CM Punk on match vs. Steve Austin: If he wants to go to sleep, he can call me
CM Punk took part in a live episode of The Masked Man Show during Fanatics Fest this weekend.
During the show, he was asked about possibly facing “Stone Cold” Steve Austin at WrestleMania 41 next year in Las Vegas.
Punk responded:
“That would be up to Steven, it’s not up to me because I think he had a pretty good return, came back, main event’ed WrestleMania. At this point, his six shooters might be buried in the Nevada desert, but if he wants to dig them up, I’m your huckleberry. It should have happened 10-plus years ago but if he wants to go to sleep, he can call me.”
Punk also spoke about the changes he has seen in WWE since returning. He noted that there is now a system in place to help prevent talent from burning out.
“What I think is now in place is a system and management that understands (burnout). The talent, again, is so rich that if Cody needs a show off, he can take that day off. If I need a day off, I can take that day off. I’m still flabbergasted there’s a tab on the WWE app that you can click and you can request days off. Brother, it still blows my mind. It’s a brave new world.”
Punk was also asked about the perception that he has frequently been a backstage “cancer” in locker rooms throughout his career.
“None of that stuff is reality, the ‘oh, he’s a cancer’ and listen, not everybody gets nice me but I treat you accordingly. If you are a piece of shit and you act that way to me, I will treat you that way. If you’re nice, you’re smiling, you want to have a good time, let’s have a good time, I’m all hugs.”
“It’s not like I’m two different people. There’s just certain people, the ones that spread those lies, the ones that say those things about me because they can’t control me, they can’t control the things I do and I say and they absolutely hate that so they try to control the way other people feel or see me.”
When pressed to say one nice thing about his rival, Drew McIntyre, Punk responded:
“He’s the fourth-best wrestler to ever wear a kilt. Roddy Piper, The Highlanders, and Drew McIntyre.”
At one point during the live show, somebody brought a baby up to the stage. Punk decided to give the child the Lion King treatment.
The full interview is available below.