Sami Zayn had plenty to say about CM Punk before stepping into the ring with Finn Bálor at SummerSlam Sunday. Punk accused Zayn of ripping him off during the SummerSlam Saturday post-show, and Zayn came back swinging by calling the WWE Champion a fraud who stands for nothing.
Zayn addressed Punk’s comments during the SummerSlam Sunday Countdown pre-show. Punk had described him as a bench player who believes he is a starter, but Zayn mocked the way Punk delivered the insult and claimed there was a reason he struggled to get the words out.
“I heard what CM Punk’s been saying about me—something about me being a bench player who thinks he’s a starter. I didn’t really understand what he said because he kind of flubbed his words.”
Zayn made it clear that he does not have the same problem whenever Punk’s name comes up. According to Zayn, Punk’s verbal slip was not an accident. He claimed Punk is mentally and emotionally intimidated because Zayn sees through the image Punk presents to the public.
“I don’t flub my words when I talk about CM Punk. I am locked in when I need to talk about CM Punk. I have no shortage of things that I have to say about CM Punk.”
“He flubs his words a little bit when he talks about me. You want to know why? Because he’s terrified of me. He’s scared of me.”
Zayn clarified that he was not talking about physical fear. Instead, he said Punk is afraid of being exposed. Punk also claimed Zayn was following in his footsteps by doing things Punk had already done 15 years earlier. That comparison clearly struck a nerve, as Zayn warned Punk never to place them in the same category again.
“Not physically, no, because he’s been in the ring with a lot of imposing fellows. But I terrify him mentally and emotionally because I see him for the fraud that he actually is.”
“Don’t ever, ever compare me to you in any way, shape or form. That is an insult because I am nothing like CM Punk in any way.”
Zayn then went after Punk’s character, claiming there is a major difference between what Punk says and how he actually lives. He continued by claiming he has remained true to the same values throughout his life and wrestling career, while Punk does not truly stand behind anything.
“I’m actually a real person. I mean it when I talk. I mean it when I say something. CM Punk talks the talk. I walk the walk.”
“I’ve been walking the same walk my entire life, my entire career. I actually stand for something. He stands for nothing. Do not ever compare me to CM Punk in any way, shape or form.”
Peter Rosenberg then asked how Zayn planned to move past Punk’s comments and concentrate on his match against Finn Bálor. Zayn explained that beating Bálor was directly connected to getting another shot at Punk and reclaiming what he believes was stolen from him. Zayn acknowledged that he and Bálor have experienced similar championship droughts. Both men reached the top before spending roughly a decade trying to get back there, leaving them equally desperate heading into SummerSlam.
“Finn Bálor, I understand it. I get it. I respect him just like everybody else. In a lot of ways, our stories are very parallel. He won the championship right out of the gate and went on a 10-year drought. I went on a 10-year drought and finally won the championship.”
Zayn said the difference is that his desperation is now being driven by Punk taking something away from him. He closed with direct warnings for both Bálor and Punk, making it clear that his SummerSlam match was only one step toward settling the larger issue.
“Now both of us are in the same boat. We both have that same level of desperation. The difference is, I need this. I need this to get back what CM Punk stole from me.”
“I’m unrelenting, Finn, and you’re going to find that out tonight. CM Punk, you’re going to find that out real soon.”
Zayn may have been preparing for Finn Bálor, but his attention was clearly fixed on CM Punk. With Punk accusing him of copying his career and Zayn now calling him a fraud, WWE has another personal rivalry ready to explode once SummerSlam is over.
What did you think about Sami Zayn’s response to CM Punk, and do you want to see the two settle this in the ring? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
