In 2014, CM Punk left WWE abruptly and returned nearly a decade later at the 2023 Survivor Series event. Speaking in a recent interview, Punk expressed that he holds no regrets about stepping away from WWE for ten years, emphasizing his perspective on the situation during his absence.
During a conversation on No Contest Wrestling with TJ Henderson and O’Shay Jackson Jr, Punk addressed the lengthy gap in his WWE career.
Punk on the Ten-Year Hiatus and Industry Landscape
He stated,
“I’ll just go ahead and say it. Vince [McMahon] was still here. I don’t think anything was ever going to change, for me at least. So, no,”
reflecting on the impact of WWE leadership on his decision. CM Punk also acknowledged missed opportunities but remained confident in his legacy.
“Can I think about, ‘Man, that’s 10 years. I could have worked with AJ [Styles] a whole bunch. I could have done more with [John] Cena.’ I think I did pretty good. Tribal Chief says he graciously scaled back for two years. Well, I graciously stepped back for ten and it took him that long to become the superstar that he is. So, no. I got no regrets,”
Punk added, highlighting his pride in the choices he’s made.
Post-Return Matches and Current WWE Storylines
Following his reappearance in 2023, CM Punk competed first at a live event in December against Dominik Mysterio. He later participated in the 2024 Royal Rumble but suffered a triceps injury during the event. Despite this setback, Punk began developing a high-profile rivalry with Drew McIntyre, which reached its climax at Bad Blood 2024.
Looking ahead, Punk is scheduled to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42 in April, underscoring his prominent role in current WWE narratives.
