only days after the former champion had to get his knee drained. You can check out what McIntyre said about his knee before the PPV here.

• Mercedes Mone Opens Up About ‘Darkness’ Surrounding Her WWE Departure

WWE has officially announced that CM Punk will be appearing at three upcoming international events this March, including two tapings of SmackDown.

According to a tweet from WWE UK, Punk’s first stop will be in Brussels on March 17 for a special edition of Monday Night Raw. From there, the Straight Edge Superstar heads to Bologna on March 21 for SmackDown, before rounding out the month in London on March 28—also for SmackDown.

• March 17: Brussels #WWERaw
• March 21: Bologna #SmackDown
• March 28: London #SmackDown

Tickets for these events are now available at WWE.com/events.

CM Punk’s role at WrestleMania 41 is still undetermined, but by the time these shows take place, he’ll be locked in and just weeks away from battle.

Stay tuned to SEScoops for more updates on CM Punk’s international matches and all the latest Road to WrestleMania news.

Ricky Saints quickly became part of NXT after debuting on the February 11 episode following his AEW exit. He has already made an impact with his presence, and it appears he reunited with CM Punk before this week’s NXT episode.

The Second City Saint took to his Instagram story and uploaded a photo of himself alongside Ricky Saints, marking their reunion ahead of the February 25 edition of NXT. Punk and Saints appeared happy together, with Punk humorously referencing their shared moniker by captioning the post, “Couple of Saints.”

Ricky Saints and CM Punk developed a close bond from their time working together in AEW, where they had a notable feud on AEW Collision in 2023. Despite Punk’s departure from AEW, the two have remained close.

As for Ricky Saints, he is set to team up with Je’Von Evans to face Ethan Page and Wes Lee in tag team action during the February 25 edition of NXT. Given this photo, Punk will likely be watching closely as Saints makes his WWE in-ring debut.

Ryan Nemeth has filed a lawsuit against AEW, Tony Khan, and CM Punk, in the latest chapter of the Best in the World’s controversial time with the promotion. Nemeth’s lawsuit was filed on February 14 in California. The complaint is for assault, breach of contract, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and intentional interference with prospective advantage.

This isn’t the first time Nemeth has taken aim at Punk and his AEW tenure. In December 2024, it was reported that Nemeth had alleged the use of threats and harrasment in AEW which involved Punk. Fightful reported at the time that Nemeth had detailed these issues in a complaint dated September 12, and provided emails, texts, and call logs as evidence.

In the lawsuit, Nemeth makes a series of startling claims, including that Punk assaulted the Young Bucks “in early 2023.” This would come after the altercation at All Out 2022 that resulted in Punk, the Bucks, and others being suspended.

Nemeth alleges that in April 2023, he contacted AEW executives, concerned that Punk would return from suspension to assault him. He adds that despite this, AEW didn’t hesitate in bringing Punk back. Nemeth alleges that on June 21, 2023, Punk assaulted him, despite Nemeth’s efforts to de-escalate the situation.

Punk faced no punishment for assaulting Nemeth, the lawsuit adds, while Ryan feared being “benched” by AEW. The promotion’s attorneys assured Nemeth that this would not be the case, but it would be another two months before he was used in any capacity.

Nemeth adds that he learned that Punk had insisted that he be ‘benched,’ despite not having done anything wrong. The suit adds that when Nemeth was booked to return in August, Punk spotted him and fired off a text. Nemeth was informed shortly after that he would not be used.

When Tony Khan fired CM Punk in September 2023, the AEW President blameed Nemeth, the suitn adds. It is claimed that Khan and Punk have embarked upon a campaign to “blackball” Nemeth from professional wrestling. Khan has “used his significant resources to make sure that Nemeth can never again make a living in wrestling” the lawsuit adds.

Punk returned to WWE in November 2023, where his conduct has reportedly been exemplarly. While Punk is focused on this weekend’s Men’s Elimination Chamber and a potential title match at WrestleMania 41, the issues stemming from Punk’s AEW tenure continue to haunt the Chicago-Made Superstar.

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:

WWE Superstar Seth Rollins hasn’t grown tired talking trash about his old pal, CM Punk. During an appearance on Not Just Football with Cam Heyward, Rollins took a sharp jab at his longtime rival, casting doubt on whether Punk can stay healthy enough to make it to WrestleMania 41.

“CM Punk’s gotta make it to WrestleMania this year. Last year, he didn’t. Last year, he didn’t make it to WrestleMania. Fragile Phil got hurt.”

