Bad blood may still linger between former WWE Champion Kevin Nash and current WWE World Champion CM Punk…as well as CM Punk and Kevin Owens. Kevin Nash recently made negative comments about a WWE World Champion wrestling in a T-shirt. This caused Kevin Owens to post a picture of a T-shirt with no context on X, bringing up a past incident between KO and Punk in ROH. The Second City Saint let the insults roll off his back as CM Punk trolls Kevin Nash during the Main Event of WWE Fort Myers.
Kevin Nash Criticizes CM Punk for Wearing a Shirt
Kevin Nash is one of the most outspoken veterans in pro wrestling. Big Sexy hosts a podcast called Kliq This, where Kevin Nash gives hot takes on trending news.
The 2-time WWE Hall of Famer still keeps an eye on the product. In fact, he offered a bit of public advice to Raquel Rodriguez on how to really step into the Big Mami Cool character. The Judgment Day star openly stated that she values Big Daddy Cool’s opinion and has implemented his tips.
One man who might not take Kevin Nash’s words to heart? CM Punk.
Kevin Nash was outspoken about the World Champion’s appearance during the Main Event of the December 22nd Raw. In the closing match, CM Punk teamed with Rey Mysterio in a losing effort to Austin Theory and Bronson Reed. It was noticeable that CM Punk was wearing a T-shirt throughout the match. This fashion choice certainly caught the eye of Big Sexy.
Kevin Nash criticized CM Punk’s decision to wear a T-shirt:
“Number one, if you’re the Heavyweight champion of the WWE, if you wrestle in a T-shirt…Ouch.”
Some people feel these words are personal toward Punk. After all, these two infamously had a brief rivalry in 2011. It was a subplot to the overarching Triple H-CM Punk storyline. Throughout Triple H and CM Punk’s tumultuous relationship, CM Punk has been referred to as “skinny fat.” So, Kevin Nash could be twisting the knife in an old wound for Punk.
That said, Kevin Nash’s reaction to CM Punk caused one T-shirt-wearing Superstar to weigh in. Kevin Owens took X to share a tongue-in-cheek image that could be seen as a shot at both Kevin Nash…and CM Punk!
Kevin Owens Responds to Kevin Nash’s Critique of T-Shirts on World Champions
Kevin Owens is a former WWE Champion and has even wrestled in the Main Event of WrestleMania in Stone Cold Steve Austin’s last match. The former indie favorite known as Kevin Steen achieved all of these accolades while wearing a T-shirt.
So, when Kevin Nash’s comments about Punk in a T-shirt went viral, KO chimed in:
There was no caption or context given to his post. It was very reminiscent of how John Cena communicates on Instagram.
Nonetheless, while many thought KO was taking a stand against Nash (which he could have been), others are bringing up Kevin Owens’ past with CM Punk, and how a T-shirt incident led to a fight between the two passionate Superstars.
Kevin Owens and CM Punk Fought Over A T-shirt
It’s been well-documented that Kevin Owens and CM Punk might not see eye-to-eye. After all, Kevin Owens is very close to The Young Bucks. The Young Bucks were heavily involved in the Brawl Out incident that led to CM Punk leaving AEW. There’s clearly still bad blood between all parties, as Ace Steel recently spoke out about Jon Moxley, another friend of The Young Bucks camp.
However, KO’s beef with CM Punk dates back to ROH in 2005. During that time, Kevin Steen admitted he was having a hard time navigating a path for himself in ROH. The future WWE Champion was uncomfortable with his weight and appearance and felt lost when he wrestled without a T-shirt. However, CM Punk criticized Steen for wearing a T-shirt to the point where they had a backstage altercation over it.
In an old episode of The Kevin Steen Show, the future Kevin Owens spoke with former ROH Booker Gabe Sapolsky.
Steen relived the night he got into a spat with CM Punk:
This is where I suspect you had to [have told] CM Punk that I asked you about wrestling in a T-shirt.
That afternoon, as soon as I got there, Punk made a comment to me about wrestling in a T-shirt. I was like, “Well, I guess that got back to him somehow.
