Alright, let’s talk about this whole Seth Rollins and CM Punk thing. I kept seeing bits and pieces online, interviews, fan comments, the works. It felt like more than just on-screen rivalry, you know? Seemed like Rollins genuinely, seriously dislikes Punk. So, I decided to poke around a bit, see what I could figure out myself, piece together why there’s so much heat there.
First thing I did was just start digging through interviews and old clips. You gotta go back, right? Look at what Seth was saying, especially around the time Punk came back to WWE, and even before that. It wasn’t hard to find stuff. Seth hasn’t exactly been quiet about it.
Digging Up the Dirt
I found several interviews where Rollins straight up called Punk a “cancer” and said he wanted him to stay away from WWE. That’s strong language, not your usual wrestling promo talk. He talked about Punk being selfish, about how he walked out on the company and the fans back in 2014. Seth often brings up his own loyalty, how he stayed, worked hard, and became a top guy while Punk was gone doing other stuff.
Then I looked at the timeline. Seth was coming up in WWE, part of The Shield, right as Punk was hitting his peak but also getting really unhappy. When Punk left, guys like Rollins had to step up big time. I imagine Seth sees himself as someone who carried the company on his back after Punk bailed.
Putting the Pieces Together
So, after watching a bunch of stuff and reading different takes, here’s what I think is going on:
- The Walkout: This seems like the original sin in Seth’s eyes. He likely sees it as Punk disrespecting the business, the locker room, and everyone who works hard every day. For a guy like Rollins, who emphasizes work ethic, that’s a big deal.
- Locker Room Vibes: That “cancer” comment suggests Seth believes Punk brings negativity and disruption. You look at the stories from Punk’s time in AEW, the whole ‘Brawl Out’ situation… it kinda gives that comment some weight, doesn’t it? Seth probably values a smooth, professional backstage environment.
- Professional Pride / Ego: Let’s be real, both these guys have big egos and want to be the top dog. Seth worked his tail off to reach the main event level, especially after Punk left. Seeing Punk come back after years away, with all the drama attached, and potentially taking a spot or limelight? Yeah, I can see that rubbing Seth the wrong way. It’s like, “I was here holding it down, and you just waltz back in?”
- Different Philosophies: Seth comes across as more of a ‘company man’ now, focused on the overall show and WWE’s success. Punk has always been more about himself, his principles, fighting the system. Those are just fundamentally different ways of looking at the wrestling world.
My Take on It
I’ve been watching this stuff long enough to know real heat from worked heat, most of the time anyway. This feels pretty genuine. You can see it in Rollins’ face when Punk’s music hits, you can hear it in his voice when he talks about him off-script. It’s not just about selling tickets; it feels personal.
So yeah, I spent a bit of time just connecting the dots from various interviews, reports, and just watching their interactions over the years. It boils down to a history of perceived disrespect, concerns about locker room harmony, and probably a healthy dose of professional rivalry. Seth feels Punk abandoned ship and caused trouble, and he isn’t shy about saying it. That’s the long and short of it from what I gathered.