The animosity between Rollins and Punk has been brewing for years, with Rollins previously calling Punk a “cancer” to the locker room.

With rumors swirling about a potential Triple Threat match at WrestleMania 41 featuring Rollins, Punk, and Roman Reigns, the reigning World Heavyweight Champion made it clear who the real workhorse is.

“I am healthy and prime. I am there every single week. I’m the only 100% guarantee of the three of us for WrestleMania.”

With Punk sidelined since January due to a torn triceps, his WrestleMania status remains uncertain. Meanwhile, Rollins is gearing up for Elimination Chamber, a match he admits is brutal but one he’s prepared to endure.

Whether or not Punk makes it to the grandest stage of them all, Rollins has already set the tone—there’s no love lost between these two, and if they do meet at WrestleMania, it’s going to get personal.

Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk

Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk was arguably one of WWE’s hottest feuds of 2024, but due to injuries, the two didn’t get a chance to settle their score in the ring until January 6, 2025 on the WWE Raw Netflix premiere.

The long-awaited showdown, emanating from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, lived up to its immense hype, featuring a brutal display of one-upmanship as both superstars appropriated each other’s finishing moves – Rollins attempting Punk’s GTS while Punk mockingly delivered Rollins’ signature Stomp.

After the action spilled into the crowd and saw Rollins execute two devastating Pedigrees, including one through the announce table, it was ultimately CM Punk who emerged victorious, sealing his first Raw victory in over 4,000 days with back-to-back GTS finishers.

The bout marked only their second-ever singles encounter, with their previous match taking place over a decade earlier in December 2013, making this high-stakes Netflix premiere even more historic.

Logan Paul didn’t hold back in a recent conversation with Michael Cole on his Impaulsive podcast, taking shots at CM Punk and continuing to make his case that he was using “Yeet” long before Jey Uso popularized it in WWE cannon.

Reflecting on his time in the ring with some of WWE’s biggest stars – including John Cena, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, and Jey Uso – Paul exuded his signature over-the-top confidence.

While many might have felt out of place in such legendary company, The Maverick insists that wasn’t the case. When asked if he questioned his own place in the match, he scoffed at the idea and threw in a dig at CM Punk.

“Not at all, not at all,” Paul said. “I honestly was like, how the hell is CM Punk still here?”

The jab at Punk is especially notable given the former WWE Champion’s polarizing reputation. Punk returned to WWE in late 2023 after nearly a decade away, and Paul’s comment suggests he’s not entirely sold on the veteran’s staying power.

The Undertaker on CM Punk: “He’s Actually Very Pleasant To Be Around, It’s Like a Different Guy”

Who Yeeted First?

But Punk wasn’t the only target of Paul’s comments. He also laid claim to the popular wrestling catchphrase “Yeet,” which has become synonymous with Jey Uso.

“I was the original Yeet, by the way,” Paul declared, before adding that he had believed the phrase was “put in a bulletproof coffin” years ago.

Taking the joke further, Paul revealed he was “sending a cease-and-desist” to Jey Uso over the catchphrase.

While it’s clear Paul was speaking in jest, his comments are sure to stir conversation among wrestling fans. His rising presence in WWE continues to be a talking point, and whether it’s roasting veterans like Punk or claiming iconic catchphrases, Paul still knows how to keep himself at the center of attention.

CM Punk’s return to WWE has been one of the most talked-about stories in wrestling, but perhaps the biggest endorsement yet comes from The Undertaker himself. Speaking on Busted Open, the WWE legend praised Punk’s growth, noting a significant change in his demeanor since his earlier run with the company.

“He’s actually very pleasant to be around… it’s like a different guy. It’s like a weight has been lifted off of him,” The Undertaker said.

Punk, known for his outspoken nature and past backstage tensions, was often seen as difficult to work with. However, Taker now sees him as someone who is engaged, personable, and willing to share his knowledge with younger talent.

“Before he left the first time, he was very aloof, sometimes combative. One of those guys that wanted to fight for every hill, even if it wasn’t in a good way,” he explained. “Now, he’s cutting up with people, engaging in conversations. It tells me that’s probably a consistent thing for him now.”

Punk recently appeared at the WWE Performance Center to mentor up-and-coming talent, further showcasing this newfound maturity. Undertaker believes that if Punk chooses to, he could become a respected veteran who helps shape the future of WWE.

