Alles zum Abgang von CM Punk | Update: Punk bricht Schweigen (S.24) / McMahon entschuldigt sich / Punk unterschreibt UFC Deal (S.25) / WWE Arzt verklagt CM Punk / Hogan vs. Punk (S.29) / CM Braddox (S.30) / Erster Punk-UFC Gegner (S.32)

Sehr interessantes Podcast-Interview, ebenso interessant sind die ersten Reaktionen darauf. Mal abwarten, welch hohe Wellen das alles noch schlagen wird. Heute Nacht wird Vince McMahon nach RAW bei Stone Cold Steve Austins Podcast zu Gast sein, vielleicht kann Austin ihm ein Statement entlocken. Mittwoch will Chris Jericho in seinem Podcast auch noch über die Sache sprechen und außerdem ist CM Punk in dieser Woche erneut beim "Art of Wrestling" Podcast zu Gast, wo er Fragen beantworten wird. Das könnte noch sehr interessant werden. Vielleicht wird man ja heute Nacht bei RAW auch noch "durch die Blume" gegen CM Punk shooten ...

Sollte das alles so stimmen, hat CM Punk in seiner gesundheitlichen Verfassung absolut richtig gehandelt. Leider hat er den Fehler gemacht und nicht schon eher die Notbremse gezogen, weshalb auch er eine Mitschuld trägt. Zwischen den Zeilen kann man herauslesen, dass es ihm in erster Linie nicht wirklich um das Geld ging, sondern um Wertschätzung.

Vieles aus dem Punk-Interview ist schlüssig und wird sicherlich stimmen, allerdings glaube ich nicht, dass das alles die 100 %ige Wahrheit gewesen ist, sondern nur die Sichtweise von der einen Seite (Punk). Um sich wirklich ein genaueres Bild machen zu können, müsste man auch noch die Sichtweise der anderen Seite (WWE) hören und selbst dann würde die komplette Wahrheit wohl irgendwo in der Mitte liegen.

Das vieles innerhalb der WWE falsch läuft, ist bekannt, allerdings glaube ich nicht, dass das Gesundheitssystem / Wellness Policy wirklich so schlimm ist, wie CM Punk behauptet. Dass sich die WWE einen Dreck um die Gesundheit ihrer Worker scheren würde, kann ich auch nicht so ganz glauben, vor allem seit man seit der damaligen Benoit-Tragödie verschärfte Regelungen hat und diverse Worker z.B. bei den kleinsten Anzeichen einer Gehirnerschütterung pausieren müssen. Inwiefern man da nun im Fall "CM Punk" geschlampt hat, kann man als Außenstehender nicht beurteilen. Zudem könnte die "Fettablagerung" an CM Punks Rücken auch nicht wirklich so schlimm gewesen sein, wie CM Punk behauptet - zumindest zu Beginn nicht. Vielleicht konnte der WWE Arzt diese "Fettablagerung" zunächst nicht als Staphylokokken-Infektion erkennen, weil es vielleicht noch ein zu frühes Stadium gewesen ist. Und als CM Punk sehr viel später zu AJ Lees Arzt gegangen ist, war das Stadium vielleicht bereits schon so weit fortgeschritten, dass man es eindeutig als Staphylokokken-Infektion indentifizieren konnte. Auch hier hat CM Punk den Fehler gemacht und sich nicht schon viel früher eine zweite Meinung eingeholt.

Und zu CM Punk's Kommentar, dass er niemals mehr mit der WWE zusammenarbeiten wird, kann man nur sagen: Sag niemals nie. Bruno Sammartino war damals endgültig fertig mit der WWE - und er kam zurück. The Ultimate Warrior wollte damals nichts mehr mit der WWE & Vince McMahon zu tun haben - und er kam zurück und legte die Differenzen bei. Bret Hart wollte damals nach dem Montreal Screwjob auch nichts mehr mit Vince McMahon, Shawn Michaels und der WWE zu tun haben - und er kam zurück und hat sich mit allen vertragen. Sting wollte auch nie für WWE arbeiten - und am Ende kam er doch. Und bei CM Punk wird es vielleicht auch nicht anders sein.

