5 WWE stars CM Punk is friends with and 3 he allegedly hates
CM Punk is one of the most controversial figures in and out of WWE. The Best in The World has long been the subject of controversy, sometimes seemingly due to his actions, and at times, seemingly due to the behavior of others.
Whether on-screen or off, it seems as if there is always controversy surrounding CM Punk and his relationships with various talents. He has long-time friendships, some friendships that turned sour, and outright bad relationships with numerous wrestling stars.
Some are friends, but there are also some superstars he seemingly hates. This article will take a look at several performers in WWE and their relationships with The Straight Edge Superstar.
Of course, CM Punk is an incredible pro wrestler with a mind for psychology, and many others in the company share that trait.
Below are five WWE stars CM Punk is friends with and three he allegedly hates:
#8. & #7. Friends: The Usos
The Usos is one of the top tag teams in WWE history. Jey and Jimmy Uso were already destined to be Hall of Famers before 2020, but the rise of the Bloodline and their roles in the ongoing saga have solidified their spot.
Meanwhile, Jey Uso and CM Punk have never hidden their friendship. Be it at the post-WWE Survivor Series: WarGames press conference, where they were goofing around, or on social media, where The Second City Saint gives a shout-out to Main Event Jey, even when they're not together, the two have become as thick as thieves.
Jimmy Uso has seemingly also jumped on board. During a recent edition of SmackDown, the two were shown smiling and showing love to one another. The same was caught on camera.
#6. Hates: Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens is a fantastic pro wrestler currently signed to the WWE Friday Night SmackDown brand. He is feuding with Cody Rhodes and will battle for the Undisputed WWE Title at Saturday Night's Main Event on December 14.
CM Punk and The Prizefighter share a long history, dating back to Ring of Honor, and they've seemingly never gotten along. Even recently, Owens went on record to emphasize that the two never talk and there was no reason for them to do so.
Much of their alleged animosity could also be fueled by CM Punk's issues with The Young Bucks. Owens and The Jacksons are good friends, so if Punk and The Young Bucks have issues, Kevin might inherently have problems with The Second City Saint, too.
#5. Friends: Rhea Ripley
Rhea Ripley is the biggest female wrestling star in the world today. She has headlined premium live events and is a multi-time world champion. Ripley is currently feuding with Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.
While The Eradicator and Punk haven't interacted too much in public, the two embraced backstage when The Voice of The Voiceless returned to WWE last year. Additionally, they have posted a few pictures together on social media.
In August 2024, Punk posted an image of himself, The Eradicator, Damian Priest, and Cathy Kelley on his Instagram Stories. He captioned it ''The Quad Terror Squad!'' Hence, it is safe to say he and Rhea are certainly on good and friendly terms.
#4. Hates: Seth Rollins
Seth Rollins is one of the best wrestlers of the modern era. He joined WWE through The Shield and has gone on to become a multi-time world champion. The Visionary has done nearly all there is to do.
The story of Seth Rollins and CM Punk is one somewhat mired in mystery, as the root of their issues hasn't been explained. Regardless, Seth openly despises Punk and has even called the latter a ''cancer.''
Seth also notably freaked out when The Best in The World returned to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames last year, throwing a fit and making rude gestures in front of fans. How much of that was work and how much of it is legitimate isn't clear, but their animosity is certainly legit.
#3. Friends: Damian Priest
Damian Priest has risen through the ranks in WWE over the past few years. He won his first world title at WrestleMania 40 and held it until SummerSlam 2024. The Archer of Infamy is still a mainstay in the main event picture of Monday Night RAW.
As noted, Priest was involved in a photo with CM Punk, Cathy Kelley, and Rhea Ripley that had fans buzzing. However, that isn't the only sign of his friendship with Punk, as The Punisher has been outright public about it.
While Sami Zayn recently noted on WWE Playback that he had underlying issues with CM Punk and was skeptical about how things would go with the former AEW star, Damian Priest had other thoughts. The former Judgment Day member said that he and The Voice of The Voiceless were now friends. Given the two never really crossed paths before, Punk seemingly made a good first impression.
#2. Hates: Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns is arguably the biggest star in the pro wrestling industry today. The erstwhile Big Dog has been a top name for a decade, but his run as the Tribal Chief from 2020 to the present day has solidified him as one of the biggest and most accomplished stars in WWE history.
The issues between the OTC and The Voice of The Voiceless go back many years. Punk wanted Chris Hero, formerly known as Kassius Ohno, in The Shield instead of Roman Reigns. He also routinely took shots at Roman and WWE when the veteran was a part of All Elite Wrestling.
Roman didn't take those comments lying down, as he also fired shots. In an interview with Ariel Helwani on BT Sports in 2022, the former Universal Champion claimed CM Punk wasn't a needle mover like The Rock and John Cena, claiming that The Best in The World's comments came from a place of bitterness. While they recently worked together, it is clear they've had real-life heat.
#1. Friends: WWE legend Randy Orton
Randy Orton is a legend in pro wrestling. The Viper is a 14-time World Champion who has headlined massive premium live events, won the Royal Rumble Match, and would certainly be inducted into the Hall of Fame, likely more than once.
The Viper and CM Punk did not like each other once upon a time, something they mentioned during a recent episode of WWE Playback. Orton has also publicly opened up about his initial impression of Punk back in the day, implying the latter always found a reason to be upset.
However, their dynamics have evolved in recent times. Not only do they have mutual respect, but the two were seen hugging in a hilarious moment after Punk's return last year.