Bully Ray Revisits Perception Of WWE Star CM Punk’s Issues In AEW

Bully Ray Reflects on CM Punk’s AEW Controversies and WWE Success

As CM Punk celebrates one full year since his highly anticipated return to WWE at Survivor Series 2023, discussions about his first year back in the company have begun. Despite a limited number of matches, one of the most praised aspects of Punk’s comeback has been his improved attitude and behavior, which contrasts with the drama-filled period of his AEW tenure. On Busted Open Radio, WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray shared his perspective, comparing Punk’s reported behavior in AEW with his current, more positive presence in WWE.

Ray pointed out, “There were times in WWE where Punk, perception-wise, was the problem. There were times in AEW where perception-wise, and maybe even reality-wise, Punk was the problem.” However, Ray expressed a more optimistic view of Punk’s time in WWE. “Now that I see him in WWE this past year, and how well everything is going personally and professionally for him in the ring, backstage… what really was the problem in AEW?”

Bully Ray went further, questioning whether AEW’s issues lay in its locker room culture, a lack of leadership, or if Punk was simply a “big fish in a small pond.” Punk had originally entered AEW with the intent to elevate younger talent, but recently, he has downplayed some of the matches he was involved in.

Reflecting on his own experience in WWE, Ray shared, “One of the lessons I had to learn in WWE was about picking my battles and choosing which hills to die on. Much like Punk — I don’t know if ‘punk’ is the right word to describe him. When I think of the word ‘punk,’ I think of the word ‘b**ch,’ but ‘rebel’ is a more fitting description — a rebellious attitude. I understood that, and I had to learn how to pick my battles.”

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