Ex-WWE star says CM Punk’s World title controversy at SummerSlam 2025 was within the company guidelines.
A few days ago at SummerSlam 2025, CM Punk defeated Gunther to crown himself the new World Champion. However, just moments after his title win, as an emotional Punk celebrated, the crowd was treated to Seth Rollins’ music, who then ran down the ramp.
Completely faking his almost month-long knee injury, Rollins returned at the ‘Biggest Party of the Summer’ and launched an ambush on Punk, before cashing in his briefcase and defeating The Second City Saint for the three count. While perfectly legal as per the MITB rules, Rollins’ ‘Ruse of the Century’ has also attracted severe negative attention from the fans.
Addressing the situation, ex-WWE star Lance Storm opened up on Wrestling Observer Live and reacted to Punk and LA Knight’s segment from the August 11th edition of Raw. However, while reacting, Storm also went on to explain how Rollins’ victory over Punk at SummerSlam 2025 was completely within the promotion’s guidelines.
“When CM Punk came out and said he should be the World Champion right now, I’m like, no you shouldn’t. Seth Rollins followed the well-established perfectly legal rules by which to use his Money in the Bank. He is the rightful champion. It has been established for over 20 years. Stop complaining.”
“So I hit fast-forward once he said that, and then when LA Knight came out, I’m like, well I’ll give LA a chance. And he says, ‘I’ve got to admit Punk, you were robbed.’ And I’m like, no he wasn’t, he was beaten fairly per the well-established rules. And I hit forward again.”
“And I’ve been outspoken, I don’t like the Money in the Bank concept. A sporting organization would create a set of rules where a guy can come in and smash someone over the head repeatedly with a metal briefcase until he’s unconscious, and then we can have a title fight. And it’s perfectly legal and acceptable.”
H/t Wrestletalk
Punk is now scheduled to fight in a fatal-four-way match alongside Seth Rollins, Jey Uso, and LA Knight for the title.
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“There’s a lot of really good wrestlers. I mean, I’m a forever Rey Mysterio fan. I love watching Rey even now today, especially as he gets older. But I’m also a big fan of Roman Reigns, and I think if I had answered the question, I’d say CM Punk.”
In other news: Vince McMahon has denied the Hulk Hogan racism allegations.