CM Punk has weighed in on the Pat McAfee situation, and his take is direct: McAfee forgot his place.
Speaking on ALL THE SMOKE: Unplugged, the World Heavyweight Champion framed McAfee's involvement in WWE as a case of a guest overstaying his welcome and losing perspective on what his role actually is.
"Wrestling has always, sometimes to a fault, embraced people that we believe can get eyeballs on our product," Punk said. "I think Pat was a wrestling fan who became famous outside the bubble and was afforded an opportunity to be invited in, and somewhere along the line he forgot that he's a tourist. The invite can be easily rescinded."
Punk took specific aim at McAfee's public commentary about ticket sales and business metrics, arguing that someone with no track record as a draw has no credibility in that conversation.
"Pat's great at what he does. Pat is not great at what we do," Punk said. "You can't be running your mouth about ticket sales and all this other stuff when you've never sold a ticket in your life. It'd be like me trying to tell an NBA champion how to shoot a free throw. That ain't going to happen."
He drew a sharp line between two things McAfee has conflated. "Eyeballs on our product and people actually buying tickets are two wildly different things."
Punk made clear he expects Cody Rhodes to handle McAfee in the ring at WrestleMania 42, but added a personal warning of his own should McAfee cross a line. He said he would step in himself if McAfee disrespects the business.
Rhodes has been equally pointed in his public comments about McAfee, calling him a "full-blooded rat" during a recent ESPN appearance. McAfee is set to corner Randy Orton when he challenges Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship on Night One of WrestleMania 42 on April 18 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
