“Maybe abandoning everybody who stood by your side wasn’t the right move after all?”
CM Punk stepped back into the octagon for his second UFC bout on Saturday night, this time in his home town of Chicago. His opponent was another 0-1 fighter, Mike Jackson. Things arguably went slightly better than in his debut, where he was demolished by Mickey Gall in 2:14, as at least this time he went the distance. But Punk still looked pretty dreadful, being bloodied and bludgeoned by Jackson and losing by unanimous decision.
Understandably, Punk’s performance has only increased the hate he’s got from the MMA faithful, who resent the fact that a guy in his late 30s with no experience has gotten straight onto main UFC cards purely because of his famous name. Social media is awash with both MMA and WWE fans calling for him to head back into wrestling, where he made his name.
CM Punk notoriously quit wrestling when he stormed out of WWE in 2014, unhappy with backstage politics and the medical treatment he had received. Earlier this week, a jury ruled in favour of Punk and fellow wrestler Colt Cabana after they were sued for defamation by WWE doctor Christopher Amann, following medical malpractice allegations Punk made against him on Cabana’s podcast. Needless to say, Punk and WWE are not on the best terms right now.
After Punk’s loss on Saturday, WWE commentator Corey Graves tweeted a massive amount of shade about Punk – though he avoided mentioning him by name.
Maybe abandoning everybody who stood by your side, even when we weren’t supposed to, only to have you turn your back on us wasn’t the right move after all? No anger. Only sadness.
— Corey Graves (@WWEGraves) June 10, 2018
“Maybe abandoning everybody who stood by your side, even when we weren’t supposed to, only to have you turn your back on us wasn’t the right move after all? No anger. Only sadness.”
Ouch.
Graves was a wrestler himself, until concussions forced him to retire at the age of 31, and he stepped into the commentary booth.
His comments certainly rattled fans, and he later dialled the back slightly, saying he was friends with Punk and encouraged Punk to call him.
Awww. Seems the “fans” are disappointed. Maybe you guys should know that “That Dude” held my first son before I did because I was on tour and I trusted him.
I had dinner with him the week after he quit.
— Corey Graves (@WWEGraves) June 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/WWEGraves/status/1005651663515017216
Don’t worry, hey @VinceMcMahon this has nothing to do with you.
You either @TripleH
This isn’t corporate. This is real life.
Calm down internerds.
— Corey Graves (@WWEGraves) June 10, 2018
Hey @CMPunk, call me tomorrow. I still love you.
— Corey Graves (@WWEGraves) June 10, 2018
Punk himself hasn’t replied to Graves, but did tweet thanking his fans and praising Mike Jackson.
You win some, you lose some! I'm 1-1 this week and I'll take it! Thanks to my team, my family, my friends, and THE FANS! Wouldn't be here without any of you. Respect to @TheTruthJackson, thanks for the fight! You only live once, and… I'M ALIVE! pic.twitter.com/UPPGFpx4iS
— player/coach (@CMPunk) June 10, 2018
