In an interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Bryan Danielson spoke about how CM Punk is a veteran talent he admires, noting how Punk didn’t fit the mold but still found success his own way.
“There are things that stuck out about Punk even from an early age,” Danielson says. “He was the guy from our generation that was wrestling the ECW stars. He stood out from the rest of us. He was so great at the promos. I have a lot of respect for him. He’s been through the grind.”
Danielson also spoke about the level of mutual admiration between the two, explaining that he always saw Punk excelling as a win for the indie guys overall.
“I was happy for him back when I was on the indies, too, when I’d see him succeed,” Danielson says. “Back then, we weren’t what wrestling companies wanted. But he still found a way to succeed. When I’d see him succeed, I’d always feel like, ‘Hell yeah, one of us did it.’ I’m happy for him now, too. What he’s doing, and the way he’s doing it, it’s amazing.”
