CM Punk is set to defend his WWE Championship against Kevin Owens as the two indie veterans turned WWE superstars clash for the first time.
Owens won the privilege of challenging Punk when he made a surprise return from injury earlier in the month at ‘SummerSlam.’
Fans had been clamoring for an Owens and Punk feud ever since ‘The Best in the World’ made his return to the company in 2023, as the two had real-life tension during their time in the independent circuit.
Their match will be held in the next episode of ‘SmackDown’ on Friday in Canada, the home country of Owens.
Tense confrontation
In the latest episode of ‘SmackDown,’ Punk and Owens had a personal war of words with each other.
Punk urged Owens to freely speak, as the challenger mentioned their turbulent past in the indies over 20 years ago.
“Twenty years ago, me and Phil (Punk), wrestled for the same independent promotion and he was the big top guy. I was just someone trying to make a name for myself,” Owens recalled.
“And on that night, you… chose to berate me, insult me and scream at me in a locker room full of my peers.”
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Owens also said that he did not like the things Punk has said and done in the past 20 years, and how the champion treated Owens’ friends throughout that time.
“Being hated by losers is the price I pay for not being one of them,” Punk then said.
Owens noted that people backstage now look up to Punk, saying that he made amends and “made everything okay.”
But ‘The Prize Fighter’ promised that he would never respect Punk, accusing the champion of being performative in everything he says and does.
“The only reason you came back here and made everything right was because you had no choice,” Owens told his opponent.
Punk, Owens exchange promises of winning
Punk then said that he sees Owens as “a tough guy,” but he criticised him for not trying to be “at least 1% better every single day.”
“I see wasted potential. I see a tough guy, but he’s a bum.”
Punk also said that when he looks at Owens, he still “sees the guy he saw 20 years ago.”
Owens then said that for two decades, he regretted not punching Punk in the face back then.
“You know why I didn’t do it then? It’s because if I did, I know you would’ve ruined my career,” he added, promising to beat Punk for the belt.
The champion then replied with a pledge of his own, stating that he will “put [his] fat ass to sleep.”
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