WrestlingCorner.de berichtete bereits, dass der ehemalige WWE Superstar CM Punk in der vergangenen Woche im “Art of Wrestling”-Podcast seines besten Freundes Colt Cabana zu Gast gewesen ist und dort erstmals sein Schweigen gebrochen und ausführlich über seinen überraschenden WWE Abgang im Januar 2014 gesprochen hat.

Dort sprach CM Punk bekanntlich auch darüber, dass ihn Chris Jericho kurz nach seinem WWE Abgang im Januar / Februar 2014 kontaktiert habe, was bei ihm den Eindruck hinterlassen hätte, dass Chris Jericho ihm nur einige Statements bezüglich seines WWE Abgangs entlocken wollte, die er anschließend in seinem "Talk Is Jericho" Podcast als große Story "verkaufen" wollte, weshalb er daraufhin den Kontakt zu Chris Jericho abgebrochen habe.

Nun hat sich Chris Jericho in einem Video-Statement zu den Aussagen von CM Punk geäußert und verlauten lassen, dass er und CM Punk sehr gute Freunde wären und dass er CM Punk immer als einen seiner besseren Freunde im Wrestlingbusiness gesehen habe, auch wenn die Beiden bereits seit Februar 2014 kein Wort mehr miteinander gewechselt hätten. Zudem sagte Chris Jericho, dass er CM Punk niemals darum gebeten habe, nach seinem WWE Abgang bei ihm im Podcast aufzutreten und dort mit ihm über seine Trennung mit der WWE zu sprechen, sondern stellte klar, dass er CM Punk bereits im Dezember 2013 gefragt habe, ob dieser nicht mal bei ihm im "Talk Is Jericho" Podcast zu Gast sein möchte. Damals habe CM Punk jedoch seine Einladung abgelehnt, weil er nichts Gutes über das Wrestling zu sagen hätte. Im Januar 2014 hätte die WWE daraufhin selbst CM Punk gefragt, ob dieser Lust hätte, bei Chris Jericho im "Talk Is Jericho" Podcast aufzutreten, wozu CM Punk jedoch erneut keine Lust hatte.

Weiter stellte Chris Jericho klar, dass er CM Punk nach dessen WWE Abgang zwar im Januar 2014 einige Textnachrichten geschrieben habe, allerdings seien diese nicht wrestlingbezogen gewesen. Zudem würde er wegen den Behauptungen bzw. Aussagen von CM Punk im besagten Podcast keinerlei Groll gegen ihn hegen, sondern ihn weiterhin als sehr guten Freund bezeichnen. Abschließend gab Chris Jericho bekannt, dass er Genaueres zum Thema "CM Punk" am Mittwoch in seinem "Talk Is Jericho" Podcast besprechen wird.

[YOUTUBE]

[/YOUTUBE]

(Quelle: LoP)

Zitat

CM Punk has launched his official t-shirt store at ProWrestlingTees.com. Below is a screenshot of the first designs that have been released:

[Blockierte Grafik: http://i61.tinypic.com/25rcl10.jpg]

WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon war gestern Abend im Anschluss von RAW beim "Steve Austin Show" Podcast von Stone Cold Steve Austin zu Gast und sprach dort in einem ausführlichen Interview über diverse Themen, darunter auch CM Punk.

Vince McMahon ließ u.a. verlauten, dass er in der Öffentlichkeit keine schmutzige Wäsche waschen möchte und entschuldigte sich bei CM Punk dafür, dass dieser seine Entlassungspapiere an seinem Hochzeitstag erhalten habe, bevor er diesen Umstand auf interne Abstimmungsschwierigkeiten zwischen den einzelnen Abteilungen im WWE Headquarters zurückführte. Weiter meinte Vince McMahon, dass CM Punk vielleicht eines Tages seine Worte und seinen Schritt bedauern wird und hofft, dass CM Punk und die WWE eines Tages doch wieder zusammenfinden und zusammenarbeiten werden, da es bereits u.a. Leute wie Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan und The Ultimate Warrior vorgemacht hätten.

