WWE Hall of Famer “Road Dogg” Jesse James has opened up about his previous strained relationship with CM Punk during a recent appearance on INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet. The wrestling veteran discussed how their relationship has evolved since Punk’s return to WWE in 2023.
Road Dogg recalled the tension between himself and The Second City Saint that existed for years after they worked together in WWE. The history between the two wrestlers includes a 2013 angle where The New Age Outlaws (James and Billy Gunn) turned heel and attacked Punk leading up to the Royal Rumble event.
When asked about their past friction, Road Dogg explained that both stars had maintained negative assumptions about each other for a considerable time. However, he revealed that Punk’s heartfelt gesture during their first encounter after his WWE comeback in 2023 immediately resolved the lingering tension between them.
Because in my head I hated him, and I thought he hated me too. Yeah, a lot of stuff [happened], I went down back and forth and good times and bad times, but yeah, I just thought [he hated me]. So then the first time I saw him when he came back here, he stood up and he hugged me, and it broke my ice immediately. There was no bad feelings. I don’t know. It was weird. And he’s a different dude today. I told him not long ago at live events and stuff. Hey, I really appreciate your attitude. And he said, Well, that’s the first time anybody’s ever said that to me. Well, I mean it from the bottom of my heart, because he’s a different dude. Me and him butted heads. He butted heads with a lot of people. He says what he means, he means what he says. He don’t mind if it ruffles your feathers. I kind of respect it.