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CM Punk Trial Verdict Revealed
After leaving WWE in 2014, CM Punk made an infamous appearance on Colt Cabana’s Art of Wrestling podcast where he aired his side of why he walked out on the company. And amongst his many, many grievances with his former employer, part-timers main eventing WrestleMania and the concept of a Ryback, he also accused WWE doctor Chris Amann of clearing him to wrestle despite being injured and for misdiagnosing a staph infection.
Amann soon filed a defamation suit, which Punk believed to be bankrolled by WWE and Vince McMahon as a way to get back at him for his vocal criticism of the company.
Now, over four years later and a week of the case being heard in court, CM Punk can safely say he’s proved to everybody in the world that he’s not just the best on this microphone, in that ring, even on commentary; he’s also the best in the world at sticking it to WWE.
WrestleZone’s Nick Hausman and Ross Berman – who have been doing excellent jobs reporting from Cook County Court throughout the trial – described the verdict on Twitter:
“The jury finds in favor of CM Punk (Philip Jack Brooks) and Colt Cabana (Scott Colton) on all counts filed by Dr. Chris Amann. Neither will have to pay anything.”
“All counts (Defamation. False Light Defamation, Distribution) are found in favor of Defense (Punk & Cabana)”
“Cabana looks very relieved. Punk & AJ are currently in a tight embrace and crying. Amann is staring off blankly.”
One reason the jury might’ve decided in Punk and Cabana’s favour is the horrendously high amount in compensatory damages Amann was seeking.
Originally the suit was thought to be for $1 million, but in the 90 minute+ closing argument, his lawyer reportedly asked for $4 million. Apparently that figure was literally plucked from thin air or wherever podcast plays happen from – with them “seeking $1 in damages per stream of the podcast for a total of $3,989,000 + punitive damages.”
Hausman also caught up with a very tired looking Punk right after the announcement:
“Aside from the fact that I’m in the middle of a weight cut, and obviously I’ve got some other business to take care of at the end of the week, a gigantic weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. First and foremost, I’m happy for my friend Colt Cabana, who I think was dragged into this for silly reasons, but just in general, I’m super appreciative and happy that the jury came to that verdict. They think I had truth on my side, obviously I did, and common sense prevailed. I’m just happy. I appreciate everyone that was in my corner and knew and continues to know the truth. I can’t wait to put it all behind me. I wanted out years ago, and I still feel the same way. I just want to move on with my life.”
The weight cut and business at the end of the week Punk’s referring to is his UFC 225 match against Mike Jackson – not that Mike Jackson – this Saturday. Punk goes onto say in the interview that he’s had to fit his twice a day training around the trial for the last week. But move aside court cases and UFC fights, there’s only one question us wrestling fans really have on our mind – which Hausman snuck in at the end of the interview:
“I gotta ask, now that this is all behind you, are you All In?
Punk replied: “I’m not.”
Hausman said: “Bummer.”
So that confirms he’s All In, right?
But despite having a fight on Saturday, Punk allowed himself a moment to celebrate, singing Take Me Out To The Ballgame that night for baseball team the Chicago Cubs:
Colt Cabana, meanwhile, celebrated the only way he knows how – by releasing a new t-shirt.
Releasing a t-shirt… say, that’s not a bad idea…
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