CM Punk talks wrestling in New Japan

One thing I think is really weird is that even by Punk's own account, on that podcast – when he storms into McMahon's office and furiously quits, Vince is totally surprised, he has no idea where it's coming from.

It gives this impression of Punk as a guy who is kinda passive-aggressive, who says a lot of things in public and then expects it to translate to people approaching him and giving him what he wants (and it becomes even more clear that this is what he expects when he says that's what Dana White did and excoriates McMahon for never doing the same thing).

Honestly I think Punk is kind of in a shitty situation, because right now he feels like he's being treated well, he feels like a rock star – he talks about how he can walk away from training if he's not feeling it, etc. – and I think that's gonna go away if / when he loses badly tomorrow. I just can't imagine it will be worth it for UFC to pay him to train again for 2 years and get his ass kicked as a 40-year-old man. Tomorrow's show is probably all the payoff he or UFC will get from this stint.

I could be wrong, maybe he'll come out and do great, but when even he is hedging his bets here and talking about how actually a loss by decision would be a moral victory, it's not looking good.

Yeah, he'll assuredly still be able to land a cushy gig with NJPW or ROH or whoever – but I think whether he admits it or not, he's getting accustomed to enjoying a pretty privileged lifestyle and I don't think he's gonna be able to maintain it for a lot longer, and I'm curious how he reacts to that.

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