Kevin Owens has accused CM Punk of using his pull with Shawn Michaels to get an WWE NXT Championship match. This came in a backstage interview with Byron Saxton on Friday’s SmackDown, shortly before their no holds barred match.
Owens went after Punk and said:
“CM Punk was having an NXT Championship match. NXT, where the future of this company is being shaped. Punk, you’re not the future, and I know you act like you want to help all these guys. Tell me, how does you politicking Shawn Michaels to get an NXT Championship match help anyone?”
Punk challenged Grayson Waller for the NXT title in his first NXT match in more than 16 years. As Punk was about to hit the GTS, Owens distracted him at ringside, and Waller took advantage by rolling him up for the win.
Back in September 2024, Punk admitted on NXT that he begged Michaels to be on the brand’s CW debut in Chicago, where he served as special guest referee for the Ethan Page vs. Trick Williams NXT title match. That same year, he said he wanted to work under Michaels to learn how NXT works.
On Friday’s SmackDown, Owens won after hitting Punk with a steel chain. It was Owens’ first-ever win over Punk. Their first singles match was in August in Toronto, and Punk retained his Undisputed WWE Championship after Sami Zayn got involved.