U.a. äußerte sich Vince McMahon im Interview auch kritisch über Cesaro, dem er unterstellte, zu wenig Charisma und zu wenig Mic-Skills für den großen Push mitzubringen. Weiter meinte Vince McMahon, dass sich dies in Zukunft vielleicht noch ändern wird, denn er habe er die Hoffnung an Cesaro noch nicht aufgegeben, den er abschließend als großartiges In-Ring Talent bezeichnete.

Das besagte Interview könnt Ihr Euch hier anhören oder im unten stehenden Recap von PWInsider nachlesen:

[YOUTUBE]

[/YOUTUBE]

Zitat

Austin welcomed Vince to the podcast,which is on the Network. Austin asked him how the Network was doing and Vince said it was doing great both from a subscription and a content standpoint. Austin asked him about the UK and Vince said it's been a stop/start thing and they hope to have it wrapped up by the first of the year, but noted that wasn't a promise.'

Austin asked him how in tune Vince was with the wrestling fans right now. Vince said that they don't do wrestling but sports-entertainment. Vince said that not every match is going to "hit" and no one else does the content weekly that they do and then broadcast it worldwide. Austin said he'd like to see more in-ring over the course of the show and asked Vince if he's wrong in wanting too much wrestling. Austin said that sometimes the early segments take too long. Vince acknowledged that and said that you do have to give the audience a hook or they won't care about the matches.

Austin said that there are no other big leagues for other talents to go to and there are talents who are walking on eggshells afraid to do anything. Vince said, "Well don't piss anyone off." Vince said that there isn't as much camaraderie and silliness backstage as there was in Austin's era. He described the locker room as "less ambitious" because they are "Millenials."

Vince said the last guy to really try and reach for the brass ring was John Cena. He sees potential in Ambrose, Rollins and Reigns but they aren't there yet. He said the talents don't do what Austin did. Austin challenged the roster to take chances and try to get over. Vince said the roster is thin and he wants to see guys do it as well. Vince said there are those who are afraid of failure.

Vince was asked what he was looking for in Superstars. Vince said he's looking for someone who's hungry and wants to learn and keep learning every day. Austin told a story about a wrestler getting a bigger than usual pop at MSG and Austin pointed it out to Vince and Vince said that he hoped that person got over. That told Austin it wasn't just Vince with a magic wand but Vince hoping guys took the reigns.

Austin asked why Cesaro hasn't clicked yet. Vince said that perhaps it's because he's Swiss but he hasn't shown the charisma but Vince hopes he eventually does. Vince said it could be his style. Austin pointed out that the momentum was lost for Cesaro based on the way he was booked. Vince said he doesn't have all the answers and Cesaro isn't being given up on.

Austin talked about the Creative Team and how different it was from the days of Vince working from his pool. Austin asked why creative got so complicated. Vince said that the company grew in leaps and bounds and went public and it's not going to be a one man show. Vince said he can't do it all and joked that he used to work Pat Patterson to the bone. He talked about how when people would come by his house, they'd end up in the pool because Vince loves ribs and described it being one of the funniest things in the world. Vince said you have to have fun to make fun. Austin told a story about Shane tossing Vince in the pool.

Austin asked where Shane McMahon is. Vince said he's a happy camper and has his hands in a lot of pots and is in Japan. He said Shane's departure was something of a mutual thing. He said being a family in business is difficult. Vince said he tried to do what was right for business. Vince said his dad didn't want him in the business and he wanted his kids to do what they wanted to do.

Vince told the story of an announcer holding his father up for money and his father refusing, then deciding Vince would be the announcer with no experience, "and you're going to do a good job." Vince gave him a partner and it was Arnold Skaaland. Skaaland was a man of few words so Vince asked him father for someone else to help him. There were a number of individuals who helped him.

