The wrestling world mourns one of the most beloved (and allegedly dangerous) figures in wrestling history. Larry the dog has passed away. CM Punk and AJ Lee’s dog, Larry, has grown to have a bit of a cult following among wrestlers and fans alike. In fact, he has joined the ranks of The British Bulldogs’ Matilda and Cody Rhodes’ Pharaoh as one of the few furbabies to get merchandise! As we’ve learned about the death of Larry the dog, we’ve also come to realize that one more piece of clothing featured the pup. Prior to announcing Larry’s passing, CM Punk paid an emotional tribute to his dog, which has now gone viral.
Larry the Dog Passes Away
Nothing brings animal lovers more joy than the love of a pet. AJ Lee and CM Punk had a very strong bond with Larry the dog. The power couple adopted the small black dog in 2015. At the time, both WWE legends had stepped away from the company. Larry certainly filled their darker days with light during this time.
They were newlyweds in Chicago, where a local PAWS animal shelter story about Larry caught the couple’s eyes. As CM Punk recalls, Larry was a bit of a “cranky” guy. He had already been in three homes. To many, Larry was considered “unadoptable,” but the Brooks family thought, “Game on.”
Why Was CM Punk’s Dog Named Larry?
With Max, Hank, and Gus topping the list of male dog names, Larry didn’t make the top 10. Larry isn’t a common dog name, but it made sense for the small dog with a massive underbite (and bad attitude). That’s because the rescue dog looked a lot like a 1940s horror film monster.
When CM Punk first saw his future furbaby online, he was immediately drawn to the dog’s unique look. With his large bottom teeth and scraggly black and gray hair, the pup resembled Wolfman, Larry Talbot.
When CM Punk made that connection, he knew he had to adopt the future Larry. Not only did CM Punk name his dog Larry, but Larry’s middle name was actually Talbot.
Larry’s Legacy In Wrestling
Larry has been the beloved companion of CM Punk and AJ Lee for the past ten years. The little dog traveled with the couple very often, especially with CM Punk.
While Larry the dog has captured the hearts of millions, he also left an impression on Kenny Omega when he bit the AEW EVP during the infamous Brawl Out incident.
Nonetheless, Larry still remained a fixture in the wrestling industry. There have been many videos and photo shoots showing the happy pup running around the arena. He’ll be sorely missed, especially by his parents, who gave an emotional tribute to their dog during Survivor Series.
CM Punk Gives Emotional Tribute to Larry
CM Punk has always been vocal about his love for Larry. You would regularly see videos and images of the two on CM Punk’s Instagram Stories. It’s easy to say that The Second City Saint wears his heart on his sleeve.
At Survivor Series, he wore his heart on his chest. CM Punk came down the aisle for War Games in a bomber jacket with the words “Larry’s Dad” stitched into it. No one thought much about the adorable gesture at first. After all, CM Punk wore a jacket that said “AJ’s Husband” during her return at Wrestlepalooza.
However, less than 48 hours after CM Punk entered War Games, he announced the passing of Larry. Now, CM Punk’s Survivor Series entrance is going viral. Many have noted that the WWE World Champion got choked up when doing his signature “It’s clobbering time.”
You can see CM Punk holding the pose for longer than usual. Then, the star grabbed his heart before yelling at the top of his lungs. Now that we know of Larry’s passing, many are sharing this emotional moment online as part of the ongoing tributes to the wonder dog.
Wrestling World Reacts to Larry’s Death
CM Punk has been very active on social media since announcing the death of Larry. He’s shared many old videos and pictures, along with his thoughts about losing his best friend.
While CM Punk shared his sadness with the world, he wasn’t alone. Many wrestling luminaries have shared pictures and memories of Larry, including Danhausen, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Natalya, Roxanne Perez, Bayley, Ace Steel, Jade Cargill, CJ Perry, Thunder Rosa, and many others.
AJ Lee has yet to speak about Larry’s death. However, as the star shared on What’s Your Story? with Stephanie McMahon, she doesn’t share her feelings as openly as her husband. We hope both CM Punk and AJ Lee can find some comfort in these sad times and remember the good days with Larry the dog fondly.