ESPN’s Marc Raimondi interviewed CM Punk to talk about wrestling, MMA and other topics.
Punk is scheduled to do Starrcast III in Chicago during AEW All Out weekend and that has caused many to speculate that Punk might be involved with All Elite Wrestling, despite the fact that Starrcast is run independently from AEW.
Punk noted during the interview that he’s had opportunities to do appearances and he turns most of them down but the biggest reason why he decided to do Starrcast is that it’s happening in his hometown and he will be able to go home and rest afterward.
Punk was asked if there’s a relationship with AEW: “No. I know they like to talk about me a lot. If I text Matt Jackson, “Hey, have a great show tonight,” which I did when they had their big show in Vegas, that somehow turns into Tony Khan telling people he has a great relationship with me. I’ve said in the past I’ve talked to them, but nothing ever came of anything.”
Punk on if there’s an expectation from some fans that he will be at All Out: “I think if there’s an expectation, it’s purely been built by them. My silence to some fans means something. They’re trying to read the tea leaves, but there’s nothing to read. I even feel like talking about it may feel like I’m putting some sort of negative slant on it, but I’m really not. The fact is I know they’ve teased me ad nauseam, and if anybody is gonna get mad it’s at me because I don’t show up. Well then, I don’t know what to tell you. That’s one of those things that’s none of my business.”
Raimondi followed up and asked what he meant when he said that people in AEW have teased him: “They do videos where they talk about me. They’re constantly talking about me in the media. And again, maybe this sounds like I’m badgering them, but I’m not. It’s just something that happens. I’m a popular guy to talk about. But I’m not doing interviews talking about them. If people ask me about it, I say no, I won’t be there.”
He made it clear that there’s nothing imminent with AEW. Punk said, “The last thing I got — I got a text from Cody [Rhodes]. And again, I almost don’t even know how to reply to them sometimes, because if I reply, they do interviews and are like, “Oh yeah, I just talked to Punk.” I’m kind of damned if I do, damned if I don’t. I always think if somebody wants to do business with me, they can come talk to me. Texting offers isn’t really a way to do good business, at least.”
Punk said that he received an offer via text through three people about a month ago. He said that he thinks it was a general offer and added that he never could have appeared at Double Or Nothing back in May in Las Vegas because he was in California to do commentary for Cage Fury Fighting Championships.
Punk also talked about his commentary work with CFFC, his training at Roufusport, his status with UFC, if he will fight again and more. Click here to read the full interview.
