Wrestlers CM Punk Was Close To

CM Punk is a controversial wrestler who has no problem sharing his opinions, and that isn't just something that takes place in the ring during his promos. Punk has been known for holding nothing back when it comes to his friendships behind the scenes there, with many wrestlers having a wide range of opinions about him.

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Punk has made plenty of friends throughout his tenure in wrestling, some of which he has maintained and remains close with, others that he has ended up falling out with. Some of those bust-ups have been very public, and those situations have only added to the overall interest in him as a person from the eyes of the fans.

10 Punk Was Best Friends With Colt Cabana

Are They Still Friends: No

• CM Punk had mentioned Colt Cabana by name during his pipebomb promo
• Cabana tried to sue Punk for not covering his legal fees during the lawsuit against WWE

One friendship that wrestling fans are well aware of when it comes to CM Punk is with Colt Cabana, as they were best friends at one point in time. The two of them were incredibly close, with Punk always shouting praise for Cabana and they would often hang out away from wrestling.

However, they had a very public and ugly fallout after they ended up in legal battles against WWE following Punk's appearance on Cabana's podcast. Then when they worked together in AEW, the rift continued with Punk reportedly trying to get Cabana fired, which he denied, while he was kept off shows, with this friendship having become a legitimate rivalry.

9 Punk Has Been Close With Samoa Joe Since Their ROH Days

Are They Still Friends: Yes

• Samoa Joe believes their drive to be the best brought them together
• They competed against each other at All In in CM Punk's final AEW match

CM Punk and Samoa Joe have a longstanding history together both as friends and in-ring rivals. They became close during their time competing in ROH and the independent scene where they put on some of the best matches of all time against each other.

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They remained close friends ever since that point, and then got to reunite as rivals when they worked together in AEW. While Punk was involved in a backstage brawl on that night, they still delivered for each other due to their connection.

8 Punk Won The WWE Tag Team Titles With Kofi Kingston

Are They Still Friends: Yes

• The two men used to travel together
• They're former WWE Tag Team Champions

Kofi Kingston has been with WWE for a long time, and is often spoken about in a positive light by anyone he's shared a locker room with, including CM Punk. During Punk's first run with the company, The New Day star was one of his closest friends as they often traveled together at that point.

They might've drifted apart slightly during Punk's absence from WWE, but they have been shown on-screen since Punk's return and they do remain friends at this point.

7 FTR Have A Lot Of Respect For CM Punk

Are They Still Friends: Yes

• Dax Harwood said CM Punk is one of his best friends in the business
• They worked together as a trio in AEW

The friendship between FTR and CM Punk has been well documented online and on television, with the AEW tag team being great friends with Punk. That's something that AEW tapped into by having them appear on television together as they briefly even set up a trios team known as CMFTR.

Despite Punk being involved in a lot of controversy during his time in AEW, FTR has always publicly backed Punk and spoken about the positives that he brought to AEW.

6 CM Punk & The Young Bucks Go A Long Way Back

Are They Still Friends: No

• Matt Jackson originally pushed to get CM Punk back into wrestling
• They had a physical confrontation at All Out, 2022

The friendship between CM Punk and The Young Bucks is one that a lot of people are well aware of, mainly because it had such highs and lows. They got to know each other on the independent scene, and The Young Bucks worked hard to push for CM Punk to return to wrestling, which then happened with AEW.

Things started well for them, and the three of them continued their friendship in a new company. However, tensions quickly rose with Punk calling them out for their leadership, with their friendship exploding with a major backstage altercation.

5 Mickie James & CM Punk Worked Together In OVW

Are They Still Friends: Yes

• They first got to know each other in TNA
• They debuted together in WWE on Sunday Night Heat

Old-school fans might remember the connection that CM Punk and Mickie James had, as they played huge parts in each other's careers in the early outset. The two of them knew each other as part of ROH and then ended up working together during their time in TNA.

They were both part of The Gathering faction led by Raven, which allowed them to build a friendship, and then WWE put them together in OVW and briefly on the main roster. James has admitted she still has a lot of love for Punk, with the two still being friends.

4 Jade Cargill Is A Newer Friendship For Punk

Are They Still Friends: Yes

• Punk has provided advice for Cargill
• They met during their time in AEW

Just because Jade Cargill is one of the newer wrestlers in the business it doesn't mean she can't be friends with CM Punk. The veteran is still making fresh connections in the wrestling business, and she is one of them as they got to know each other in AEW and became fast friends.

Cargill always praised Punk for the way he treated the women's division and the help he personally gave her. That connection has continued since Cargill joined WWE, with the two of them reuniting in a behind-the-scenes clip WWE shared at the Royal Rumble.

3 Punk & Corey Graves Had A Bond

Are They Still Friends: No

• Punk was the first man to hold Corey Graves' son (even before him)
• Graves has admitted he would shake Punk's hand today and be professional

CM Punk and Corey Graves used to be very close friends, with the WWE commentator having said that Punk was good to him early on in his career, and that helped them bond. They were such good pals that Punk ended up holding Graves' son after he was born first as Graves was on tour in Spain.

It showcases the connection that they had, but Punk opted to cut Graves out of his life after being fired by WWE and didn't want to meet up anymore. It was a decision he chose to make, and while Graves has said he will be professional nowadays, the two of them aren't close anymore.

2 He's Got A Connection With Bayley

Are They Still Friends: Yes

• Punk has been vocal about Bayley deserving to headline WrestleMania 40
• Bayley claims Punk gives the best hugs

CM Punk and Bayley might not be two wrestlers that most people would associate as friends due to the fact they didn't share a locker room until his recent return to WWE. However, the two of them have been friends for a long time now, dating back to the time when Punk wasn't even involved in wrestling anymore.

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The reason for that is because of Bayley's friendship with Punk's wife, AJ Lee. The two of them became very close, and that led to Bayley getting to know Punk as well, with the two starting their own friendship.

1 CM Punk Tried To Push For Chris Hero

Are They Still Friends: Yes

• CM Punk originally wanted Chris Hero to be in The Shield
• Punk stuck up for Hero in IWA

Chris Hero is an often underrated professional wrestler from his era, mainly because he didn't quite make it to the top level as a performer. However, he was a fantastic wrestler and someone who put on some classic matches against CM Punk, which included an encounter that lasted over 90 minutes.

The two of them grew a bond during their time on the independent scene and that continued for life, still to this day. Punk even pushed for Hero to be part of The Shield at the start as the group was originally put together to protect his WWE Championship run, but WWE opted to go in a different direction.