Matt Riddle just dropped a verbal haymaker on CM Punkand made it clear hes not buying the legend hype.
During a Going Ringside interview, the former WWE star didnt hold back when asked about potentially joining AEW. What started as a measured response quickly turned into a direct shot at Punks reputation behind the scenes.
Riddle said hed work for AEW, but criticized the promotions past strategy of signing too many ex-WWE talents who, in his view, didnt deliver. Thats when he brought up Punk.
He then blamed CM Punk specifically for damaging AEWs momentum:
When pressed further, Riddle delivered the knockout line:
He added that Punks attitude is consistent with what others in the locker room have told him.
Punks rocky UFC career is part of the picture Riddle was painting. After leaving WWE in 2014, Punk signed with the UFC to pursue MMAa move that many saw as ambitious but questionable. He fought twice: a brutal submission loss to Mickey Gall in 2016, followed by a unanimous decision loss to Mike Jackson in 2018. He quietly exited the sport soon after, with no official retirement but zero signs of return.
Riddle, on the other hand, came from the opposite path. A former UFC fighter himself, Riddle had four wins in the Octagon before getting cut for repeated failed drug tests due to marijuana. He later reinvented himself in professional wrestling and climbed to major success in WWEuntil he was released in 2023 following multiple controversies, including airport-related incidents and backstage heat.
Now, both men have scars from MMA and drama in the locker roombut Riddle is making it clear: if Punk returns to AEW or WWE full-time, hes not interested in working with him.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
Is Matt Riddle right to take shots at CMPunks MMA past and locker room repor is he just bitter over his own exit? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
