By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
CM Punk could avoid the hassle of a lawsuit or dealing with police after swatting a phone out of a fan’s hand in the MGM Grand lobby on Sunday night. The fan, who wants to remain anonymous, told TMZ that he does not intend to sue or press charges, but there’s a catch. “I want an apology,” the fan told TMZ. “Shake my hand. I’m not gonna sue him or put him in jail. I just want an apology.” Read the full story at TMZ.com.
Powell’s POV: Punk may regret the incident and honor the fan’s request. But I wonder if Punk would apologize just to put this behind him if he doesn’t feel it’s warranted. I suspect that most people would grit their teeth and apologize to avoid legal trouble, but it won’t shock me if Punk stands his ground if he feels the fan was in the wrong.
(Jason Powell, founder and editor of ProWrestling.net, has covered pro wrestling full-time dating back to 1997. He hosts a weekly podcast, Pro Wrestling Boom, and also appears regularly on the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast. Reach him via email at dotnetjason@gmail.com and on social media via @prowrestlingnet.bsky.social or x.com/prowrestlingnet. For his full bio and information on this website, click here.)
Honestly, that fan owes Punk, AJ, and Bayley and apology. Not the other way around. Don’t reward asshole behavior or it encourages it. If that guy walks up and nicely asks, I’m sure they would’ve snapped a quick picture.
I’m not condoning what the fan did by any means, but from a legal standpoint, the fan didn’t do anything wrong. The TMZ story even mentioned that celebrities have been arrested in similar incidents for doing what Punk did. So that’s why it probably comes down to whether Punk makes it go away with even a fake apology or stand his ground.
Well actually if what was said on the article here in the comments is anything to go by it’s the fan who owes Punk, AJ and Bayley an apology. That crossed the line into private and what Punk did as a consequence of that was understandable. However if the fan apologises and admits the error, then Punk could return the apology.
Morally you’re right, it was a private moment and anyone with an ounce of compassion would recognise the moment for what it was.
Legally you are not entitled to privacy in a public place and what Punk did was unprovoked assault whether or not it resulted in injury. If Bayley and AJ wanted a private moment then it’s on them to find a private space or accept that their moment may be impinged upon in a public space.
I agree that the legality of this is the key but personally I think the fan was extremely out of line and as a husband and father, I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same thing. And after reading the stories and seeing the videos of what fans did to the superstars last week, it makes me feel even stronger in that regard. Yes, it’s public and you can’t “prevent” people from taking out their cameras or surrounding you in hotel lobbies and restaurants, but that doesn’t mean these people should be given a pass. It’s downright rude, disrespectful, and concerning that you’re that obsessed. And I don’t want to hear “Oh well TKO charges too much for meet and greets and tickets.” That still doesn’t mean you should be an asshole. But Jason you are right, legally, I don’t know what you can do.