Corey Graves has opened up about mending his relationship with CM Punk following years of distance after Punk’s WWE departure in 2014, revealing that the two had a direct, honest conversation when Punk returned in 2023, which allowed them to clear the air and begin rebuilding a bond that had once run very deep.
Speaking to TV Insider, Graves described how significant Punk was to him during his formative years in the wrestling business, saying Punk functioned as a kind of older brother figure who was always a step ahead and someone he actively modeled himself after.
“It really is wild. Life in this business is so unusual,” Graves said. “To have someone who I bond with so deeply when I was trying to get ahead of the business. He was always a step or two ahead of where I was. I looked up to him for that. I sort of tried to follow in his footsteps. I patterned myself after him, right, wrong, or indifferent. I’m sure I learned a few bad habits along the way, but he was sort of my wrestling big brother. That’s how I looked at it.”
Graves said that when Punk returned to WWE he made it a priority to address their estrangement rather than let it linger. “Then life happens,” Graves said. “There are the well-documented issues he had with WWE. He and I fell off for a while, but when he came back, I made it a point to talk to him. It’s one of those things where I believe time heals all wounds, or at least most wounds. We had a heart-to-heart. Both of us apologized for a couple of different things and let it be water under the bridge. Since then, we’ve continued to grow close again.”
With Punk now back at the very top of WWE as World Heavyweight Champion heading into WrestleMania 42, Graves said the moment carries personal weight beyond professional achievement, especially given how badly the relationship between Punk and WWE had deteriorated before the reconciliation.
“He is one of my favorites to this day, despite the fact he is my friend,” Graves said. “As a talent, I’ve always been a fan of CM Punk. With all the headaches and issues and struggles he has had in his career, the relationship between him and WWE had soured so badly. Then to have it come full-circle, and know, despite what he says in interviews about what is important to him, in Phil Brooks’ heart he wants to be the World Heavyweight Champion at WrestleMania.”
Graves said watching Punk finally occupy that spot is something that genuinely moves him. “I’m happy for my friend in that respect,” Graves said. “To know the fan in him, not just professionally speaking, he is in the top spot and that’s where he deserves to be. It truly is a dream come true for him. There is still part of him that acknowledges that and realizes that, and I’m happy for him to get to live that.”
CM Punk vs Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship will take place in the Night 2 main event of WrestleMania 42 on April 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