As Punk prepares for his Elimination Chamber match, his in-ring abilities remain top-tier—but perhaps his biggest transformation has been behind the scenes.

The Undertaker and CM Punk

The Undertaker and CM Punk’s rivalry culminated during their WrestleMania 29 program in 2013, following Punk’s victory in a fatal four-way match to challenge Undertaker’s undefeated streak. Their relationship had started years earlier, with Undertaker mentoring Punk on WWE’s dress code policies, maintaining a generally positive working relationship despite occasional tensions.

The storyline intensified following the real-life passing of Paul Bearer, Undertaker’s longtime manager. Punk incorporated Bearer’s death into the narrative, stealing his symbolic urn and using it to taunt Undertaker, culminating in a controversial segment where Punk poured the urn’s ashes over his opponent. Their WrestleMania match featured Living Colour performing Punk’s entrance theme and several dramatic near-falls before Undertaker secured victory with two Tombstone Piledrivers.

The match received widespread acclaim, earning 4½ stars from Dave Meltzer and ranking as WrestleMania 29’s highest-rated contest. Paul Heyman later revealed he had suggested Punk break the streak to potentially prevent his WWE departure. Both performers have expressed mutual respect, with Undertaker praising their match and dismissing rumors of backstage animosity.

Gunther, the reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion, is gearing up for a challenging road to WrestleMania 41, with multiple steel cage title defenses scheduled before his showdown with 2025 Royal Rumble winner Jey Uso.

Steel Cage Match vs. Seth Rollins in Germany

As part of WWE’s European tour in March, Gunther will defend his championship in Germany against Seth Rollins inside a steel cage. The announcement was made via WWE Germany’s social media, adding another high-stakes battle to Gunther’s schedule.

CM Punk to Challenge Gunther in Austria

Gunther will also put his title on the line against CM Punk in Austria, marking a rematch from a previous live event main event. This matchup will take place in Gunther’s home country, making it a highly anticipated showdown for Austrian fans.

WrestleMania 41 Title Match Still Set

Despite these upcoming defenses, Gunther is still scheduled to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Jey Uso at WrestleMania 41. However, with two major challengers ahead, his path to the grand stage remains uncertain.

Ricky Starks has become the latest AEW alum to arrive in WWE as the former tag champion debuted during the February 11, edition of WWE NXT. Starks is not the only AEW name to go on to call WWE home, as he follows in the footstps of the following talents:

Cody Rhodes: A founding member of AEW, Cody Rhodes made a high-profile return to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in April 2022, reigniting his quest for a WWE World Championship.

Jade Cargill: After a dominant run as AEW’s TBS Champion, Cargill signed a multi-year contract with WWE in September 2023. She made her in-ring debut at the Royal Rumble in January 2024 and is a two-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion.

CM Punk: Following a tumultuous tenure with AEW, CM Punk made a surprising return to WWE at Survivor Series in November 2023, marking a significant comeback after nearly a decade away from the company.

Penta: Formerly known as Pentagon Jr. in AEW, Penta debuted on WWE’s Raw in January 2025, securing a victory over Chad Gable. Becoming the Iron Man in this year’s Men’s Royal Rumble demonstrates WWE’s faith in the masked star.

Shawn Spears: After his AEW contract expired at the end of 2023, Spears returned to WWE in February 2024, appearing on NXT and continuing his “Chairman” persona. He has since been involved in various storylines, including a notable feud with Ridge Holland.

Blair Davenport: Briefly part of AEW under her real name, Bea Priestley, Davenport signed with WWE in 2021. She won the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge in 2023 and moving to the SmackDown roster in 2024 before her recent release from WWE.

Lexis King: After making waves in AEW under his real name of Brian Pillman Jr., Lexis King signed with WWE in 2024. He debuted on NXT, where he is the reigning NXT Heritage Cup holder, and retained the cup on this week’s NXT against TNA’s JDC.

Andrade: Andrade returned to WWE in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match after a handful of years in AEW. He has since gone on to hold the WWE Speed Championship.

Many former AEW names have gone on to hold championships in WWE while some are awaiting their big break. It remains to be seen what direction Starks’ future takes in the company but his arrival has left fans excited to see what’s to come.

Now that Penta El Zero Miedo has arrived in WWE, the question on every fan’s mind is: Who’s next?

In an interview with Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Penta revealed a stacked list of dream opponents—including some of WWE’s biggest names. While he’s ready to take on anyone, two matches stand out as personal goals: a showdown with John Cena and a rematch with CM Punk.

