Throughout the process of his acrimonious split from WWE, CM Punk seems to have burned quite a few bridges, especially in his personal life. Apparently one of those bridges led to current Raw and SmackDown Live commentator Corey Graves, who took to Twitter following Punk’s predictably embarrassing loss in the octagon, where he lost by unanimous decision to a Mike Jackson at UFC 225. Graves’ tweetstorm revealed that the Savior of Misbehavior had felt slighted by CM Punk after he left WWE in 2014, as he began to ignore Graves.
Maybe abandoning everybody who stood by your side, even when we weren’t supposed to, only to have you turn your back on us wasn’t the right move after all? No anger. Only sadness.
— Rev. Graves (@WWEGraves) June 10, 2018
Awww. Seems the “fans” are disappointed. Maybe you guys should know that “That Dude” held my first son before I did because I was on tour and I trusted him.
I had dinner with him the week after he quit.
— Rev. Graves (@WWEGraves) June 10, 2018
The first rule of “punk rock” is loyalty, and this guy betrayed it all.
I still love you, “friend” and I’m sorry you got lost.
— Rev. Graves (@WWEGraves) June 10, 2018
My loyalty? Oh, would you like the BEFORE? Or AFTER? I’ve got both.
I mean, one can only be shit on by their “best friend” for so long before they smarten up, no?
But it’s cool. I’m sure you love Kenny Omega. And you know more about this business and friendship than I do. 😉
— Corey Graves (@WWEGraves) June 10, 2018
Dude, I’m far from distraught. I’m in a good place. I’m just really bummed that I had a true friend turn his back on me for no other reason than the company that employs me.
— Rev. Graves (@WWEGraves) June 10, 2018
Hey @CMPunk, call me tomorrow. I still love you.
— Rev. Graves (@WWEGraves) June 10, 2018
Though the timing of this outburst is a little bizarre as Punk certainly has other things on his mind than his relationship with Corey Graves, it does not seem like a far fetched story. Punk was reportedly upset with one of his best friends, Colt Cabana, for going backstage at Raw to visit with some friends. Unfortunately, Punk’s distaste for the pro wrestling business seems to have affected the friendships he’s made within it.
Still, Graves was asked to clarify his comments by Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful.com, where Graves was happy to clear the air. Sapp claims he had heard from a reputable source that Punk “had offered several of his friends an ultimatum to leave WWE or lose him as a friend as a result.” In response, Graves said:
Well, to be honest, I’d never heard or been given that ultimatum. It kinda shocked me when I texted him about grabbing dinner because we were in Chicago and he told me he no longer had any interest in being friends with me or anybody related to WWE.
Punk’s hatred for WWE no doubt extends past creative differences when he was with the company, and likely has a lot to do with the recent lawsuit WWE doctor Chris Amann filed against Punk and Cabana, which was reportedly bankrolled by WWE. However, to blame any television performers for the decisions made at the top of the corporation seems bizarre.
Graves continued:
“Dude, this has ZERO to do with court, or testimony or any of the above. Nothing that I tweeted was corporate. I’m simply hurt/pissed off that a guy that I looked like as a big brother-type has turned his back on me and everyone that loved and supported him only because of the name on my paycheck. I’m definitely not the only one. I won’t name names, but there is a large group of us to this day that inexplicably lost a solid friend because of where we work.”
If true, it’s unfortunate to hear Punk has been shutting out his friends because he no longer shares the same passion for their chosen profession.
For more insight on the situation, be sure to read the entire interview on Fightful.com. How will Graves and Punk reconcile their differences? Well, the former NXT Tag Team Champion has one idea:
I’ll fight him.
— Rev. Graves (@WWEGraves) June 10, 2018
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