They say time heals all wounds, and that expression couldn’t be more true in the case of pro wrestling legend CM Punk. Whether people love him, hate him, admire him, or despise him, Punk remains a polarizing figure in the world of professional wrestling. Over the past two decades, no one has divided opinion quite like the outspoken Chicago native, both inside and outside the famous squared circle.
Throughout a whirlwind career—from his rise on the independent scene in the early 2000s to becoming a six-time world champion with WWE, where he squared off against the likes of John Cena, Jeff Hardy, and even The Rock—the now 46-year-old became a household name across the world. He did it all with a chip on his shoulder, unafraid to ruffle feathers in his pursuit of greatness, making him an enigma and a must-see attraction.
And then, all of a sudden, in January 2014, it was over. Punk abruptly walked out of WWE in a blaze of glory, before dropping an infamous tirade on a podcast where he aired every grievance and burned every bridge, fed up with his perceived poor treatment by the higher-ups within the company. The chances of Punk ever returning to wrestling seemed slim to none as he ventured into the UFC and other pursuits.
Return to the Ring and AEW Stint
For seven years, crowds across the globe chanted Punk’s name at WWE events, yearning for one of the best wrestlers in the world to make a comeback. Eventually, when another big-money wrestling company emerged in the form of AEW—run by Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham FC boss Tony Khan—Punk made his long-awaited return in his hometown, sticking the proverbial knife into WWE from afar.
Punk spent two years with AEW before real-life dramas with fellow wrestlers led to his firing after a backstage altercation at Wembley Stadium in August 2023. This opened the door for the most unlikely of WWE homecomings, and a few months later, Punk walked out at Survivor Series to a thunderous ovation—once again, in Chicago—as a decade of bad blood was wiped away for the betterment of the fans.
Challenges and Triumphs in WWE
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing during Punk’s second tenure with WWE. He suffered a serious triceps injury in January 2024 that sidelined him for nearly six months, while facing criticism online for seemingly every move he makes. Yet, through adversity, Punk has found his mojo again—both physically and mentally.
Speaking to Wide World of Sports to promote the upcoming release of Netflix’s WWE Unreal documentary series, the polarizing wrestling icon opened up about an arduous past two years filled with the highest of highs and lowest of lows.
“I’m a lot tougher than I thought I was, and in saying that, I thought I was really tough,” Punk said. “To me, that’s what life is—it’s not about how many times you get knocked down, it’s about how many times you get up.”
At the center of Punk’s initial messy exit from WWE in 2014 were his well-publicized issues with Paul “Triple H” Levesque, who at the time was still a part-time wrestler but also held backstage positions of power within the company. Punk was vocal about his bitter relationship with the Hall of Famer during his time away from WWE, but as time passed, the grudge between the pair dissipated.
Reconciliation with Triple H
Punk now finds himself working under Levesque, who has since become the head honcho. “I would say dream come true, but it’s honestly nothing either of us dreamed of—this is the path we’re on, and we’re both very happy we’re on it,” Punk remarked.
“When things end badly in life, you don’t often get a chance to course correct, and then your perspective changes, and that’s where regrets kind of creep in. I don’t think either of us really have regrets, so to speak, because we’re here now in the moment working together and loving every minute of it.”
One of Punk’s earliest shining moments in WWE came at Survivor Series 2006, where he was in a star-studded team alongside Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and The Hardy Boys. Seeing that relationship come full circle nearly 20 years later is quite remarkable.
Looking Ahead: SummerSlam and Beyond
Punk’s second stint has already seen him fulfill a lifelong dream of main-eventing this year’s WrestleMania. The next stop on his journey will see him challenge for a world title at SummerSlam against one of the best in the game today, Gunther.
But looking beyond the two-night blockbuster in New York next month, Punk has his eyes firmly set on a trip to Perth, Australia for the Crown Jewel premium live event. Should he make the long-haul flight Down Under, it would mark the first time Punk has competed on Australian soil in almost 15 years.
“Knock on wood—everything is a do-over at this point,” he said. “I came back to WWE and got hurt right out of the gate, and I remember being really depressed heading into Perth because I couldn’t go. I was hurt, we had big plans … I was really disappointed because I was excited to go to Australia.”
In the shorter term, Punk will be part of the upcoming WWE Unreal series, scheduled to drop on Netflix on July 29 (AEST). The series will offer wrestling fans a never-before-seen glimpse into the grueling nature of the business.
“I think it’s easy for me to say that I hate it, it’s a terrible idea, we can’t be doing this and that Harley Race would be rolling in his grave—that may be true, I don’t know,” he joked. “But with everything, I’m gonna take it as it comes. There’s probably gonna be things that I don’t enjoy, and there’s probably gonna be things that I think make it all worth it.”
As Punk continues to navigate his career, both old fans and new will be watching closely, eager to see what the future holds for this wrestling icon.