Austin asked him if he wanted to talk about CM Punk. Vince said he wanted to personally apologize for Punk getting his termination papers on his wedding day. He said that in a company their size, the different areas of the company didn't know what was going on in the other areas. He said he was very sorry about the timing of when Punk received his paperwork.

Vince then said that he didn't want to go through dirty laundry. Vince said there have been others who were disgruntled and they said things they later regretted and he hoped he and Punk would one day work together again. Vince said he didn't listen to the Colt Cabana interview but heard Punk used a lot of expletives and things were said that were his perspective on things. He said that he had issues with Austin and Hulk Hogan but they eventually came back. Vince said he was willing to work with Punk again and admits that while Vince has a big ego, he is willing to put it aside and work with Punk down the line. Vince later said Punk worked really hard for the company.

Austin talked about working with Vince and being in a similar situation. Vince said Austin was difficult to work with at times. They talked about Austin walking out when he was asked to put over Brock Lesnar, Austin said he was hard-headed and never returned Vince's calls. Finally, Jim Ross sent him a card in the mail and offered to talk with Steve anytime Ross put them back in touch. Austin asked if there was someone who could bridge the gap between Vince and Punk. Vince said that unfortunately there is not and Punk is pretty much a loner and has a lack of communication. Vince said that when attorneys get involved it's going to "hell in a handbasket."

Austin told a story about Vince fining him $650,000 when he returned. Vince then told him what he thought was fair. He settled on $250,000. Vince said when you walk out, not on the company but the fans you have to do something or else the next time you don't like the creative, you walk out again.

Vince said that Austin had the communications, perhaps not with Vince but with others and Punk was a loner. Vince admitted he himself can be introverted and shy and he understands it and talked about feeling uncomfortable when he was at political events for his wife and would often find himself talking to the bartender, who was more his kind of people.

Austin talked about watching The Undertaker losing at Wrestlemania. He asked about the background of ending the streak. Vince said that no one wants to give back to the business more than Mark Calaway. He said that it was time and when you look down the line on who he could work with, who else was it going to be. There was no one else it could be. He said that Brock was the one person that Mark felt was the guy. Austin challenged him and Vince admitted he made the decision to end the Streak.

Austin asked Vince why Brock Lesnar isn't around more. Vince said you don't want him around more, because he's a special attraction.

Vince said Randy Savage would absolutely be in the WWE Hall of Fame. He said it would be soon but not perhaps this year. Austin cornered him and made Vince say yes.

On Sting, Vince McMahon said he made a great impression but he's the type of character you don't need to see every week but "I think you'll see him at Wrestlemania." Austin said that when he was hot, he was on every show and Vince said the business has changed and some of it is contracts.

They talk about the Monday Night War. Vince said he always felt WWE was more passionate and WCW having talent in charge of their own creative created chaos. Austin said they don't have any real competition and Vince said that they compete with everything on TV. He said they and WCW were burning so hot and it was a question of who was going to burn out first. Vince always kept ideas in huis pocket. He said all the WCW issues eventually wore them down.

Austin talked about Vince expanding WWF. Vince said he was willing to buy the AWA but Verne Gagne blew him off. Vince said all he had was creative skills, a lot of luck and big grapefruits. Vince said the territory promoters had money but they didn't put it back in the business. Vince kept reinvesting in the production and bringing in partners from the outside to help you grow while the others were happy just filming a show in a studio. He said Bill Watts the only promoter who tried to really fight against them. He didn't want to compete with Watts but then he sold out to Jim Crockett and Vince said, "Aha, I see where this is going. Jim Crockett wasn't the smartest branch in the tree. Vince said cable television was down 10% because of all the other choices and they still compete with everything.

