Drew McIntyre isn’t backing away from his opinion of CM Punk, and he says the biggest difference these days is that Punk has gotten much better at hiding the side of himself that used to rub so many people the wrong way.
Speaking on Raw Talk, McIntyre was asked whether his issues with Punk extend beyond WWE storylines. Drew didn’t hesitate, saying he avoids Punk whenever possible and still considers him someone he simply can’t stand.
“Oh, yeah. He’s a piece of crap. I avoid him whenever I can avoid him. Like, it’s like any job.”
The Scottish Warrior then suggested CM Punk comes across differently depending on who he’s talking to, arguing that his public-facing personality isn’t the same one he sees backstage.
“Oh, I’m sure he’s friendly to you. You’ve got a platform where you can talk about him being a piece of crap. But I’m on your platform, and I can tell everybody he’s a genuine piece of crap.”
Drew claimed Punk has become much better at masking that personality compared to years ago. He also pointed to Punk’s previous WWE exit, saying he believes Punk walked away after many people had worked hard to help elevate him.
“Oh, yeah. Like, I mean, he tries to play now—he’s different. He’s better at hiding it now than he used to be. Like, back in the day, everybody couldn’t stand him. He was so full of himself. Like, so many people worked hard to get him in a prominent position. Then he left the company, screwing everybody over that worked for him, gave him this big name—just walked out of the company.”
Despite those feelings, McIntyre admitted the two are capable of putting their differences aside when it’s time to perform. He said they don’t have to manufacture chemistry because their real-life dislike of each other naturally translates into compelling television.
“Oh, yeah. Can’t stand him. It’s like you have to work with people you don’t like, right? I mean, you’ve got your own business to fire people you don’t like, but I can’t. I get writers telling me, ‘You’re working with that guy,’ and I’m like, ‘I can’t stand him.’ But I know he’s very good at his job. Like, I can be professional. I’m very good at my job. You put us together—you don’t have to find the real in it. Like, he doesn’t like me. I can’t stand him. You put us together, it’s magic for the audience.”
McIntyre went even further later in the conversation, claiming Punk’s current backstage demeanor is more about necessity than personal growth. These comments reflect McIntyre’s personal opinion rather than independently verified information about Punk’s backstage behavior.
“Yeah, I can’t stand him. He’s a genuine piece of crap. Good at hiding it these days, you know, playing the corporate kind of role backstage and whatever because he knows he’s got nowhere else to go. He’s burned his bridges everywhere. This is his last chance to stay in wrestling, so he has to be nice to everybody.
“But behind those eyes, he’s crying because he just wants to be a dick nonstop. Very Charles Manson-like. Just talks to the audience, convinces them he’s such a good guy. They buy into his BS.”
Whether fans agree with McIntyre or not, one thing hasn’t changed: his issues with CM Punk clearly go far beyond what happens on WWE television. And if the two end up crossing paths again, Drew has made it clear there won’t be any shortage of real-life tension to build on.
Do you think Drew McIntyre and CM Punk genuinely dislike each other, or has the line between reality and storyline become impossible to separate? Let us know in the comments below.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
