Matt Riddle Says CM Punk’s “Better Days” Are Behind Him Despite Drawing Power

Matt Riddle isn’t done talking about CM Punk — not by a long shot.

In a new interview with TMZ’s Inside the Ring posted on August 14, 2025, the former WWE star was asked if his previous claim that Punk is “difficult to work with” still holds true. This comes after months of public digs, a now-deleted viral tweet, and even comments tying Punk to AEW’s creative struggles.

Riddle, who’s clashed with Punk in both public interviews and on social media, didn’t back down when the subject came up. He explained that his opinion isn’t just based on his own perspective, but also on feedback from people still working alongside Punk in WWE.

“I have good friends on the roster that still say he’s a [__] to work with,” Riddle said, stressing that Punk’s place in the company comes down to the numbers he draws. “Oh, if he didn’t generate the amount of money and attention that he does, he wouldn’t be there. And kudos to him. Kudos to him. He got—the guy packs an arena. He sells tickets. He sells merchandise. And when you’re looking at WWE, especially with TKO, I don’t think they care about anything else. They go, ‘What do you want to get paid? You bring on this much value. Okay, good.’”

Advertising

Advertising

While Riddle acknowledged Punk’s commercial value, he made it clear he doesn’t believe Punk is performing anywhere near his peak level.

“And right now, hats off to him. He’s killing it. He’s wrestling. He’s staying active. He’s staying busy. And his fans seem to love it. So, I have no ill will towards the man. I just don’t think he’s well good at fighting. I think his better days of wrestling are way behind him. And that’s not a knock. I’ll tell you this, I’m not getting that much better or faster or stronger. And I can tell you he’s definitely not either, especially with all the botches, you know.”

Riddle then broadened the conversation, comparing Punk’s reaction to criticism with the way other big names in wrestling — like Goldberg and Roman Reigns — have handled it. He suggested that certain wrestlers become defensive when uncomfortable truths are pointed out about their abilities, especially when those comments touch on their in-ring execution or fighting credentials.

These remarks are just the latest chapter in a feud that’s been brewing for months. On June 27, 2025, mere hours after CM Punk was booed off stage during the WWE Night of Champions kickoff show in Saudi Arabia, Riddle went on Twitter and unloaded a profanity-filled rant aimed at Punk, his fans, and his skill set. In that post — which was quickly deleted but widely screenshotted — Riddle blasted fans for supporting Punk despite a viral incident where Punk was seen pushing away a young fan who asked for a photo.

He didn’t stop there. In follow-up comments earlier this summer, Riddle blamed Punk for derailing AEW’s momentum during his stint there, claiming his backstage behavior “cost fans, money, and everything else” before adding: “That guy sucks at fighting and he’s a b** to work with in the back.”*

Punk, for his part, has tried to smooth over at least some of his controversies, recently apologizing during the Night of Champions kickoff show for his infamous 2020 “blood covered d***” tweet aimed at The Miz, saying it wasn’t meant as an insult to Saudi Arabia and issuing a direct apology to a fan named Muhammad. But that apology was overshadowed when he was booed by the live crowd just hours later, with criticism continuing over his demeanor and recent incidents.

For Riddle, the TMZ Sports interview was a chance to double down while also framing his criticism in a way that acknowledged Punk’s drawing power. Still, between the pointed remarks about Punk’s fighting ability, his claim that “better days” are behind him, and the continued references to “botches,” it’s clear this war of words is far from over. Matt Riddle has never been one to hold back his opinions, and with his latest comments, the tension between him and CM Punk remains very much alive.

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