Vince McMahon said that there's no heat with Jim Ross and he likes him as a human being. He said he didn't want to get into it but there was an incident in Los Angeles that surprised Vince in how Ross handled it but said he was sure they would work together again one day. Vince said that he helped Jim get to where he wanted to go, back to Oklahoma. He said Jim worked really, really hard for him and contributed greatly. Ross was the one who decided to take it easy and help some and didn't want to work 24/7, 7 days a week. He said you have to be "all in" on the business especially now with how massive the company is now.

Austin talked about the feud with Vince McMahon. Vince said they tapped into Americana with the feud and it crossed all demos. He put over Austin for it and said that when you create you have to have a degree of common sense over how people think. He talked about the reaction people would have for someone flaunting their money and acting over others. Vince said the Austin character is really Vince on the inside, so he acted the opposite.

Vince said he enjoyed this and would do it again. Austin said they were going to keep going for his podcast. Vince said that since he owns the Network, he decreed they were going another 15 minutes.

They kept talking about the feud and Vince's lack of coordination in the ring. They talked about all the different places Vince got kicked as Austin was setting up for the Stone Cold Stunner. Vince said he isn't eloquent enough to describe what it's like to entertain the audience. Austin said it's like shooting in your veins and it's addictive.

Austin said Vince always wanted to be a wrestler but his father didn't let him. Austin put over Vince's announcing saying he could hokey and could go off the rails. Vince's dad said he couldn't be the business man and the wrestler. Later on, there's was that opportunity and it was always his dream to be a performer and he's glad he did it because it was one of the greatest thrills of his life. Austin pointed out that Vince didn't see a Superstar in him and told Vince to go back and push his locker room. He asked Vince what it was like for him to generate the sort of heat Vince had back in the day. Vince said when you use the truth and use it against them. Using that psychology, it was easy to do.

Austin talked about the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and Vince wanted to take a bump off the cage through a table. He said the way he hit the table, he had a bruise across the back of his cheeks to the back of his knees and noted he could have ended up bleeding out but looking back he wouldn't change it either.

Austin talked about his blood loss at Wrestlemania 13 and the night they did the double turn with Bret Hart. He talked about Vince giving him the finish backstage. Before they went to the ring, Bret suggested that Austin should be bleeding for that finish and Bret offered to blade him. Austin's took the idea to Vince and approved it. He talked about the no color policy and Vince's reaction to it. Vince said that he was probably a little pissed off at the time but it's not about what he wants, but what the audience wants. Vince said that when you get that reaction, yes it's against policy but you gave the audience what they wanted.

Vince was asked if he was really giving the audience what they want today when there's no competition and how fans can tell him what they wants. Vince said their future is good and they are holding up strong for ratings. Austin asked why the matches are so segmented these days and if it was short attention span theater. Vince said it's a change in society and how we text and don't have conversations anymore. He said the product can get better but he's not out of touch. Vince said he listens to the audience, not Twitter.

Austin asked Vince when he's going to ride off into the sunset. Vince said he enjoys the business now more than ever before and is healthy and works as much now as he used to. He hasn't lost a step mentally or physically and said despite what critics say, he hasn't lost touch. Vince said with NXT, the future is bright.

Alles anzeigen

(Quelle: WrestlingNewsWorld / PWInsider)

Zitat

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross is back with a new blog on jrsbarbq.com. As always, you can purchase JR's BBQ products on WWEshop.com. Ross commented on last night's interview with Steve Austin and Vince McMahon:

"Thoroughly enjoyed the Austin-McMahon discussion on the WWE Network Monday night after RAW. Thought it was well done by both men and informative and entertaining which are always two desirable traits of any piece of business.

Was happy that VKM addressed the hot topic of the CM Punk matter and was surprised abut the apology he made to Punk about getting his lega paperwork on Punk and AJ's wedding day. Seems as if the door is open to resume talks some day if both parties are of that mindset.

Punk's overwhelming desire to close the show at a WrestleMania is admirable and if any one in the locker room doesn't have that same goal every day of their professional life then they need to find another line of work.

