CM Punk Takes Subtle Shot at WWE and TKO

While on The Ringer Wrestling Show, Punk talked about his dream of main-eventing WrestleMania, which led to a slight diss at his employers. "The reason why I was so obsessed with the main event of WrestleMania is pay scale," Punk said. "If I'm in the main event, I get paid more money. That does not exist anymore. Everybody is on a flat salary, and we get paid stupid money for what we do. And yes, I do think we should all get paid more based on things I see the company doing and shouting from the rooftops about how much money TKO is making, but I'm 46—I don't need money at this point in my life."

Even for a man with a healthy bank account, Punk has a legitimate gripe. TKO is a publicly traded company that is always touting record earnings, yet executives make a disproportionate amount compared to the actual performers.

There should be incentive-based earnings for wrestlers, especially those headlining a PLE. Why shouldn't they get an increased piece of the pie when they are a part of drawing such lucrative gates?

Wrestlers yearning for more power can be a slippery slope—just ask Jesse Ventura. But Punk did a masterful job floating out the topic but quickly shooting it down as a real issue.