And then, I had a terrible match with Vordell Walker. Just f***ing abysmal. I came to the back, and I don’t know. I made this snide comment to Punk about my t-shirt, and he lost it on me.”
This altercation was in 2005, but does it sound familiar? It was Jack Perry defying CM Punk for using real glass in a spot during a match at All Out. CM Punk had advised Perry not to use real glass. So, when Jungle Boy came through the back, he infamously said, “Real glass. Cry me a river.” The talkback is what set CM Punk off, much like it did in 2005 with Kevin Steen.
However, CM Punk and Kevin Steen’s fight never got physical. Kevin admitted he “completely b****ed out” and apologized to defuse the situation. That said, it seems like old rivalries die hard. Although CM Punk is taking this backlash in stride. Following Kevin Owens’ post, the WWE World Champion mocked Kevin Nash’s comments during the WWE Holiday Tour.
CM Punk Trolls Kevin Nash Before Wrestling Bronson Reed
CM Punk defended the World Title against Bronson Reed (with Bron Breakker in his corner) during the Main Event of the WWE House Show in Fort Myers, Florida.
As he has been doing, CM Punk came down the aisle in a T-shirt. As the match was about to get underway, The Voice of the Voiceless teased taking off his shirt. CM Punk got the crowd to start cheering for him to remove his shirt, and he obliged. However, CM Punk trolled Kevin Nash, as he revealed another shirt underneath.
This act of defiance received a chuckle from the crowd, as he started the match with a T-shirt on. After a few feats of strength from Bronson Reed, CM Punk got serious. The World Champion ripped his shirt off and got into a physical battle with the Tribal Thief.
See Full CM Punk vs. Bronson Reed House Show Match – December 30, 2025
Things hit the fan when CM Punk squashed Bronson Reed into the corner, which caused the Superstars to knock out the referee. With the ref down, Bron Breakker entered the ring to put the boots to CM Punk.
Thankfully for the Champ, Jey Uso came out to even the odds. Ucey would throw Breakker into Bronson Reed, who was climbing the top rope for a Tsunami. CM Punk would then climb to the top and deliver a Superplex to secure the victory.
CM Punk is gearing up for a huge World Title defense on the first Raw of 2026 against Bronson Reed. Here are some potential rumors and spoilers about the New Year’s Raw.
We’re sure Kevin Nash will be watching and have plenty to say. After all, he said that Breakker should defeat CM Punk for the Title on Netflix.
Kevin Nash and CM Punk Rivalry History
Kevin Nash is always critical of WWE, even if he has deals with them. In fact, he applauded Mick Foley for parting ways with WWE over their association with Donald Trump.
However, the man who helped wrestlers get guaranteed contracts isn’t about to give up his bag. Kevin Nash admitted that the McMahon-Levesque clan is like “Republican family members” who are family nonetheless.
While he loves the McMahon clan, Kevin Nash isn’t afraid to use his right to free speech, criticizing the company’s World Champion:
“Number two, his punches looked really slow. He looks slow.
I think it’s time for him. I think he’s done. I think Bron should beat him.”
Tensions boiled over in promos between CM Punk and Kevin Nash almost 15 years ago. The former Diesel made a shocking return at SummerSlam 2011 to cost CM Punk the WWE Title.
During the rivalry, Kevin Nash accused CM Punk of going into business for himself. The Hall of Famer admitted to being handcuffed by written promos.
He also stated that he was thrown off when CM Punk said his little sister texted him when she found out that Kevin Nash cost CM Punk the WWE Title by writing:
“OMG, Kevin Nash, WTF, I thought he was dead LOL”
The two’s rivalry went nowhere as WWE decided not to have Kevin Nash and CM Punk wrestle. Triple H would end up wrestling CM Punk at Night of Champions a month later, with The Cerebral Assassin getting the win.
Kevin Nash’s WWE return was short-lived. He wrestled one televised match, quickly defeating Santino Marella on Raw. Otherwise, he was at a few House Shows in the UK and Japan. His last televised match would be in a losing effort against Triple H at TLC 2011. Triple H defeated Kevin Nash in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match with a sledgehammer hanging from the ceiling.