CM Punk is already dealing with criticism over how he interacts with fans, and footage from the latest WWE SmackDown tapings isn’t exactly going to help. Punk was seen walking past fans asking for fist bumps—including a very young fan—and the crowd actually booed him for it.
Footage making the rounds online shows Punk heading from the ring toward the backstage area while several fans along the barricade reached out for a fist bump. Punk looked toward them, appeared visibly annoyed and simply kept walking.
One of those people was a young fan who also had their hand extended as Punk passed by. Punk didn’t stop for them either, and fans in attendance immediately started booing as he disappeared toward the back.
Normally, a wrestler walking past a few outstretched hands probably wouldn’t become much of a story. Punk, however, has spent several days right this year in the middle of a debate about how he treats fans outside WWE events. It started after Punk posted and later deleted an Instagram Story following WWE’s Las Cruces live event asking people not to follow him back to his hotel.
“Please do not follow me to my hotel. Las Cruces, you were lovely—loud and fun. See you all soon.”
A mother later claimed her six-year-old son had simply recognized Punk at the hotel and that her family never followed him there. Punk never identified who his message was about, so there’s no confirmation that he was referring to that family.
Then YouTuber Smartest Mark Alive shared his own alleged encounter with Punk from WWE’s 2024 trip to Perth. He said Punk had every right to reject his friend’s request for a photo, but claimed Punk wouldn’t even acknowledge them afterwards despite everyone else being friendly.
“My friend asked him for a photo, he said no, and that was it. Other than that, we didn’t ask anyone for photos. We were just, ‘Hey, how you going? How do you like Australia?’ CM Punk didn’t respond to anyone.”
Now Punk has been caught on camera walking straight past fans looking for fist bumps at SmackDown, with the reaction getting loud enough that people actually booed him. Punk obviously doesn’t have to fist bump every fan he passes. But with people already arguing about his recent fan interactions, ignoring a young fan right in front of the crowd was always going to get people talking again.
What do you make of CM Punk getting booed after walking past fans at the SmackDown tapings? Let us know in the comments.
