AEW commentator Jim Ross believes fans are overanalyzing CM Punk’s stance on Saudi Arabia.
A few weeks ago, CM Punk issued an apology for his controversial tweet criticizing WWE’s partnership with Saudi Arabia. While some fans appreciated the apology, others accused him of changing his stance for wrestling at WWE Night of Champions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
On Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross made it clear that he doesn’t believe CM Punk deserves the criticism he’s received for changing his stance on Saudi Arabia. “It’s overthought… Overthought, and I know that Punk’s heart is in the right place. He’s controversial, that’s why he’s so fun to follow. Phil’s a good friend of mine.” [H/T: PWMania]
Ross also admitted he still wishes Punk were part of AEW, noting the positive impact Punk brings to any show he’s involved in. “I am a full-on supporter of his work, I really am; I still wish he was at AEW, quite frankly.”
After Punk’s apology aired in Saudi Arabia, conflicting reports surfaced. Dave Meltzer reported that WWE scripted the entire segment. However, Fightful Select countered that claim, stating that WWE staff had not heard anything that the segment was planted.
Even WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H praised CM Punk’s efforts during the WWE Night of Champions post-show. The Game said he felt privileged to witness Punk’s personal growth.
Ryback defends CM Punk after he apologized And competed in Saudi Arabia
It’s no secret that CM Punk and Ryback have had longstanding issues with each other. However, following recent criticism of Punk, Ryback even came to his defense on Twitter/X in response to an opinion piece about Punk.
“I’ve had my issues with Punk, but I don’t see him as a sellout. He returned to do what he loves and to make money — much like you’re doing by writing critical think pieces about others for clicks. WWE is a global business, and working at that level means navigating complex deals, personal beliefs, and public perception. His apology wasn’t about abandoning values — it was about how he expressed them publicly in ways that hurt professional relationships,” Ryback said in a post.
Read More: CM Punk Names His WWE MVP of the Year
