Sami Zayn says it's a 'clean slate' between him and CM Punk in WWE

With CM Punk back in WWE, it's a clean slate between him and Sami Zayn.

Zayn was interviewed by Gorilla Position during WWE's house show tour of the United Kingdom last week. In the conversation, Zayn was asked what his relationship with Punk has been like since Punk returned to WWE last November.

Though there's been some "weird stuff" between them in the past, Zayn said it's a clean slate now. They had a conversation about their previous issues when Punk made his WWE return.

Zayn told Gorilla Position:

I've known him a very, very long time. There have been some ups, there have been some downs. And he showed up and I was like, 'Look, I just don't want this to be weird. So, like, you know, say whatever you need to say. Say your piece.' I said my piece. And like, clean slate. That's it.

You know what I mean? You just can't walk around harboring resentment. Because I just don't want him to walk by and be like a black cloud. Like, I work here, you know what I mean? Or vice versa. I don't want him to see me and go [groans]. Hey, whatever happened, cards on the table, let's just, 'Clean slate? Good? Good? Ok.'

And that's it. That's how I approach, I guess not just him but life. I've found in my experience it's kind of exhausting to hate people [laughs]. The only person who's mad is you, you know what I mean? They're just walking around but you're the one all of a sudden under a cloud of negativity. So I just don't want that cloud. So has there been some weird stuff between us in the past? Sure. I think 90 percent of people you ask about Punk would probably say the same. But as far as I'm concerned, hey, we gotta work together, you're here, you've been through a lot in your life, let's just clean slate, start over, and, you know, whatever. That's it.

Zayn's friend Kevin Owens also had issues with Punk dating back to when Punk and Owens were in ROH together earlier in their careers.

A Punk vs. Zayn match has never taken place. They were both entrants in the Royal Rumble earlier this year, where Punk suffered a torn triceps. Punk is eligible to be selected in the 2024 WWE Draft despite his injury. He'll be appearing on both nights of the draft.

Because he's the Intercontinental Champion, Zayn isn't eligible to be drafted. He'll be remaining on the Raw roster. Zayn is currently feuding with both Chad Gable and Bronson Reed.