Former WWE Superstar Ryback has come to the defense of CM Punk, his long-time rival, following criticism Punk received for a recent public apology he made in Saudi Arabia. The situation began after Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics posted a sarcastic critique of Punk, which prompted Ryback to weigh in. Scroll down to see the tweet.
The controversy stems from the WWE Night of Champions weekend, where CM Punk, for the first time, addressed an infamous 2020 social media post in which he told The Miz to “go suck a blood money covered d*ck in Saudi Arabia.” During the Kickoff Show in Riyadh, Punk apologized for the remark, stating it was a “mean tweet” directed at The Miz during a time when he was “crabby,” and not a critique of the nation itself.
In response, Thurston posted on X: “An inspiring moment of self-realization in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as CM Punk courageously aligns himself with a visionary government that criminalizes being gay and occasionally kills its critics.”
Ryback, who has had a well-documented and contentious history with Punk, responded directly to Thurston’s post, defending Punk’s actions. “I’ve had my issues with Punk, but I don’t see him as a sellout,” Ryback wrote. “He returned to do what he loves and to make money — much like you’re doing by writing critical think pieces about others for clicks.”
He elaborated on the complexities of working for a global company like WWE. “WWE is a global business, and working at that level means navigating complex deals, personal beliefs, and public perception,” Ryback continued. “His apology wasn’t about abandoning values — it was about how he expressed them publicly in ways that hurt professional relationships.”
Ryback and CM Punk’s past issues date back to their time working together in WWE, with Punk famously accusing Ryback of being an unsafe and reckless performer on a 2014 podcast. Despite this history, Ryback’s defense highlights the nuanced position wrestlers find themselves in regarding WWE’s lucrative and controversial partnership with Saudi Arabia.
I’ve had my issues with Punk, but I don’t see him as a sellout. He returned to do what he loves and to make money — much like you’re doing by writing critical think pieces about others for clicks.
WWE is a global business, and working at that level means navigating complex… https://t.co/X7hJcoxm1h
— RYBACK (@Ryback) June 30, 2025