“I had one match with CM Punk. He won. I need revenge,” Penta declared. “The rematch with him, with Cody [Rhodes] too. But for me, a special dream match is Penta versus John Cena or Penta versus Finn Balor.”

The luchador also named Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Jacob Fatu, and Bron Breakker as potential opponents, proving he has his sights set on WWE’s top stars. But beyond individual matchups, Penta has one goal above all else: championship gold.

“No matter who is in the ring, no matter what he won—I want to win everything in WWE,” he said.

With Cero Miedo as his battle cry, Penta is ready to take on the best WWE has to offer. Now, it’s just a matter of who steps up first.

Jey Uso’s victory in the Men’s Royal Rumble has proven to be divisive, with some backing the popular star while others believe it should have gone to a bigger name. CM Punk was considered one of the favorites going into the Rumble match, and on the Good Guy/Bad Guy podcast, Punk expressed his delight in Jey’s surprising victory.

“Jey winning is fantastic. When you have somebody in there like John Cena that everyone is going to immediately assume, ‘LOL Cena is going to win.’“

Punk also brought up Charlotte Flair’s victory in the Women’s Royal Rumble, noting how many fans had predicted the Queen would become a two-time winner. Once again sharing that he is pleased that a surprise took place in the Men’s Rumble match, Punk acknowledged that pleasing everyone with a Royal Rumble win would’ve proven impossible.

“When there are 30 people in the Rumble, male or female, that is 30 fanbases, at least 29 fanbases, that are going to converge and hate whoever wins the Rumble.”

Whether fans love it, hate it, or are indifferent, Jey Uso is set to challenge for a World Championship at WrestleMania 41. As for CM Punk, his quest for a title match at WrestleMania 41 will see him enter next month’s Elimination Chamber match. With John Cena already announced and four spots left to fill inside the Chamber, Punk’s quest to a title match and a potential WrestleMania main event remains a tall order.

Jey Uso On Royal Rumble Critics: “You Don’t Strap My Boots”

H/T – Fightful

With the 2025 Royal Rumble PLE in the history books, attention now turns to the Elimination Chamber PLE, set to take place on March 1 in Canada. During this week’s Raw, several Superstars earned a spot in the Chamber, getting them one step closer to a championship opportunity at WrestleMania 41.

Liv Morgan qualified for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match with a controversial victory over IYO SKY. Constant attempts at interference by Raquel Rodriguez would lead to Rhea Ripley coming out to attack her. After dealing with Raquel, Ripley mistakenly turned her anger towards Morgan and struck her in face, causing a disqualification.

On the men’s side of things, CM Punk earned his spot inside the Elimination Chamber match. In his second Raw match since 2014, Punk defeated Sami Zayn to earn his spot on the Toronto card. Punk joins John Cena, who declared for the Elimination Chamber during the post-Royal Rumble press conference.

What’s Next?

There’s still plenty of spaces to fill in the Elimination Chamber matches, and Seth Rollins hopes to be part of the Men’s contest. On Raw, Rollins shared that he will have a qualifying match against Finn Balor which will come in the next couple of weeks.

As for next week, fans will see Logan Paul and Rey Mysterio battle for a spot in the Men’s match in a rare TV showing for the Maverick. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria will also battle next week, both hoping to earn a spot in the Women’s Elimination Chamber contest.

CM Punk is looking for someone to step up and take his place in WWE.

Since his shocking return at Survivor Series 2023, Punk has reestablished himself as a major presence, engaging in feuds with top stars like Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre. He has also shared the ring with rising talent, notably facing Dominik Mysterio in his first match back at a house show in Madison Square Garden.

In a recent interview with Jackie Redmond, Punk reflected on the balance between mentoring younger wrestlers and maintaining his own competitive edge. He expressed his desire for a new challenger to emerge.

“The air I operate in is pretty rare. Obviously, the guys I’m competing against aren’t asking me for advice—they don’t care what I think. But there are others who do, or maybe they ask because they think politically it’s the smart thing to do. I’ve been open about my purpose here: I’m here to help people. The selfish aspect of it is that I can talk to a 20-year-old track and field athlete from NXT and learn something myself. It’s a two-way street.

At 46, I don’t know what ‘cool’ is—if I ever did. Maybe the younger talent can help me with that. In this business, you’re nothing without those who paved the road before you. It’s not a team sport; it’s a very selfish business. I don’t like talking about myself because it leads me to say things that feel egotistical, like, ‘I’m tired of pretending that half the locker room didn’t buy a pair of boots because they saw CM Punk wrestle.’

