AJ Styles Discusses His Tumultuous Relationship with CM Punk and Why It Bothered Him so Much

AJ Styles has candidly spoken about how his relationship with CM Punk has had many downs in the past, but they're finally back on great terms.

AJ Styles Discusses His Tumultuous Relationship with CM Punk and Why It Bothered Him so Much

AJ Styles and CM Punk [via- WWE]

AJ Styles hasn’t held himself back from expressing how glad he is after having his once-strained relationship with CM Punk now repaired. ‘The Phenomenal One’ talked about the rough times he had with ‘The Best in the World’ in his farewell tour vlog on WWE’s YouTube channel.

The 48-year-old wondered if Punk doesn’t exactly understand what coming back to good terms with him means to AJ. The former IWGP Champion said that their cold relationship for a long while bothered him because they used to be close to each other back in the day. The miscommunication that came along after both of them got caught in different bubbles also tainted their bond.

I don’t think he understands how much it means to me because we had some rough times, him and I. It really bothered me because we were so close at one point. Then, you got caught up in your bubbles and stuff like that, miscommunication. It sucks. We are living proof that live and learn, forget, forgive, move on, life’s too short to be angry with each other over stupid things…….

AJ Styles on his relationship with CM Punk

But given how amicable they have become in the past year or so, Styles cited their example as living proof of having the art to forget, forgive, and move on in life. ‘Mr. TNA’ said that he and Punk don’t necessarily agree on a lot of things, but that doesn’t keep them from being friends. Styles added that there were some regrettable things said from both men in the past that they wish they could take back.

One such instance could be traced from the time of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. Punk aimed a dig at Styles for not speaking out a word in support of the nationwide protests. Styles clapped back at the ‘Second City Saint’ later in an interview, saying he wouldn’t react to the comments of someone whom he didn’t respect.

Circling back to the aforementioned farewell vlog of AJ Styles, the former Bullet Club leader oozed gratitude for the singles match he had with the ‘Best in the World’ on Raw in Toronto.

It would remain Styles’ last match on the red brand. Even though it ended in a disqualification with Finn Balor crashing the slugfest, Styles and Punk wrestled like two grizzled vets for what it was.

Jacob Fatu reveals AJ Styles encouraged him to go shirtless at Saturday Night’s Main Event

AJ Styles, for the amount of respect he’s earned in this business, is bound to have a major influence on his colleagues as well. ‘The Face That Runs the Place’ should be credited for Jacob Fatu showcasing his ripped physique at last month’s Saturday Night’s Main Event.

‘The Samoan Werewolf’ revealed in a recent interview on the Busted Open Radio podcast that Styles encouraged him to go in front of the fans without having a t-shirt on.

AJ Styles and Jacob Fatu
AJ Styles and Jacob Fatu [via- WWE]

The former OC leader made Fatu realize that he had gotten chiseled to show it off. The former enforcer to Solo Sikoa understood the assignment and said he was never going to turn down Styles. Fatu and Styles couldn’t have a singles match in WWE, but they did come face-to-face briefly in last year’s Royal Rumble match.

The AJ Styles from 2016-17 up against the ‘Samoan Werewolf’ would’ve captivated an enormous section of the wrestling fans if it had happened. Fatu also wished Styles well on his in-ring retirement. In the aforementioned YouTube vlog, ‘The Georgia Pitbull’ talked about how he initially planned on retiring at last year’s WrestleMania.

However, after recovering from that Lisfranc foot injury, he realized that coming back just to retire in a couple of months wasn’t the right thing to do. AJ Styles henceforth pushed that timeline back to the same PLE he debuted in for WWE in 2016—the Royal Rumble. Styles lost a hard-fought battle with Gunther that ended in the veteran passing out to the sleeper hold.

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