WWE's CM Punk Calls Triple H's Comments on MMA 'Insane'

WWE's CM Punk Calls Triple H's Comments on MMA 'Insane'

By Ray Hui

WWE pro wrestler CM Punk strongly disagrees with WWE executive senior advisor and on-screen "COO" Triple H's remarks in a recent Moviefone interview where he stated, "I don't think we (the WWE and pro wrestling) have to evolve" and "if anybody needs to evolve, it's [the UFC]."

The 32-year-old Punk, one of the most popular pro wrestlers today and a longtime MMA fan, appeared on this past Monday's The MMA Hour and explained that although Triple H's comments might be the WWE's corporate stance, that's not the case with him.

"Triple H just doesn't get mixed martial arts. he doesn't watch it
either," said Punk. "Saying the UFC needs to evolve, I guess he's not
wrong, but I think he's missing the picture that UFC is evolving.
There's only one other sport entity in the world that has production
rights to their own material on network and that's the NFL. UFC has just
bartered a huge deal [with FOX]. That's evolution."


Further, Punk made it clear he shared a completely different opinion
from Triple H's comment that the WWE does not need to evolve.

"I think that's absolutely insane," Punk said. "Any human being, any
business, any sport needs to constantly evolve. I'm not a big football
guy, but look at the NFL, they're constantly evolving -- whether it's
good or it's bad, they're evolving. And if you don't evolve, you die."

WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon has stated over the years that UFC is
not a competition to the WWE. However, consistently strong UFC
pay-per-view buys and tumbling WWE numbers would state otherwise. Punk
believes fans can enjoy both products, but it would be impractical to
say both products aren't competition for the consumer's time and money.

"I wouldn't say [MMA has] 'hurt' us, I think that might be a little
harsh of a term, but to deny that UFC is our competition is a little
ridiculous," Punk explained. "Cirque du Soleil is our competition. Mad Men and Breaking Bad is
our competition . I think everything that people spend their time on
and their money on is our competition and to blatantly say that mixed
martial arts has no barring on what's good or bad in our business, is
silly; it's close-minded. You're putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound."


In a relatable way that the UFC went through and is still continuing an
education process to explain many of the basic elements of the sport and
overcome negative preconceptions to the unconverted, that's perhaps
what the WWE execs need, according to Punk.

"Pro wrestling as a whole in my opinion has a lot to do to get to where I
would like it to go," Punk said. "I think the people who discredit
mixed martial arts in pro wrestling have very antiquated ideas and
honestly, I think it's an education thing. I've had many conversations
with Triple H about mixed martial arts, and he just doesn't get it. "

In that same regard, Punk finds humor in the way people have come to embrace or reject professional wrestling.

"It's funny, because pro wrestling many people don't get, and there's an
old saying, "Pro wrestling is religion. They're very similar in regards
that if you're trying to explain to somebody who doesn't get it, there
is no explanation that will get them to get it. But someone who gets it,
there is no explanation needed. It's just very black and white.

On the business end, whether MMA purists would admit it or not, the UFC
has followed and expanded on WWE's early business models. On the most
basic level, both have television shows to drive interest in selling
pay-per-views and what the UFC and WWE are in essence --
entertainment-based products. And with that, there's only so much money
to go around for everyone.

"UFC is entertainment. WWE is entertainment," Punk said. "And regards to
people spending their money on it. It's definitely a competition. I
think the way things are in our economy, there's a billion pay-per-views
between UFC, [other MMA pay-per-views] and the WWE, we're competing for
each other's dollars, absolutely."

Nice to hear that level of seamless logic from this dude.

GDPofDRC wrote:

Nice to hear that level of seamless logic from this dude.

CM Punk always speaks his mind and always has. He really is a smart guy that never sucks up to the boss.

I hope he gets pedigreed for this shit

Anyone who is "in" with Vince has no clue about MMA or so they say. I remember something I read about Vince at a meeting and he was going crazy about MMA like what is this? So someone made a highlight reel for him to understand it or something like that.

CM Punk is cool though I mean he does the Wandy hand thing.

Alittle surprised Triple H takes that kind of stance on MMA.

Yeah, i saw HHH's comments...i avoided posting them because i've actually always liked HHH and wanted to limit the damage already done.

There is towing the company line...then there is insanity

KingsOwn19 wrote:

Yeah, i saw HHH's comments...i avoided posting them because i've actually always liked HHH and wanted to limit the damage already done.

There is towing the company line...then there is insanity

Agree.

He has to he's in the family lol.

Shane McMahon is actually a huge MMA fan and told his dad years ago that MMA will become a beast.

freakzilla wrote:

Shane McMahon is actually a huge MMA fan and told his dad years ago that MMA will become a beast.

I'm pretty sure he has his hands on something with the UFC.

A friend of mine who keeps up with WWE business just filled me in on CM Punks current angle, interesting. He's gone rouge or some shit. lol.

Quote :

CM Punk was going to wrestle Cena for the title at Money In the bank in July but Punks contract was going to end the night of the ppv(which was real) and he didnt know if he was going to resign(which was real), so wwe did an angle where CM Punk did a worked-shoot(a scripted segment that takes place in a show with elements of reality being exposed, such as an off-screen incident between wrestlers being used as fuel for an on-screen rivalry between them. It can also be a segment that fans are meant to believe is a shoot, but is not.)

see here:



This set the internet wrestling community on fire cause everything Punk said was true, but unbelievable that he was allowed to say it.

A few weeks go by where Punk says stuff like this a few more times and starts calling them "Pipebombs" and says that when he beats Cena he is going to leave the wwe and take the title with him.

PPV happens and he wins the match and leaves wwe.

Punk tweets out pictures of him out in public with the title at mlb games and such and makes the angle look real, but wwe brings him back the next week.

Long story short, they rushed the story WAY too fast.Vince McMahon is "no longer running wwe", HHH is now COO and running things. Punk fights Cena at Summerslam for the title, Punk wins and Kevin Nash comes out and powerbombs Punk. Alberto Del Rio comes out to use his money in the bank shot that he won to beat CM Punk and win the wwe title. CM Punk was then going to start a fued with Nash but Nash failed a physical(for real and not told on tv) and HHH was put into a match with Punk.

HHH beats Punk in a VERY convoluted finish with lots of run ins and that is where we are now.

Im kinda sad that I started watching it again, but I cant stop now. lol sad.

The whole story started off awesome, and could have been amazing but as usual wwe dropped the ball cause all they are concerned about are ratings.

Yeah he's my fav wrestler right now in the WWE so I've been watching it after not for a while. He's like the new age anti-authority Austin.

bobbitt15 wrote:

I hope he gets pedigreed for this shit