CM Punk recently appeared on the No-Contest Wrestling podcast where he talked about his upcoming match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42, his thoughts on retirement, and the significance of Night One versus Night Two at the event. The match is set to take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, highlighting a marquee showdown between two top stars in WWE.
Regarding the WrestleMania bout, Punk said,
“My thoughts on my opponent, Roman Reigns. One of the best in the business. What happens when you’re at the peak and the pinnacle of this business is that you wrestle the other guys that are on top. CM Punk versus Roman Reigns is a marquee blockbuster match. I’m looking to disappoint Roman Reigns and all of his fans in Las Vegas. I don’t care if he works out in the Raiders facility, I’ll be running in the desert in the heat getting ready for the match. I’ll make sure that night, WrestleMania, Allegiant Stadium, Roman Reigns will go to sleep.”
—CM Punk, Professional Wrestler
Punk’s Views on WrestleMania Night One Versus Night Two
When asked about any difference in pressure between performing on Night One or Night Two of WrestleMania 42, Punk explained that he does not feel a significant difference in expectations for either night. He emphasized his focus on high emotions and preparation, stating that his career has prepared him for these moments. Punk also dismissed past promo statements as not fully reflecting his real-life approach.
He said,
“Night one, night two, the argument. I currently don’t feel any more pressure to perform night two than I did night one. Maybe that’ll change. If it does, it’ll be incremental. I don’t differentiate between the two. People will argue that I once said in a promo, which doesn’t make it real life, ladies and gentlemen. They are the easiest ones to work. They are the ones that fold their arms and go, ‘I’m not worked. You can’t work me.’ I have you right here [opens up the palm of his hand]. The emotions will be high. I have to prepare. Really, everything I’ve done in my career has prepared me for these moments. This is all I ever wanted. When I’d be screaming at Vince [McMahon], ‘I need the experience. I need to level up. I can’t sell more tickets and draw more money if you don’t put me in those situations.’ Here we are.”
—CM Punk, Professional Wrestler
Plans Regarding Retirement and Career Longevity
Addressing speculation about his retirement timeline, Punk revealed uncertainty about when he might step away from wrestling. He acknowledged the concept of retirement tours popular in Japanese wrestling but expressed no immediate plans to retire, highlighting the importance of maintaining secrecy in the business. Punk stated he is currently in peak form and delivering some of his best performances, leading him to question why he would leave the ring now.
He mentioned,
“I really don’t know. It’s big in Japanese wrestling, the retirement tour. They’ve done that over there for many, many years. It was just new to Western wrestling fans. Cena did it, and I thought it was brilliant. Saying, ‘This is the last time you’re going to get to come see me. You get to see me wrestle or appear.’ With me, I really don’t know. I almost don’t like talking about it because I don’t think it’s going to be anytime soon. The way our business is, I like to keep some things shrouded in secrecy and mystery. We’ll have to wait and see. I’m trying to keep myself in one piece because I think I’m on the run of my life and doing the best work I’ve ever done. Why would I want to step away now?”
—CM Punk, Professional Wrestler
Reflection on Time Away From Wrestling and Future Opportunities
Punk also reflected on the decade he spent away from wrestling, comparing his career trajectory to that of current top stars like Roman Reigns. While Reigns has scaled back in recent years before rising to superstardom, Punk took considerable time off but harbors no regrets about his choices or missed opportunities to work with other stars such as AJ Styles or John Cena.
He shared,
“Do I ever think like, ‘I missed ten years. I could have worked with AJ a bunch. I could have done more with Cena.’ I think I did pretty good. The Tribal Chief says he graciously scaled back for two years. I graciously stepped back for ten, and it took him that long to become the superstar that he is. I have no regrets.”
—CM Punk, Professional Wrestler
Punk’s Take on Roman Reigns’ Promo and AJ Styles’ Status
Responding to praise for Roman Reigns’ recent promo, which many called one of the best, Punk sarcastically accepted that being in the ring with him tends to bring out the best in rivals. He also commented on rumors about AJ Styles’ retirement, choosing to respect Styles’ privacy regarding his wrestling plans.
Punk remarked,
“Oh, imagine that. In the ring with CM Punk, bringing the best out of guys? Yeah, I’ve heard that before.”
—CM Punk, Professional Wrestler
Regarding AJ Styles, he said,
“Who knows? I don’t know. I know what he told me behind the scenes, which is nobody else’s business. I just — love and respect for the Phenomenal One. Love and respect.”
—CM Punk, Professional Wrestler
Significance of Punk’s Statements and What Lies Ahead
CM Punk’s openness about his future confirms he sees himself continuing at a high level for the foreseeable future, dismissing retirement talk despite fans’ anticipation. His upcoming high-profile match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42 underscores his status as a central figure in WWE’s current landscape. Punk’s intensity and confidence signal a key moment for WWE as he prepares to face one of the company’s top stars in a widely anticipated encounter. Fans and industry insiders will closely watch both his performance and eventual career decisions in the coming months.
