WWE superstar **CM Punk** has admitted he is desperate to finally witness the explosive **Celtic vs Rangers** derby live, describing the historic Old Firm clash as fuelled by “200-year-old, deep-seated religious hatred.”
The 47-year-old Chicago native, a well-known Celtic supporter, made the candid revelation during an appearance on *The Nightcap* podcast alongside former NFL star Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson.
When Ochocinco named **Celtic vs Rangers** as one of the three most intense football rivalries in the world (alongside Boca Juniors vs River Plate and Fenerbahce vs Galatasaray), Punk didn’t hold back.
### Punk’s Full Take on the Old Firm
“You’re talking about 200-year-old, deep-seated, religious hatred. It gets pretty gnarly,” Punk said.
He continued: “No, I wish I had [seen it]. We’re talking about brother vs brother, it gets wild. Who roots for who, and why? It gets intense.”
Punk then revealed a personal touch, sharing how even his wife reacts to his fascination with the fixture:
“And then I’ve got my wife going ‘why do you dumb men care so much about this?’”
When pressed further on why the rivalry hits so hard, Punk simply replied:
“I don’t know, man, it’s in our blood.”
### From Celtic Park Visit to Bucket-List Regret
Punk’s comments come after he visited **Celtic Park** during his high-profile WWE feud with Drew McIntyre (a known Rangers fan). While he has experienced the famous stadium atmosphere, he has never been there for the biggest game of all — the **Old Firm derby**.
The Second City Saint made it clear that seeing Celtic take on their fiercest rivals is now firmly on his bucket list.
### Why the Celtic-Rangers Rivalry Feels Different
The Old Firm derby is widely regarded as one of the most passionate and politically charged matches in global football. Rooted in Scotland’s religious, cultural, and historical divides, matches between the two Glasgow giants regularly produce electric atmospheres — and occasionally spill over into controversy.
For Punk, a lifelong wrestling icon who has always worn his Celtic support proudly (even using it to needle McIntyre in storylines), the fascination runs deep. His podcast comments show a genuine respect for the raw emotion and tribal loyalty that define the fixture, even as he laughs about his wife’s bemusement at “dumb men” caring so much.
Whether Punk will finally get the chance to tick the Old Firm off his list remains to be seen — but after this admission, fans on both sides of the divide will be watching closely.
