CM Punk is well aware of the criticism that followed his WWE Championship win, and he has a simple response to those calling him a hypocrite.
On What’s Your Story? with Stephanie McMahon, the host noted that some talent had pointed out the irony of Punk, who once railed against part-time veterans, returning to capture the title from Sami Zayn.
“I’ve heard some talent on social media talking about, oh, now you’re doing the very thing that you said that you hated, the veteran comes back and steals the title from Sami,” McMahon said.
Punk did not shy away from the criticism, but he made one thing clear about how he won the championship.
“I won. Fair and square, clean, fair and square,” Punk said, insisting that a replay of the match shows he beat the younger Zayn cleanly in the middle of the ring.
Punk acknowledged with a laugh that he is, in fact, guilty of the very thing he once spoke out against, leaning into the irony rather than running from it.
