If you’ve been following WWE lately, you’ve probably noticed something different about CM Punk. The 47-year-old Undisputed WWE Champion has undergone a noticeable physical transformation—more muscle, leaner build, and an overall look that has fans doing double takes. And, as with any dramatic change in the wrestling world, the accusations have followed.
Almost immediately, social media lit up with the same tired question: “Is CM Punk on steroids?” Side-by-side photos comparing his AEW run with his current look circulated on X, drawing “gear” accusations from fans. The speculation intensified in June when Punk turned up noticeably bigger in a UFC Rivals promo video.
But Punk’s trainer has had enough—and he’s not holding back.
Meet Jay Ferruggia
Punk began working with strength coach Jay Ferruggia in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania 42. Ferruggia isn’t some random gym bro—he’s been in the strength and conditioning business since 1994 and counts WWE and UFC among his clients. In other words, he knows what he’s talking about.
And what he’s saying about Punk is emphatic: no steroids. Just hard work.
The Instagram Takedown
Ferruggia took to Instagram with a three-minute video that pulled no punches. His opening salvo? A direct shot at the online accusers:
“CM Punk is on steroids — or so says the weak minded lazy internet.”
From there, he laid out exactly what Punk has been doing—and it’s a level of dedication that most people “could never comprehend”.
The Hawaii Test
Perhaps the most compelling part of Ferruggia’s defense? Punk’s work ethic doesn’t take vacations.
According to Ferruggia, even while on vacation in Hawaii, Punk was checking in every single day. We’re not talking about a quick text, either. Punk sent:
Photos of his meals
His macros (protein, carbs, fat breakdown)
His weight
His temperature after meals
Videos from the gym
Ferruggia even admitted he sometimes has to hold Punk back because the champion is doing more than asked. That’s not the behavior of someone looking for shortcuts.
The Rice Cooker Detail
Here’s where the dedication gets truly next-level. Ferruggia revealed that Punk travels with food scales and rice cookers so he can maintain his diet on the road. He’s eliminated processed foods entirely, weighs everything he eats, and has completely overhauled his nutrition.
This isn’t someone phoning it in. This is someone who has made fitness a full-time obsession.
“Newbie Gains” at 47?
Ferruggia offered a fascinating explanation for Punk’s rapid progress: he’s experiencing what trainers call “newbie gains”—the rapid improvements that come when someone adapts to a completely new training stimulus.
“Honestly, he’s making almost newbie gains. It’s surprising me, but I know what’s going on. I know all the things he’s doing.”
He also pointed out that Punk has gotten significantly leaner, which naturally makes him look bigger. Combined with a different training approach, the visual transformation makes perfect sense.
The “Lazy Internet” Gets Called Out
Ferruggia didn’t stop at defending Punk—he went on the offensive against the accusers:
“In 30 years in this business, CM Punk is working as hard as anyone I’ve ever worked with. He’s as dedicated as anyone.”
He also dismissed the photographic “evidence” circulating online, claiming that half the pictures are AI-generated and the other half were taken in gyms with “great lighting” and “a great pump”.
His closing message was blunt:
“Just because someone’s getting somewhere and accomplishing something that you can’t doesn’t mean they are taking shortcuts and cheating. You are just lazy.”
The Straight Edge Elephant in the Room
Here’s the thing about accusing CM Punk of using steroids: it cuts against everything he’s built his career on. Punk has been straight edge since day one, abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drugs. WWE even built the Straight Edge Society faction around this identity back in 2009 and 2010.
The idea that someone who has spent decades publicly rejecting intoxicants would suddenly turn to performance-enhancing drugs feels… unlikely, to say the least.
And;
Let’s be clear about what we actually know:
Punk has not failed a drug test
WWE has not accused him of anything
No wrestling outlet has reported evidence of PED use
His trainer—a 30-year veteran—is adamant that this is all hard work
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. And sometimes a 47-year-old wrestler getting in the best shape of his life is just a guy who finally found the right trainer, the right diet, and the right mindset.
The trolls can keep typing. CM Punk will keep working. And his trainer will keep holding him back—because that’s what happens when someone is too dedicated.