But I also see it as a powerful responsibility. I don’t want to treat the next generation the way some veterans treated me. It’s learned behavior—some veterans were hard on me because they feared I was coming for their spot. I want someone to be that hungry. I want someone to take my spot. Old lions don’t die of old age; they die from young lions. Eventually, that’s how the book of CM Punk will end. But I haven’t seen anyone man enough to do it yet.”

Punk’s journey in the 2025 Royal Rumble ended when he was eliminated by Logan Paul, adding fuel to his determination to stay at the top. He recently battled Sami Zayn in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match on this week’s WWE Raw.

Jeff Hardy has revealed that his dream retirement match would take place in WWE, ideally against longtime rival CM Punk. Despite currently holding the TNA Tag Team Championship, Hardy envisions a final WWE showdown before entering the Hall of Fame—possibly even sending Punk into retirement in the process.

Speaking with Tim Hann Rivera about his career and eventual retirement, Hardy expressed his desire to return to WWE for one last match.

“Ultimately, man, I’d like to do a really cool match in WWE and do the Hall of Fame,” he said.

He went further, playfully suggesting that he could retire CM Punk first:

“It’d really be special to have a killer match—maybe make CM Punk retire and then go into the Hall of Fame.”

Hardy and Punk have a well-documented history dating back to their heated 2009 WWE feud, which culminated in a dramatic Loser Leaves WWE match. Their contrasting personalities—Hardy’s high-risk, free-spirited style versus Punk’s straight-edge persona—made them one of the most compelling rivalries of the era.

WWE & TNA’s Partnership Could Make It Happen

Hardy’s return to WWE is more plausible now than ever, thanks to WWE’s newfound working relationship with TNA. This means that Hardy, despite being a reigning TNA champion, could realistically appear in WWE for a farewell match.

Punk has also hinted at winding down his career, making Hardy’s vision a potential reality. If WWE is open to capitalizing on nostalgia-driven storytelling, a Hardy vs. Punk retirement match could be a marquee event for fans of their storied rivalry.

CM Punk says the big difference between Vince McMahon and Triple H running WWE creative is that the latter listens to other people.

The Straight Edge Star was the latest guest on Pat McAfee Show ahead of tonight’s Royal Rumble PPV. He talked about things such as performing in front of big crowds, his 2024 injury, and more.

When asked about Triple H taking over the creative and how The Game’s process differs from his father-in-law, Punk explained that the Attitude Era star is more receptive to other people’s ideas:

“I think he’s receptive to other people’s ideas, whereas maybe Vince wasn’t. He was like, ‘I’m the boss. We’re doing this, and this is how we’re doing it.’ And that’s great. If you run a company, you need somebody who is the yes and no man and [has] the final say.”

• CM Punk Surges Ahead of John Cena as Betting Favorite for 2025 Royal Rumble

The Best Idea Always Wins: CM Punk

CM Punk claimed that Triple H has surrounded himself with people who have Bonafide resumes and it allows him to filter the best ideas:

“But I think Triple H thinks he’s surrounded, and oftentimes is, by a lot of really, really genius wrestling minds. If he has an idea or see something one way, he’ll look at Michael Hayes and be like, ‘What do you think?’ He’ll turn and look at Paul Heyman.

These are people who have Bonafide resumes. They have literally done everything you possibly could do in the sport. I think their voices should be heard. Not all the time everybody’s going to have this dynamite idea. But I think the best idea always wins in today’s WWE.”

Apart from this Punk also talked about John Cena announcing his retirement tour for 2025. You can check out his comments on the matter here.

• CM Punk Reveals Secret Of Long-Standing Friendship With Paul Heyman

CM Punk feels spoiled at getting to witness John Cena’s retirement tour up close.

The Second City Saint appeared on Pat McAfee show ahead of Saturday’s Royal Rumble PPV event. The former world champion talked about things like AJ Lee potentially being in the Rumble, Triple H being in charge of creative and more.

When asked about John Cena’s retirement tour and his feeling towards the Cenation Leader, CM Punk claimed that he loves Cena to death. Punk, who has previously expressed interest in facing John one more time before his retirement, also hoped that the two come face to face at the PPV this weekend:

“Ah, love [him] to death. I feel spoiled that I get to witness whatever journey he’s about to embark on. I think it’s exciting. I selfishly am looking forward to Saturday. Hopefully there’s a moment where me and him can have a moment. You know, but there’s just so many guys, so many bodies. I don’t know if it’s in the cards, but we’ll see.”