The topic of Bill Watts coming up was nostalgic as I recall organizing that FREE 'meet and greet' at the old Myriad featuring all the Mid South fan favorites including Kerry Von Erich as being a success the night WWE made their OKC debut.

Thought it was smart for Vince to add more time onto the conversation with the extra fifteen minutes that created the sense of urgency required to finish strong and they did just that. I have to believe that this programming was great for the @WWENetwork."

Alles anzeigen

Sehr gutes, interessantes Interview mit Vince McMahon. Sollte man sich genauso wie den "Art of Wrestling" Podcast mit CM Punk unbedingt komplett anhören.

In der dieswöchigen Episode von Colt Cabanas "Art Of Wrestling" Podcast war der ehemalige WWE Superstar CM Punk erneut zu Gast und sprach dort u.a. über die Entschuldigung von Vince McMahon aus der dieswöchigen "Steve Austin Show". Diese kaufte CM Punk dem WWE Chairman und CEO nicht ab, da die Entschuldigung in seinen Augen lediglich nur ein "Publicity Stunt" zur Schadensbegrenzung gewesen sei.

Hier könnt Ihr Euch die komplette Episode in voller Länge anhören oder im darunterstehenden Recap von PWInsider.com im englischen Original nachlesen.

[YOUTUBE]

[/YOUTUBE]

Zitat

As noted on the main page of PWInsider.com, former WWE champion CM Punk returned on Colt Cabana's "Art of Wrestling" podcast.

During the conversation, the apology Vince McMahon gave about the timing of Punk's termination from WWE (which came on his wedding day, as Punk revealed last week) was brought up.

While discussing how other wrestlers may believe they know what's going on in his head and that he might return after a few years off, Punk's responded is, "I see their point of view, but Motherf***er, they didn't fire you on your wedding day. They purposely and maliciously tried to ruin a day that is supposed to be special to everybody. It's your wedding day."

Punk said he didn't want to hear it was coincidence or that, "the lawyers didn't talk to talent relations." Punk said he spoke to Hunter on 7/11. On 7/13, he received a Fedex overnight with a document that was dated 7/12. He said that was the timeline.

Punk said his wife AJ Lee asked for that time off so she could get married and go on her honeymoon. The week after the honeymoon, she was back on TV. Punk said he doesn't want to hear it was a coincidence.

Punk then said he will address the apology from Vince McMahon. Punk said it it was sincere, "You wouldn't have used it as a publicity stunt on Austin's podcast. You have my phone number. You have my address. You can show up when you are a ten minute f***ing drive from my house and apologize to me like a man."

Punk said that's the timeline. He was sick and tired and sick and hurt and burnt out and he walked and, "I can do that because I'm an independent f***ing contractor."

Punk said he was suspended and no one contacted him to tell him he was unsuspended and they wanted him at TV. He said he got those "we need you at TV" type of calls the day after his elbow surgery and walking out of knee surgery.

Punk said, "They could do it then, so where's my f***ing phone call?" He said he was suspended and maybe in those two months, "I'd be feeling better or I'd come to my f***ing senses, but nobody ever found out because no one ever reached out."

Punk also commented, indirectly, on Vince McMahon saying Punk's communication skills were possibly the issue. Punk explained that every six months, there was a new head of Talent Relations in WWE. "There were all these people who had no business" being in that position. He said they were the head of Talent Relations and "you are supposed to relate to the talents but no one knew how to talk to these people."

Punk said he's a wrestler and the head of the HR department doesn't know anything about taking bumps, what a payday is or anything else.

Punk said, "It was a publicity stunt. You are sorry. Great. Be a man and call me."

Later on Punk said he didn't want his podcast appearance to turn into a back and forth. He said he isn't replying and this is the close of a chapter in his life. He wanted to get things off his chest. Cabana said the appearances were meant to be the ultimate closure.

