"He set the bar high": WWE Superstar Reacts to CM Punk's Shocking Generosity

A recent kind gesture from CM Punk has made Cody Rhodes realize that he might need to step up his efforts to make fan encounters even more memorable. Weekly videos of Rhodes interacting with fans during dark matches and off-net events appear on social media, showing him making fans' memories by signing autographs, taking photos, and even letting them into the ring.Though CM Punk did just that on October 1, 2024, during an NXT show, Rhodes hasn't yet gone so far as to feed a whole arena full of fans. The Chicago audience responded positively to Punk's announcement that free pizza was waiting for them when they left the arena after the show, as was to be expected.
On The Pat McAfee Show, Rhodes discussed the significance of creating meaningful connections with fans and how CM Punk's generosity had set a new standard. He stated: “You’re talking about this record business the WWE is doing. I’ve watched it because I grew up in it. It goes up, and it comes down, it goes up, and I know where I’d like to get the WWE at. I know WWE is expanding, I know our marching orders, so that stuff we do at the end of the night is, it really should be mandatory. For me, it feels like it’s part of it because it’s a way to reach across, connect with people and have that real moment with them. Let them know so, ‘I’m your guy, I’m your girl, whatever.'"

Cody further added: “WWE has a really good thing when it comes to the live events, live TVs, about just making sure that everybody leaves extremely happy. Prime example, CM Punk really outdid me in the gifts department, he bought pizza for all of Allstate Arena last night. I can’t imagine the pizza bill. That’s a babyface, and it should challenge everybody else, myself included…That was a very nice gesture of CM Punk to do so. He set the bar high.”
Saying this, Rhodes highlights the importance of live events and connecting with fans, emphasizing that the post-show fan interactions should be a key aspect of the WWE experience. He pointed to CM Punk's gesture at NXT as a prime example, acknowledging that Punk "really outdid me in the gifts department" by buying pizza for the entire Allstate Arena. Rhodes humorously commented on the likely large pizza bill and added that Punk's act of generosity, which he described as a "babyface" move, should inspire other wrestlers, including himself, to raise their game in engaging with the fans. Punk's kind gesture "set the bar high," challenging others to match that level of fan appreciation.
Also read: CM Punk has hilarious banter with the DX duo backstage at NXT CW debut