CM Punk Called Out For Never Being A Locker Room Leader In AEW

CM Punk’s time in AEW was more than controversial, especially near the end. During that time with AEW, he made it clear that he wasn’t there to make friends, because he was about titles and racking up big moments in his own career. Now, Bobby Fish is speaking openly about his interactions with the Second City Saint

During a new interview with TMZ’s Inside The Ring, Bobby Fish opened up about his past issues with CM Punk. He addressed their working relationship, Punk’s backstage behavior in AEW, and how their dynamic compared to other wrestlers.

AEW made a huge deal about Punk’s debut with the company, but that didn’t make him mesh well with things behind the scenes. Bobby Fish said that CM Punk didn’t feel like part of the group.

“He never appeared to me to be part of the locker room. I mean, one of the things that—he had his own locker room. So like, I think when you do that… Sting had his own locker room too, so let me not be cherry-picking here. But Sting is Sting. Period.”

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Bobby Fish went on to contrast this with his experiences working alongside others. After all, Fish has been in locker rooms with some of the biggest names in the business throughout his career.

“I sat next to Samoa Joe in the boys’ locker room. I called my match with Bryan Danielson across from him in the same room. That’s just how it should be.”

When asked about CM Punk’s leadership role backstage, Bobby Fish didn’t have a glowing review. In fact, he said Punk’s backstage leadership simply didn’t exist.

“I don’t know that there was any real locker room leader. I mean, it was a unique locker room. Sting is Sting, obviously. But he’s quiet and reserved. If anything, Joe was the locker room leader to me. If Joe had something to say, I was f*cking listening.”

During his time with AEW, CM Punk was involved in a couple backstage incidents. Bobby Fish went on to discuss a backstage issue involving Dax Harwood, where Punk tried to step in.

“Dax and I… I think he and I, there’s a professional understanding between us. We were able to shake hands and hug it out after. I think that’s the difference between maybe Phil and Dax and me. Punk used that moment to try and take a leadership role, and the best way I could, I just let him know—bro, take that [] somewhere else, ‘cause it’s not [] here for me.”

Bobby Fish pushed back when asked if it could’ve been handled better. As professional wrestlers, they have to know the business, because they’re not in “competition” with anyone in the ring, considering the predetermined aspect.

“We’re performers. This is a predetermined sport. You’re not beating anybody. You’re not champion of dick.”

“Before I’m a pro wrestler—before I’m the guy signing checks to win or lose—I’m somebody’s father, I was somebody’s husband. That all comes first. If we’ve got differences, we talk face to face. If it has to go to the parking lot, it can. But come on—I’m somebody’s father. I don’t need that. But what I definitely don’t need is you going to the principal’s office.”

“Phil, you tattled on me. I get to the back, and you’re already in Tony Khan’s ear. Then you both—not just him—you both walk away from me and each other when I approach. There’s nothing man about that.”

CM Punk was released from AEW, but it didn’t take him long to make his return to WWE, as unbelievable as that might be. Since then, he has seen a fair amount of success, despite some time off due to injury. Now, Punk is WWE World Heavyweight Champion, and it appears that he is also a leader backstage.

Not only has CM Punk helped out some NXT talents. Although he is top champion of the RAW brand now, Punk didn’t get there overnight. His journey to the gold was a long one, and it also included Seth Rollins suddenly dropping the title due to injury.

AEW continued their beef with CM Punk, even after he was no longer with the company. Tony Khan went on to release the full security camera footage of Punk’s backstage All In brawl with Jack Perry, even though they worked overtime to remove it afterward. Only time will tell if CM Punk has an answer to Bobby Fish’s comments, but we will keep our ears open.

What’s your take on Bobby Fish saying that CM Punk wasn’t a locker room leader in AEW? Do you think that AEW started to go downhill after Punk left? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.