Punk said People have asked him if he accepts the apology. He commented, "I appreciate the sentiment but that was not a real apology. He knew about it. He know about it since June. Why didn't he apologize in June if he really felt bad about it? He wanted to wait until a TV camera was in front of him, so he could cut a damage control, and 'Oh Gosh, I'm really sorry.' Well, if you really were and if you really wanted to talk to me, you would have responded after I got ahold of everybody in the office and you would have said, 'You're unsuspended. We need you back on TV' like you did when I was walking out of the hospital still anesthetized."

Alles anzeigen

(Quelle: WWE)

Wie im Rahmen von UFC 181 offiziell bekannt gegeben worden ist, hat der ehemalige WWE Superstar CM Punk einen Multi Fight Deal bei Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) abgeschlossen und wird ab dem Jahr 2015 entweder in der Middleweight Division oder der Welterweight Division von UFC antreten. Einen genauen Termin für den ersten MMA Fight von CM Punk gibt es bislang noch nicht.

CM Punk äußerte sich zu seinem UFC Deal wie folgt:

"I have a limited window like all fighters do, and I'm here for a fight. This is my new career 100%."

"My professional wrestling days are over, it’s awesome to be here. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time."

"I have a background in kempo and I’ve been doing Brazilian jiu-jitsu for a long time. This is my new career, 100-percent. I'm going to go full steam ahead, all systems go after today, and it's going to be fun. I have nothing but respect for everybody here at the UFC, everybody who steps in the Octagon to fight. And when it's all said and done, when I'm finished, everybody's going to have to respect me because I have come here to fight."

"I felt like it was now or never. I have a limited window most fighters don't have. I'm either here to win or get my ass kicked."

[YOUTUBE]

[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]

[/YOUTUBE]

UFC Präsident Dana White hieß CM Punk unmittelbar nach Bekanntwerden des Multi Fight Deals via Twitter bei UFC willkommen: "Welcome to the @UFC CM Punk! #UFC #WWE" Eine erste Herausforderung an CM Punk wurde mittlerweile auch schon von UFC Fighter Michael Bisping via Twitter ausgesprochen: "I see @cmpunk wants to kick ass, well he can kiss my ass! Welcome to the Ufc, let's do this! @ufc @danawhite"

Auch AJ Lee, Rey Mysterio, Jim Ross und der ehemalige WWE Superstar Tyler Reks äußerten sich zum CM Punk UFC Deal via Twitter:

AJ Lee: "I am the proudest wife in the world."

Rey Mysterio: "Awesome to see my homie Punk at UFC 181 announcing his new career as a UFC fighter! Congrats & wish him the best... Kick some ASS homie! #ItWasAPleasureBeingInTheRingWithU#LifeChanger#CantWaite2SeeUKickAss"

Jim Ross: "Congrats on @CMPunk signing apparently w/ @ufc is he going to fight? What weight? Will sell PPV's w/o question. Smart biz by @danawhite"

Tyler Reks: "So Punk whined when @Ryback22 was too stiff in the ring...can't wait to see him in UFC. #FuelingTheFire"

(Quelle: LoP / UFC)

Jaja, erst herumjammern, dass Ryback im Ring zu "stiff" mit ihm umgegangen ist und dann einen UFC Deal unterzeichnen ...

Bin auf jeden Fall sehr gespannt, wie er sich schlagen wird und wann sein erster Fight stattfindet. Der PPV wird sich bestimmt bestens verkaufen. Werde ich mir auf jeden Fall anschauen.

Da CM Punk den UFC Deal bereits am 22. Oktober unterzeichnet hat, kann man davon ausgehen, dass CM Punk seinen Auftritt beim "Art Of Wrestling" Podcast nur dazu genutzt hat, um mit dem Thema "WWE" endgültig abzuschließen und sich schonmal ins Gespräch zu bringen für das, was wenige Wochen später noch kommen sollte. Hätte er wohl keinen UFC Deal unterzeichnet, hätte er wohl auch kein Interview beim "Art Of Wrestling" Podcast über seinen WWE Abgang gegeben ...

[align=center][/align]