CM Punk has sharply criticized Pat McAfee's recent role in WWE storylines, accusing him of overstepping as an outsider in professional wrestling. In an interview on All The Smoke, Punk suggested McAfee's invitation to the industry could be revoked and defended WrestleMania's leadership amid ticket sales complaints. Punk indicated he might personally confront McAfee if the disrespect continues.
Pat McAfee entered the WrestleMania 42 buildup on the April 3 episode of SmackDown, attacking Cody Rhodes and revealing himself as the mystery caller linked to Randy Orton. During a follow-up promo, McAfee blamed poor WrestleMania ticket sales on Cody Rhodes as the company's leader, prompting backlash within the roster. On the next Raw, CM Punk fired back, telling McAfee he lacks knowledge of ticket sales and advocating for lower prices to boost attendance. Punk elaborated on his feud with McAfee during an appearance on All The Smoke with Matt Barnes. 'Pat was a wrestling fan who became famous outside of the bubble and was afforded an opportunity to be invited in. Somewhere along the line, he forgot that he was a tourist. To me, that can easily be rescinded,' Punk said. He praised McAfee's skills in his own field but insisted, 'Pat is not great at what we do.' Punk expressed reluctance to get involved but warned of consequences. 'When he disrespects the business and he says something out of pocket, he’s going to get checked and he’s going to get checked by me. You can’t be running your mouth about ticket sales when you’ve never sold a ticket in your life,' Punk stated. He noted that Cody Rhodes would primarily handle the situation, adding, 'I don’t think Pat realizes the dangerous things he’s doing.' The exchange highlights tensions blending WWE's scripted storylines with real-life wrestler sentiments, as first reported by Fightful.
