Following CM Punk’s iconic WWE comeback in November 2023, his first in-ring match was against “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, who currently holds both the AAA Mega and WWE Intercontinental Championships. Although this match happened at a non-televised live event at Madison Square Garden and the two have not clashed on TV since, Mysterio clearly took notice of Punk’s remarks about “WWE Unreal.”
During an appearance on SHAK Wrestling, Mysterio addressed Punk’s comment that WWE fans wouldn’t believe someone like Rhea Ripley would date a “nerd” like him. Mysterio fired back bluntly, saying, “Nothing kills a business more than someone who thinks they’re good enough to be in the UFC more than once or twice.” This was a direct reference to Punk’s two UFC fights in 2016 and 2018, where he lost to Mickey Gall and Mike Jackson, the latter being ruled a no-contest after Jackson failed a drug test.
Though Punk trained under the late Duke Rufus in Wisconsin and honored his mentor with special gear on WWE’s Saturday Night Main Event, he admitted he was “too old” to pursue MMA again and has never been ashamed of his journey. Nonetheless, Mysterio continued his critique by sarcastically mentioning Punk’s UFC debut opponent, saying, “If you want to talk about what kills business, go ask CM Punk’s friend Mickie Gall.”
While the two have yet to confront each other on WWE TV, this feud and the comments exchanged could set the stage for a highly charged showdown in the near future.
Fan Take: This brewing rivalry is a fascinating mix of personal jabs and MMA history that adds depth to WWE storytelling. For fans, it hints at a dramatic on-screen clash that could reignite interest and bring fresh intensity to WWE programming.
