Sami Zayn Says He And CM Punk Have A ‘Clean Slate’

Sami Zayn comments on CM Punk returning to WWE. 

CM Punk returning to WWE at Survivor Series 2023 was a surprise to many fans and wrestlers, who never thought Punk would be back given the way he left the company in 2014 and comments he’s made about the company in the decade since. 

Punk and Kevin Owens have a history that pre-dates Punk’s time in WWE, and Owens has said that he and Punk are not each other’s people. 

Speaking to the Gorilla Position, Owens’ best friend Sami Zayn was asked about his relationship with Punk. 

“I’ve known him for a very long time. There’s been some ups, there’s been some downs. He showed up and I was like, ‘I just don’t want this to be weird. Say whatever you need to say.’ He said his piece, I said my piece. Clean slate. That’s it. You just can’t walk around harboring resentment. I just don’t want him to walk by and be like a black cloud. I work here, and vice versa. I don’t want him to see me and [groans]. Whatever happened, cards on the table, clean slate. Good? Good. Okay. That’s just it. That’s how I approach, not just him, but life. I’ve found in my experience that it’s kind of exhausting to hate people. The only person who is mad is you. They’re just walking around, and you’re under a cloud of negativity. I just don’t want that cloud. Has there been some weird stuff between us in the past? Sure, I think 90% of people you ask about Punk would say the same. As far as I’m concerned, we have to work together, you’re here, you’ve been through a lot in your life, let’s just clean slate and start over. That’s it,” said Zayn.

Zayn and Punk were both part of WWE Raw since Punk returned to WWE. 

As WWE Intercontinental Champion, Zayn will remain part of WWE Raw. Punk is eligible to be drafted in the 2024 WWE Draft, which begins on Friday. 

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