• CM Punk Surges Ahead of John Cena as Betting Favorite for 2025 Royal Rumble

We’re Still Doing It Too: CM Punk

CM Punk is part of a special group of wrestling veterans who started working in the business more than two decades ago and are still doing it at the highest level. Other names in the list includes people like Rey Mysterio, R Truth, and Randy Orton.

When asked how he feels about being part of this fraternity, Punk recalled running into Mysterio at this past Monday’s Raw. He explained that they all marvel at the longevity of their careers whenever they meet:

“I remember I walked into one of the locker rooms or something like that, and there’s just Rey Mysterio, you know what I mean? Every time I see Rey, it could be like an old guy thing, because every time I see Rey, or every time I see [R] Truth, like in the hallway, we all just look at each other. We just like, grab each other and just give each other a big hug. Like, ‘Hey man, look at us. This is crazy. Can you believe this?’ Because I’ve known those guys [for a long time].

I think I wrestled Rey [in] 2001. I’ve known him a quarter of a century. Truth, same thing. I knew him when I was doing Wednesday night TNA pay-per-views at Nashville fairgrounds. There’s a bunch of us that it’s just, it’s cool to look around and kind of go ‘Hey man look at us. We’re still here, we’re still doing it too.'”

• CM Punk Reveals Secret Of Long-Standing Friendship With Paul Heyman

The January 31 episode of WWE SmackDown took place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, just one day before the highly anticipated 2025 Royal Rumble. Monday Night Raw’s CM Punk made an appearance on the show and the Best in the World had plenty to say.

The night kicked off with an interview segment featuring Joe Tessitore and Kevin Owens who continued to fuel his storyline with Cody Rhodes. Owens blasted Tessitore as a “Cody Rhodes fanboy” and grabbed the Winged Eagle title he had previously handed over at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Before Owens could leave, CM Punk made his entrance to a thunderous reaction from the Indianapolis crowd. A “holy s***” chant erupted as the two had their first face off since Punk’s return to WWE in November 2023.

Punk made clear that if he wins the Royal Rumble and Owens defeats Cody Rhodes, the WrestleMania main event would be CM Punk vs. Kevin Owens. Once again, Punk made clear that he plans on challenging for the Undisputed WWE Championship should he win the Men’s Royal Rumble match.

2025 Royal Rumble: Preview, Matches, How to Watch

Owens liked the idea of beating Punk at WrestleMania, but said he hopes Punk doesn’t win the Royal Rumble. The Prizefighter explained that he wanted Punk to live with the fact that he’s never main-evented WrestleMania—something Owens has done twice. Punk fired back by mocking Owens’ past defeats at the Royal Rumble, including last year’s loss to Logan Paul. After this intense face-off, it remains to be seen if fans get to see these two trade blows at WrestleMania 41.

CM Punk claims he and Paul Heyman have always been friends.

The Straight Edge Star has a long history with the former ECW owner. Apart from their partnership during Punk’s historic 434 days WWE Championship reign, Heyman has also been a mentor for the Best In The World behind the scenes.

Fans got to see an on-screen reunion between the two recently when Paul brought Punk in to help OG Bloodline win at the Survivor Series: WarGames. WWE has left the possibility of a further collaboration between the two open after this as it was revealed that Heyman owes Punk a favor in return of his services.

The former WWE champion talked about his long association with the Mad Scientist of Wrestling during his interview with Jackie Redmond. When asked to describe his current relationship with Paul Heyman, CM Punk claimed that they’ve always been friends:

“We’re friends. We’ve always been friends. You know, Paul Heyman obviously is kind of a lightning rod in the wrestling world, I’ve never worked for Paul Heyman, so I think that’s why our relationship has always been really, really good. He’s never [worked for me]. We’ve just always been friends, you know, like he’s been other people’s managers, other people’s advocates, other people’s wise man.

You know, for me and him, it’s always just been friendship. He’s never signed my checks. I’ve never relied on him, you know, for where my money comes from. Other people who have may have different feelings on Paul Heyman and I understand that. But that’s I think why me and him get along so well, and always have.”

