Kevin Owens & CM Punk Trade Barbs In WWE Smackdown Promo Segment

Kevin Owens and CM Punk went back and forth on the mic again, taking personal shots on this week’s episode of WWE Smackdown. The Undisputed WWE Champion and his upcoming opponent had a back and forth on Friday night’s show, delving into their past issues as a basis for the animosity leading to their impending match.

Owens came down first, followed by Punk, and Owens peppered Punk with recriminations about past misdeeds. He recalled how 20 years ago they were at the same indie show and Punk berated and belittled him in the locker room in front of his peers, which was why he didn’t like Punk for a long time. He noted that Punk treated his friends poorly, and Punk fired back by saying that he was happy not to be friends with losers.

Owens said that’s why he hates Punk and that everything about him is performative and phone. He also alleged that the only reason Punk returned to make things right in WWE was because he had screwed everything up and had no other choice, and that he did well for himself in WWE while Punk was gone. He told Punk to call him a “fat indie slob” to his face.

Punk then suggested that Owens was projecting his own feelings about himself onto him and pointed that he’s Undisputed WWE Champion of SmackDown with a locker room full of guys who want to face him. He said Owens was wasted potential, a tough guy who avoids the work and is a bum, and then took a shot by saying that if Owens was more like him, he’d would’ve been able to avoid getting speared by Goldberg’s spear and losing his first title.

The two continued back and forth, with Owens pointing out that Punk was unable to avoid getting speared by Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42, while Punk said that Owens is still the same guy he saw 20 years ago.

Owens said that he regretted not punching Punk then, but that he would do it in seven days to win the title. You can see clips from the WWE Smackdown match below.

Punk will defend his title against Owens on next week’s episode of WWE Smackdown.

So…looks like the floor is not KO's 😂 pic.twitter.com/AMqqD6M0pO

— WWE (@WWE) August 15, 2026

"You chose to berate me, insult me, and scream at me in a locker room full of my peers." 😳@FightOwensFight on his history with @CMPunk. pic.twitter.com/6snc1IcnHL

— WWE (@WWE) August 15, 2026

This is getting INTENSE 👀@FightOwensFight | @CMPunk pic.twitter.com/KZiA2o6oDP

— WWE (@WWE) August 15, 2026

There is SO much history between @CMPunk and @FightOwensFight! ⏮️ pic.twitter.com/kFifbRr1US

— WWE (@WWE) August 15, 2026

That is what you call a good old fashioned war of WORDS! 🤩@FightOwensFight | @CMPunk pic.twitter.com/7JlxnfyjRx

— WWE (@WWE) August 15, 2026