UFC
Former WWE star CM Punk says Vince McMahon nixed him walking Chael Sonnen to the cage at UFC on Fox 2
Nov 27, 2014 - 3:45:12 PM Former WWE star CM Punk says Vince McMahon nixed him walking Chael Sonnen to the cage at UFC on Fox 2

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Back in January of 2012, then-WWE Champion CM Punk was set to walk out to the Octagon with his friend Chael Sonnen at UFC on Fox 2. Punk had gotten clearance from the UFC to come out with Sonnen in his home city of Chicago, which could have been a bit of extra promotion for that year's Royal Rumble pay-per-view from the WWE happening the night after the UFC's show.

It didn't happen, and Punk revealed late Wednesday night that a seriously out of touch Vince McMahon nixed the idea.

In his first interview since leaving the WWE in January, Punk spoke to his friend Colt Cabana opened up about a lot of subjects, and relayed the conversation he had with McMahon about potentially walking Sonnen to the cage that night in Chicago.

Here's how that went:

"'Hey, my friend Chael is fighting in Chicago for UFC, and I've already talked to all of them, and they're totally cool with the idea. I'm going to walk him to the Octagon. Tomorrow's the Royal Rumble so it'll get some last minute buys. Whether Chael wins or loses - no offense to Chael - they're going to be talking about the WWE Champion walking him to the Octagon.'

'Oh my god, Phil, no, we can't do that! That's barbaric! Somebody's gonna die!'

Then I had to remind him, 'Well, you know, I don't know if you remember Owen Hart or not, but he sort of died in your ring.'

That's what he said, he said somebody was going to die in the Octagon.

I just think he was distancing himself from 'such a horrible, barbaric product.' And I reminded him how horrible and barbaric pro wrestling is.

Then he was also, 'Did you know that they're going to have women fight in the Octagon soon?'

And I was like, 'Yeah, and it's the f***ing coolest thing in the world, and it's going to be the hottest f***ing thing. You'll see.'

He's just not in touch.

So he tells me I can't do that, and I felt, damn, that's such an opportunity for the company, it's just a spotlight, it's more promotion, it's more eyes on the product, it's my hometown, the place would be going crazy for me. And he says no, then the next day or the next week Triple H walks [Floyd] Mayweather to the f***ing ring. And I'm like 'oh, ok, I get it. I'm learning my lesson. It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, next time I'm just not going to f***ing ask.'"

Penick's Analysis: It would have absolutely brought some attention and publicity to both organizations, but I think the more interesting take away from this is McMahon's alleged take on the UFC circa 2012. I doubt McMahon's changed his take all that much despite the UFC's continued move forward in the sports and entertainment world. But at any rate, this is a highly interesting look into one high-up person's experience with McMahon.