• Drew McIntyre Calls CM Punk a “Cancer” Ahead Of Royal Rumble Collision

Punk also mentioned how people have made a big deal about the favor from Paul Heyman. The former champion claimed that he doesn’t actually know when he’ll cash in the favor and joked that it might be as simple as him calling the wise man to pick him up for a show.

Apart from this, the wrestling veteran talked about things such as his future in the business. Punk claimed that he’s on the same path as John Cena who has announced his retirement tour for 2025. You can check out his comments on the matter here.

• CM Punk Teases WrestleMania 41 Showdown with Cody Rhodes

CM Punk knows that he is on his way to retirement but he is not putting a date out for it just yet.

At 46 years old, Punk’s age is definitely a part of the conversation when people talk about his future in wrestling. With his run since his 2021 wrestling return being bogged down by one injury or another, people wonder how many more matches the former world champion has left in him before he calls it a career.

The Straight Edge star was asked if he feels like a clock is ticking over him in his interview with Jackie Redmond ahead of Royal Rumble. CM Punk claimed that he feels great at the moment. Though he also reflected on his 2024 Royal Rumble injury and noted that he realizes that his time in the ring is limited:

“I feel great right now. I definitely don’t feel like there is a looming doomsday clock over my head or anything like that. Bur saying that, I also do realize, based on what happened in the last Royal Rumble, that this could all end in a heartbeat.

I never know when my last match is going to be, and you see guys like John Cena doing a full-blown retirement tour. I look at myself like I’m on the same road as John, maybe just not egotistical enough to announce to everybody, ‘Hey, this is it.'”

• Drew McIntyre Calls CM Punk a “Cancer” Ahead Of Royal Rumble Collision

I’m Doing My Best: CM Punk

CM Punk explained that he has not set a date on his retirement and he’s taking things one day at a time. Though he knows that he wants to end his career before anyone can say that he’s lost a step:

“I’m not setting a limit on anything, I’m just doing my best to bulletproof myself on a daily basis, work as hard on recovery as I do in the gym and in the ring, and not make this twilight of my career extended beyond what people expect of me. I don’t want to twist in the wind and just like be some old guy.”

The wrestling veteran also claimed that he gets criticized unfairly because he’s embracing his age. He mentioned how he doesn’t dye his beard or his hair because he’s earned his greys. According to Punk, he was unapologetically himself when he first started wrestling at 15 years of age and he remains the same at 46.

• CM Punk Teases WrestleMania 41 Showdown with Cody Rhodes

CM Punk’s WWE return at the 2024 Royal Rumble was meant to be a triumphant moment, but resulted in the Best in the World suffering a torn triceps. Speaking with Jackie Redmond, Punk recalled feeling broken before informing his wife AJ Lee of the bad news.

“I gave myself a good eight-minute cry before I called my wife and told her, ‘Hey, I got hurt.’ I could cry for 45 minutes, and the instant I actually try to vocalize something like that to her, I’ll still blubber.”

Realizing how upset he was, AJ Lee made sure to comfort her husband, assuring him that this injury was just a temporary setback.

“She said, ‘Just come home, I’ll take care of you, we’ll get over it, we’ll get through it.’ That’s what we did. That’s what she does for me. Always has my back.”

Punk will be a part of this weekend’s 2025 Royal Rumble event, and hopes to win the Men’s Royal Rumble match for the first time. A victory would be a massive step for Punk towards headlining WrestleMania, another accolade the Best in the World has yet to reach. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on CM Punk’s future in WWE, as well as a potential return by AJ Lee.

AJ Lee’s Royal Rumble Return? CM Punk Wants WWE Comeback

This year marks a decade since AJ Lee last competed in a WWE ring and fans have been hoping to see her back ever since. With the 2025 Royal Rumble set to take place this weekend, plenty are hoping that Lee’s return is a matter of days away.

In an video with Jackie Redmond, Punk was asked who he’d like to see in the Women’s Royal Rumble match.

“Oooh! There’s a big one that I’m not going to say, because I’m going to get in trouble.”

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A post shared by Jackie Redmond (NHL & WWE) (@jackieredmond)

This isn’t the first time Punk has brought up his wife and a potential return to WWE. Last July, Punk said that AJ knows that she has the option to return, but he will not push her into a comeback. In the interview, Punk added that AJ has seen how happy he is in this ‘new’ WWE and how things have changed since she was last around.

AJ has yet to appear on WWE TV since her 2015 exit, but her name has been coming up more ever since Punk’s stunning return to WWE in 2023. During a promo on Raw last year, Punk shared that AJ is doing well and sent her regards.

