Former WWE star Ryback says he has moved on from his long-running issues with CM Punk and no longer sees any benefit in holding onto anger over their past.
Speaking in a video posted to Twitter/X, Ryback was asked whether there is still bad blood between himself and Punk. “No, I don’t hold on to any hate with that anymore. I’ve said what I needed to say on it. He said what he said on it. It doesn’t make sense to hold on to that forever.”
The history between the two dates back more than a decade, with Punk publicly criticizing Ryback following his original WWE departure. Their issues have continued to be discussed by wrestling fans in the years since.
Ryback made clear that moving past the situation does not mean he expects the two to become friends or work together. “It doesn’t mean we’ll ever be friends. It doesn’t mean we’ll ever work together, anything like that.”
Instead, Ryback said his decision is about refusing to carry resentment over something that happened years ago. “It just means that it doesn’t serve me to hold on to that hate with any of that and that anger or whatever.”
Ryback maintained his position that he was truthful when previously discussing the issues between them, but said he no longer cares about convincing people to take his side. “I told the truth all from the beginning on it. A lot of people love and support me on it. It doesn’t matter what people think. It’s all over with.”
While Ryback acknowledged that people will continue revisiting the history between himself and Punk, he has no interest in repeatedly reopening the dispute. “People will rehash the past over and over. It doesn’t serve me to keep rehashing something that doesn’t serve me or benefit me, right?”
Ryback went further by saying he is now genuinely happy to see Punk doing well following his return to WWE. “I’m happy for him on everything. I’m happy he’s back.”
He said his outlook has changed as he has learned that being happy for someone, or simply remaining neutral, is preferable to allowing old resentment to dictate his emotions. “I’ve learned in life, it’s better just to be happy for people or stay neutral on it because that controls your feelings.”
Ryback concluded by complimenting Punk’s current physical condition and reiterating that he is pleased to see things going well for his former rival. “I’m happy for him. I’m happy everything’s cool. I think he looks great. I’m happy for him that he’s gotten better shape and whatever he’s doing is working.”
I’ve found in life, and you’ll hear me repeat this all the time, happiness is a choice, and hating is a choice.
We live in a world where far too many people choose to hate over things that don’t even involve them. And even when something does involve us and we feel we’ve been… pic.twitter.com/QJspqdngP4
— RYBACK (@Ryback) August 12, 2026
