Matt Hardy addresses rumors he has issues with WWE star CM Punk
CM Punk and Matt Hardy performed on the same team alongside Jeff Hardy, Shawn Michaels, and Triple H at WWE Survivor Series 2006. In a recent podcast episode, Matt Hardy cleared up speculation about his relationship with Punk.
In 2022, Punk made derogatory remarks about several AEW wrestlers at a media scrum after All Out. Hardy, an AEW roster member at the time, blamed The Best in the World for instigating a backstage fight following the show.
On his Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, Hardy recalled how he enjoyed teaming with Punk at Survivor Series 2006. The 50-year-old also clarified he does not have a problem with his former on-screen ally:
"It was cool," Hardy said, discussing Survivor Series 2006. "Once we were first around Punk, everybody got along, and still, I don't have any issues with Punk. I think Punk is extremely talented. I think he's great. The only thing I said which people will hold over my head like, 'Oh my God, he doesn't like CM Punk,' was just that I think he was wrong in the All Out deal where he called out The Elite and Hangman [Adam Page] and everything else. I just think he was in the wrong there and kinda started that problem." [48:51 – 49:14]
All five members of CM Punk and Matt Hardy's team survived the five-on-five Survivor Series elimination match. They defeated Edge, Gregory Helms, Johnny Nitro, Mike Knox, and Randy Orton.
Matt Hardy compares CM Punk and Jeff Hardy
Throughout his career, Matt Hardy's brother Jeff has amassed a loyal fanbase thanks to his undeniable charisma and impressive in-ring ability.
According to Matt Hardy, CM Punk and Jeff Hardy connect with wrestling fans in a similar way:
"As far as Punk goes, though, I don't have issues with Punk. I think Punk is talented as s**t. He's very special. He truly is one of a kind, especially the way he connects with people. He connects so deep to people. His emotional connection to his fanbase is unreal. It's very reminiscent of the way Jeff's fanbase connects with him because they're just loyal to the very end, to the ends of the Earth." [49:15 – 49:39]
CM Punk returned to WWE in 2023 almost a decade after walking out on the company. In his most recent bout, he defeated Drew McIntyre in a Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood on October 5.
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Please credit The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.