5 Times CM Punk Was A Complete Jerk On-Screen (& 4 Times He Was One In Real Life)

CM Punk is a polarizing star in the wrestling world, being someone who certainly knows how to get people talking about him both in character and in real life. While he has been a great babyface at times, Punk is fantastic when he gets to play a heel because he is happy to sink to depths that few others will get heat from an audience.

He has been a jerk on-screen plenty of times over the years, ensuring fans will hate him in whatever storyline he is telling. However, there have been occasions where he has acted that way in real life as well, showcasing that he isn't always perfect.

9 On-Screen: A Birthday Nightmare

CM Punk Creeped Everyone Out

Took place on SmackDown, 5/13/2010
The segment featured a young Dominik Mysterio
It built toward Punk vs. Mysterio

CM Punk was willing to do whatever it took to get heat during his Straight Edge Society days, and his angle against Rey Mysterio was a memorable one from that time. Mysterio ended up inside the ring with his whole family, including his young daughter which Punk took advantage of.

He confronted Mysterio's entire family, and his creepy promo was something that made him feel like a real jerk. Mysterio's daughter was visibly upset and they left the ring as Punk sang happy birthday to her, in a truly creepy situation.

8 Real Life: Going Off-Script On Adam Page

It Was An Unprofessional Moment

Happened on AEW Dynamite, 8/17/22
Punk took a legitimate shot at Adam Page
It increased tensions between the two men

Wrestlers going off-script happens all the time, but when it becomes a personal attack or something that can create long-lasting damage, it is a jerk move. That was the case during one episode of AEW Dynamite where Punk randomly called out Adam Page.

Most people presumed Page would be heading down to the ring to answer Punk making the most of him getting called out. However, it was never in the plans, so instead, it just made Page look terrible, with this being an in-ring moment that was real.

7 On-Screen: Mocking Jerry Lawler

He and Paul Heyman Were At Their Worst As Heels Here

Happened on Raw, 11/12/2012
Paul Heyman pretended he suffered a heart attack
It led to a steel cage match between them

Jerry Lawler suffering a heart attack was something that shocked the wrestling world as it took place at ringside while he was on commentary. Most people would have steered away from that due to the nature of the situation, but that wasn't an issue for Punk.

Instead, he and Paul Heyman leaned in as they acted like jerks and mocked the incident. Heyman went down and pretended he was having a heart attack himself, which was a real low blow that people didn't anticipate.

6 Real Life: Online Outbursts

Punk Didn't Hold His Feelings Back

He posted thoughts on Instagram
Punk took a shot at Chris Jericho
He blasted the creative ideas at the time

CM Punk's time in AEW was tumultuous and that was clear when he went online to take shots at journalists, Chris Jericho, and Jon Moxley at the same time. He ranted about Jericho being a company stooge while revealing he had to work hurt for the company.

Punk also wasn't happy about the creative storyline between him and Moxley, taking aim at the Blackpool Combat Club star. It wasn't a professional post as it led to a lot of people learning about aspects of the business that they didn't need to know about.

5 On-Screen: Mocking Jeff Hardy's Substance Addictions

It Was The Crux Of Their Rivalry

CM Punk's storyline against Jeff Hardy was a brilliant one because both men were firing on all cylinders at the time in their heel and babyface roles, which created some great content. Punk pushed Hardy as a real jerk throughout the angle as it saw him constantly mock him for his substance addictions.

It's a situation that has been done several times throughout Hardy's wrestling career, but Punk arguably did it the best. He went personal and held nothing back, and it's something that made audiences hate him.

4 Real Life: Turning Up To WWE While Under AEW Contract

Punk Was Pushing Buttons

Happened on 4/24/2023
CM Punk visited a Raw taping
He was seen talking to Tamina in the car park

CM Punk's time away from AEW television following his infamous brawl out situation saw a lot of people talking about him, and he decided to go and visit WWE during this time. That was an unprofessional move considering his AEW contract and the publicity he knew that would create.

Punk spoke to people in the arena and while he was eventually asked to leave, it wasn't a wise move on his behalf. He didn't treat his employers well at this particular moment, which was a shame.

3 On-Screen: Wanting To Walk Out As ROH World Champion

He Leaned Into Signing With WWE

He worked for ROH from 2002 - 2006
He held the ROH World title for 55 days
Punk is now a ROH HOF'er

CM Punk didn't hide from the fact he was heading to WWE toward the end of his ROH career, but he ensured that he went out as a top heel at the time. He was the ROH World Champion at that point and he was teasing the possibility of taking the title with him to WWE if he didn't lose it.

That's something that fans hated because the idea of taking a top title into another promotion didn't sit well with people. This didn't end up happening, but it ensured he had some heat on his way out.

2 On-Screen: Using Paul Bearer's Death For Heat

He Pushed The Undertaker's Buttons

This helped build their WrestleMania 29 match
This happened on Raw, 10/20/2013
It added heat to their angle

CM Punk's WrestleMania angle against The Undertaker ended up being built completely around Paul Bearer, who unfortunately passed away just beforehand. It's something that gained Punk a lot of heat due to the fact Bearer was well-respected and had legitimately died.

One segment that saw him truly go too far was when Paul Heyman dressed up as Bearer. Not only that, but Punk ended up pouring ashes from the urn all over the Phenom, which was a jerk move that made things personal between them.

1 Real Life: His Infamous AEW Press Conference

This Was A PR Disaster For AEW

This took place after All Out (2022)
Punk sat with Tony Khan throughout the media scrum
His comments led to a backstage fight involving The Elite and himself

Everyone has their side depending on who they're fans of when it comes to the issues between CM Punk and The Elite. However, the one thing that isn't disputed by anyone is the fact that Punk acted like a complete jerk during the post-All Out press conference in 2022.

Punk was answering questions after becoming AEW World Champion, but he decided that was the time to take shots at the Executive Vice Presidents and Adam Page. It created an awkward atmosphere and wasn't professional in the slightest as he brought his issues to the public.

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