CM Punk recently wrestled John Cena for the WWE World Title at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia. Fans are well aware of his past criticism of the country, and his social media posts reflect that. While some believe the Best in the World has matured, others labeled him a hypocrite for wrestling there. Former WWE legend Matt Hardy shared his thoughts on whether Punk was being hypocritical.
While speaking on his show, The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, he admitted that many fans were disappointed. Hardy believed Punk felt lucky to be back in WWE and didn’t want to risk anything by skipping the Saudi Arabia event. He also mentioned AEW in the conversation, saying Punk might have had more freedom there. Hardy further added that The Second City Saint tried to play by the rules by being a good employee.
The former WWE Tag Team Champion admired Punk’s bravery for going to Saudi Arabia and apologizing to the fans. Before the show, the crowd booed him heavily due to his past remarks about the country. However, tensions eased after he sincerely apologized for his previous statements. The Best in the World then shocked the Saudi crowd on SmackDown by dressing as Cena’s iconic heel persona, the Doctor of Thuganomics, and dissing him before their match.
“Punk has a history of being very vocal about things he has been against, or things he is not for, I guess. I think it took balls for him to say that apology. I would imagine WWE had a bit of a hand in it, it probably wasn’t just Punk freestyling out there. But when it was all was said and done, he did what he was asked to do, or whatever he thought was gonna make things right.”
Matt Hardy on CM Punk via The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy
Talking about the highly anticipated match between two of the greatest, they certainly delivered an unforgettable performance. The match was filled with twists and unexpected moments. Seth Rollins attempted to sabotage the match alongside Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. However, Penta and Sami Zayn teamed up to neutralize their interference. In the final moments, Rollins hit Punk with a Curb Stomp, but Cena quickly threw him out and pinned Punk to retain the title.
John Cena Includes CM Punk in His List of ‘GOAT’ Trash Talkers
It’s pivotal to possess the ability to talk trash about opponents, beyond just having a decent moveset, to succeed in WWE. Over the years, there have been many exceptional promo-cutting talents in the business. However, the cream always rises to the top and stands out from the rest.
John Cena recently revealed his list of greatest trash talkers in wrestling while speaking to Complex. The Cenation Leader included Roddy Piper, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, and CM Punk. Cena and Punk recently gave fans a taste of their chemistry with back-to-back promos on SmackDown during their feud.
“That’s a tough one. Some pioneers, again. Roddy Piper comes into play. You can’t ignore Dwayne The Rock Johnson, nor Stone Cold Steve Austin, CM Punk.”
John Cena to Idris Elba on Complex
In fact, fans were highly underwhelmed by the WWE Champion’s villainous arc until WWE brought in the Best in the World to make it, as Punk said, more palatable. It’s currently unknown if Cena and Punk will ever share the ring again after their Night of Champions showdown. However, if they do, fans will certainly celebrate the moment.
