CM Punk’s trainer Jay Ferruggia has rejected accusations that the WWE Champion’s recent physical transformation is the result of steroid use, detailing the training, nutrition and recovery work he says Punk has been putting in behind the scenes.
Punk’s physique has become a talking point among fans since he began noticeably leaning out in the weeks before WrestleMania 42. Some on social media have attributed the change to steroids, despite there being no reporting to support the accusation. Punk has not failed a drug test, WWE has not accused him of anything, and no wrestling outlet has reported evidence of performance-enhancing drug use.
Ferruggia addressed those claims directly in a three-minute Instagram video. “CM Punk is on steroids, or so says the weak-minded, lazy internet. CM Punk is working his a** off.”
Ferruggia said Punk has followed his program closely since approaching him for help. “From day one when he reached out to me, he has done every single thing that I’ve asked him to do.”
That extends beyond workouts. Ferruggia said Punk checks in every day, including while on vacation in Hawaii, sending photographs and information about his meals, macros, weight and even his temperature after eating. “He’s on vacation in Hawaii, checking in with me every single day. Sending me pictures, sending me his meals, his macros, his weight, his temperature after meals.”
Punk also sends videos from the gym and follows instructions around sleep, naps, morning sunlight, supplementation and cardio. Ferruggia said the bigger problem is sometimes getting him to do less. “Never missing a workout. Doing more than I ask him. I have to hold him back.”
He said Punk has carried that discipline onto the road, travelling with scales and rice cookers so he can continue weighing and preparing his food while working WWE’s schedule. “Eliminating all the s*** from his diet. Training harder than ever, smarter than ever, better than ever. Dialed in at a level that most people could never comprehend.”
Ferruggia has spent three decades working as a strength coach and rates Punk among the most dedicated people he has trained. “30 years in this business, CM Punk is working as hard as anyone I’ve ever worked with. He’s as dedicated as anyone.”
He also disputed some of the supposed photographic evidence being circulated online. “Half these pictures are AI and the other half are from being in the gym with great lighting and a great pump.”
Ferruggia’s explanation for Punk appearing considerably bigger is that he has actually become considerably leaner. “He’s gotten significantly leaner, and when you get leaner, you look bigger.”
Punk is also training differently enough that Ferruggia compared some of his progress to “newbie gains,” the rapid improvements commonly associated with adapting to a new training stimulus. “Honestly, he’s making almost newbie gains. It’s surprising me, but I know what’s going on. I know all the things he’s doing.”
Ferruggia said his daily involvement gives him a much clearer picture of Punk’s routine than people judging photographs online. “I’m with him, I spend time with him, I talk to him every single day.”
He ended by arguing that accusing somebody of cheating simply because they have achieved a dramatic result is an easy way of dismissing the work involved. “Just because someone’s getting somewhere and accomplishing something that you can’t, that doesn’t mean they’re taking shortcuts and cheating. You are just lazy.”
Ferruggia is not the first fitness professional to publicly reject the accusations.
Former WWE and AEW wrestler Cezar Bononi, who now works as a fitness coach, addressed similar claims in April after a fan pointed to photographs of Punk as supposed evidence of steroid use. Bononi called the accusation absurd, said he saw nothing about Punk’s physique that inherently suggested steroids and questioned how anybody could make such a determination without access to his bloodwork. He also specifically credited Ferruggia for Punk’s progress.
Punk began working with Ferruggia in the weeks before WrestleMania 42.
The 47-year-old is currently the Undisputed WWE Champion, having defeated Sami Zayn for the title on the July 6 Raw in Chicago. He retained against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam on August 1 after the returning Randy Orton hit Rhodes with an RKO.
