CM Punk on AJ Styles: ‘He exceeded expectations just like I did’
CM Punk says his and AJ Styles’ careers have had some things in common.
WWE published a video on Saturday featuring Punk during the company’s recent shows in Australia and Japan. On the final night of the tour, Punk brought out AJ Styles to receive a farewell from the live crowd, as it’s likely his final time wrestling in the country.
Punk says in the video:
“If this was his last match in Tokyo, we did it right. We had to celebrate AJ Styles.”
“What he means to me is he’s a guy that started around the same time as I did in a different part of the country. Paid his dues, did things his way. He’s very influential and he’s a guy that you never thought would be in WWE, let alone make it in WWE. We kind of have that in common. He exceeded his expectations just like I did.”
Punk continued to say he doesn’t know how much longer he has in his own career.
“I don’t know how long I got. I’m gonna go until the wheels fall off, and I just know that that’s sooner than later. So it’s important, I think, for all of us, not just myself, to celebrate all the wrestlers as they retire.”
Also during the video, Punk commented on it possibly being his last time wrestling in Japan as well. He dedicated the match to Duke Roufus, who passed away recently at the age of 55. Roufus coached Punk for his two fights in the UFC.
“Last one in Tokyo, maybe ever, I don’t know. I don’t know what’s gonna happen, but I’m grateful for all the Japanese fans and I’m grateful for all the boys and girls I work with. This one is for Duke Roufus.”
Up next for Punk, he’ll wrestle Jey Uso for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship a week from tonight at Saturday Night’s Main Event on November 1. Uso and Punk are scheduled for a face-to-face segment on Monday’s Raw.
Ian Carey is a writer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, whose work has been featured in NOW Magazine, The Huffington Post, and more. A lifelong wrestling aficionado born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, he has covered the industry for a decade and a half. He joined the f4wonline.com team in 2019.