CM Punk Tears Down WWE Again, Rejects Vince McMahon's Apology
ByGus Turner
Gus Turner is a Deputy News Editor at Complex | @gusturner1
The saga between former WWE champion CM Punk and his old employer is far from over. ICYMI, last week, Punk went on Colt Cabana's "The Art of Wrestling" podcast to explain why he left the WWE, uncovering details about the organization that were previously unknown to wrestling fans. Then, in response, WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon appeared on Stone Cold Steve Austin's podcast just a couple days later to clear the air about Punk's revelations, going so far as to formally apologize to him.
However, the wounds between the two parties have yet to heal. Returning to Cabana's podcast this week, Punk reiterated his desire to stay retired from the WWE, and assured Cabana that his beef with the organization is still alive. Responding to remarks made by fellow wrestler Chris Jericho, Punk held nothing back:
Jericho thinks that I feel exactly how he felt in 2005. He left for two, two-and-a-half years or something like that. So, from his perspective, he felt in 2005, when he left, he was never gonna come back and he sees me saying that and he's probably like, 'Just wait three years, you'll feel like it'll come back.' And I can see his point of view, but then, in turn, I'd go, 'Motherfucker, they didn't fire you on your wedding day. They didn't purposely and maliciously try to ruin a day that was supposed to be special to everybody—it's your wedding day.
I don't want to hear, 'It was a coincidence." I don't want to hear, 'Oh, the lawyers didn't talk to talent relations.' ... My wife asked for that time off so she could a) get married, b) go on her honeymoon. ... They knew. If the apology was sincere, you wouldn't use it as a publicity stunt on Austin's podcast. You have my phone number, you have my address, you could text, you could call, you could show up when you're a 10-minute fucking drive from my house and apologize to me like a man. That's the fucking reality of it. That's the fucking timeline, ladies and gentlemen. I was sick and fucking hurt and sick and tired and burnt-out and I walked and I can do that because I'm an independent fucking contractor."
Scathing. To hear the full burn, listen to Punk and Cabana's entire conversation below.
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