Maxwell Jacob Friedman didn’t dance around the subject when CM Punk’s name came up.
During an interview with Compas on the Beat, where he spent several minutes tearing down opponents, defending his AEW World Championship reign, and reasserting his place at the top of the industry, MJF made it clear there’s one rivalry he still takes personally.
The moment arrived when the interviewer asked a hypothetical “forbidden door” question — who MJF would want to face if he could wrestle anyone, anywhere. Before the question could fully land, Friedman cut in and immediately went after CM Punk, shifting from his usual sarcastic arrogance to something far more direct and hostile.
According to MJF, Punk’s lone victory over him never should have happened, and it certainly didn’t change how he views their rivalry.
“Beat the s** out of him just for shits and giggles. I would love to literally be put in a situation where I can bash his stupid f**ing face in again because he had a fluke victory over me at the dog collar match because of that schmuck Wardlow again. Isn’t that the only time I lose, everybody? Somebody cheats.”
MJF didn’t stop there. He immediately reframed the entire Punk feud, reminding viewers that the Dog Collar Match wasn’t the defining chapter Punk supporters often claim it was. In Friedman’s telling, the larger story is that he already proved he had Punk figured out — and did it on Punk’s home turf.
“I had CM Punk’s number. I beat him twice in Chicago.”
The comments weren’t framed as nostalgia or respect. There was no talk of legacy, influence, or unfinished storytelling. MJF presented the rivalry as settled business — with himself standing on top — and any future match as an opportunity for punishment rather than redemption.
Do you think MJF’s take on the CM Punk rivalry holds up, or is he rewriting history to protect his image as champion? Let us know what you think and drop your thoughts in the comments.