2025 Royal Rumble: Preview, Matches, How to Watch

The WWE Royal Rumble is one of the promotion’s most exciting nights of the year and the return of AJ would be a huge moment for fans. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on AJ Lee and the former Divas Champion’s potential comeback.

Drew McIntyre and CM Punk had one of WWE’s most brutal feuds of 2024, and the Scottish Warrior, isn’t ready to let things rest. In a new interview with The Scottish Sun Sport, McIntyre shared his view that the side of fans Punk sees is far from the genuine article.

“Guy’s a cancer, he plays the part of a hero for the people so well, but the truth is, it’s just all about himself. He doesn’t care.”

The idea of Punk being a ‘cancer’ is not isolated to McIntyre. After his infamous All Out 2022 rant, Punk was reportedly called a cancer by Chris Jericho. Seth Rollins used similar verbiage about Punk in early 2023, planting the seeds for their eventual feud in WWE.

CM Punk vs Drew McIntyre Timeline: Everything you need to know

As the Royal Rumble approaches, speculation continues to mount about the two, who have both declared for the 30-Man match. In last year’s match, Punk suffered an injury that derailed his WrestleMania dream, a setback the Scottish Superstar was glad to take credit for. In the interview, McIntyre relished facing Punk one more time.

“He’s gonna get his. When he gets in my path, he’s going to get his, but I have certain goals in mind now. Inevitably, he’s going to get taken out.“

The drama between Drew McIntyre and CM Punk is far from over and fans can await the pair to face off this weekend at the 2025 Royal Rumble. Stay tuned for more updates and insights on the pair of former World Champions who hope to secure their place on the Road to WrestleMania 41.

CM Punk has dreamed of headlining WrestleMania for years, and his journey to Allegiant Stadium could put him on a collision course with Cody Rhodes. During the January 27, edition of WWE Raw, Rhodes spoke to the crowd in Atlanta about this weekend’s 2025 Royal Rumble PLE, where he’ll face Kevin Owens in a ladder match.

CM Punk interrupted Rhodes’ promo, and though he reiterated that he is Cody’s friend, had some choice words for the American Nightmare. Reflecting on his 434-day WWE title reign, Punk said he could see that Cody is stretching himself too thin, and that whoever wins the Royal Rumble will take the Undisputed WWE Title at WrestleMania.

Punk then shared that he will be the one to do exactly that, teasing that Punk plans on challenging Rhodes in April should he win the Royal Rumble. Cody said he’s rooting for Punk this Sunday, as he plans on showing that the “Best in the World” isn’t the Best in the World anymore at WrestleMania 41.

Monday Night Raw went off the air with a tense stare down between the two ‘friends’, both of whom have big plans for WWE’s two-night megashow in April. It’s worth remembering that the two were the finalists in last year’s Men’s Royal Rumble match which ended with Rhodes eliminating the Straight Edge Superstar. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from the 2025 Royal Rumble and to see whether Punk punches his ticket to WrestleMania 41 and a shot at Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship.

Chris Masters says CM Punk worked him with his infamous pipebomb promo.

The Straight Edge Star has previously talked about The Masterpiece being one of the first people that he ran into after his iconic promo.

On an AEW Unrestricted episode, Punk had detailed how he had decided to take the side entrance to the backstage area instead of going through the curtain like usual, to add another layer to the mystique of the whole thing. Punk then ran into Masters who didn’t recognize him at first and seemed shocked by his words.

The former WWE star gave his side of the story during a recent appearance on Rewind Recap Relive podcast. He noted that he couldn’t recognize Punk because of the lack of lighting in the backstage area. Chris explained that his reaction was like an extra validation for the former AEW star:

“It was funny, because whatever I said to Punk completely validated his promo to him, because, you know, essentially he had worked me with the promo. Cause I was like, ‘Oh my God, what did he say? You know, you’re gonna get yourself fired.’

And I think as soon as he heard that, he knew that the promo went over just like, you know, like it was the validation. He knew. Like he already knew. But, you know, sometimes you just need that little extra thing. And I think I was that extra thing to like, you know, because he got me.”

Chris Masters was also asked about a potential Royal Rumble return. The heavyweight star revealed that he’s actually tried to get back into WWE the last few years. Masters expressed his disappointment over not getting another opportunity and said that he finds himself at a crossroads in his wrestling career.

• Chris Masters Shares Theory On Why John Cena Had Beef With Him