Wrestling Veteran Believes Airing the Backstage Incident May Have Unintentionally Sympathized CM Punk
Summary
– Bully Ray has disapproved of AEW’s decision to broadcast the backstage altercation between CM Punk and Jack Perry, arguing that it made Punk appear more sympathetic.
– During his commentary on “Busted Open,” Ray highlighted that fans were chanting for CM Punk, suggesting that the segment did not achieve its intended effect.
– The segment was intended to provide transparency, but according to Ray, it validated Punk’s previous statements and did not sway public opinion against him.
During a recent episode of “Busted Open,” wrestling veteran Bully Ray voiced concerns about AEW’s decision to air footage of the backstage altercation between CM Punk and Jack Perry on “AEW Dynamite.” According to Ray, the airing backfired, leading to audience support for Punk rather than condemnation.
“It backfired,” Ray stated, noting that regardless of the number of people chanting, the fact that there were audible chants for CM Punk indicated that the audience might view him more favorably because of the segment. He elaborated that the footage corroborated Punk’s account of the events, which he had shared in an interview with Ariel Helwani before the airing.
They make CM Punk look like a sympathetic figure here because Punk said what he said on Helwani’s show and exactly what he told people. For face value, people are like, ‘Okay, Punk did exactly what he said he did,'” Ray explained. He criticized the decision to air the footage, questioning its rationale and dismissing the claims that multiple parties within AEW demanded it.
Ray also speculated on the perspectives of other wrestling figures, notably mentioning Paul Heyman, the recent WWE Hall of Famer, whose insight he valued. Ray believed Heyman might have offered a strategic spin on the situation that could have garnered sympathy for someone within AEW from the footage.
This critique adds another layer to the ongoing discussion about the implications of airing such footage for the individuals directly involved and the wrestling promotion. Bully Ray’s comments highlight the complexities of managing real-life conflicts within the scripted world of professional wrestling, where narrative intentions and audience reception can significantly diverge.
