CM Punks infamous Say his name jab at Drew McIntyre a thinly veiled reference to Vince McMahon may have stirred more trouble backstage than fans realized. Over a year later, that moment is still being talked about, and now we know why.
During the first Fightful Select Q&A of September 2025, a fan asked about Punks March 25, 2024 promo on WWE RAW, where he brought up Vince McMahon during a verbal showdown with McIntyre. Sean Ross Sapp responded with new insight that raised some eyebrows.
He made it clear that most major promos especially involving CM Punk or Paul Heyman are usually scripted to the letter. But this one? That may have been Punk going rogue.
In other words, Punk may have slipped the line past WWE creative, leaving the company with a live mic moment referencing a man they were trying to distance themselves from entirely.
Drew McIntyre, for his part, stayed composed. Speaking to Metro last year, he explained why he didnt fire back in the moment.
McIntyre chose to hold [his] tongue, thinking about the bigger picture the company and the roster. But the fallout from Punks unscripted reference seems to have rattled more than just his opponent.
With Vince McMahon and Brock Lesnar both reportedly off-limits for WWE television promos at the time, this could go down as one of the last real unscripted moments in the companys modern era.
Do you think CM Punk crossed the line by going off-script? Or was it a necessary shot that added realism to the feud? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know where you stand.
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