During the recent WWE tribute to Hulk Hogan, CM Punk was visibly present, paying his final respects, while Seth Rollins and AJ Styles chose not to appear, reflecting their disdain for Hogan’s legacy. The tribute events took place on SmackDown last week and Monday Night RAW, where WWE honored Hogan despite his controversial history.
CM Punk’s attendance was notable given his longstanding negative view of Hulk Hogan. At the tribute, Punk’s facial expressions suggested discomfort rather than reverence, signaling his unresolved opinions about Hogan. In contrast, Seth Rollins and AJ Styles, who share similar disdain for the late wrestling icon, were absent during the 10-bell salute. While Rollins’ absence was somewhat expected, Styles’ decision to stay away was striking because he later participated in the same show alongside the Kabuki Warriors, facing off against the Judgement Day faction.
CM Punk Reiterates His Critique of Hulk Hogan’s Wrestling Persona
Although CM Punk attended the tribute, he remains vocal about his criticism of Hulk Hogan’s “unbeatable” persona that defined his career in WWE and WCW. Punk explained his views during a promotional interview for WWE: Unreal alongside Rhea Ripley, reflecting on the value of character development beyond constant victories.
I think it’s more frustrating for my fans, probably, because I think obviously super Rhea Ripley fans, they want Rhea Ripley to be all the champions and beat everybody. And CM Punk fans, they—‘Oh, Punk can’t lose. He’s gotta do this, he’s gotta do that.’ And I am now of the age, and my perspective is there’s much more to do with a character on a television show with a loss. And to me, it’s about how you rebound and respond to that.
—CM Punk, WWE Wrestler
Punk elaborated that staying at the top and dominating opponents felt “one-dimensional” to him, describing how his younger self aspired to be like Hogan, but his current storytelling approach values complexity and growth through setbacks.
To me, being kingship and on top of the world and beating everybody is very one-dimensional now. Like, you know, if you would have asked me when I was 25, I would have been like, ‘Yep, that’s it. I’m Hulk Hogan. I got to beat everybody. I got to be the champ.’ And it’s just from a storytelling perspective, it’s not interesting to me.
—CM Punk, WWE Wrestler
Despite his skepticism, Punk acknowledged his ongoing role in WWE, expressing confidence in proving detractors wrong each week, even as some question his ability to maintain peak performance within the company.
Seth Rollins Remains Critical of Hulk Hogan’s Legacy and Public Reaction
Seth Rollins has maintained his harsh stance regarding Hulk Hogan, particularly pointing to Hogan’s racist actions that tarnished his reputation. Rollins has openly stated through social media that he prefers not to be associated with Hogan’s persona.
Rollins expressed satisfaction when the WWE Hall of Famer was booed by the WWE Universe during RAW’s debut on Netflix, interpreting the negative reaction as justified and reflective of Hogan’s controversial past.
I am all for people getting what they deserve. That’s how I feel about Hulk Hogan getting booed. If you are getting booed by the masses, there’s a reason for it, alright? So, I don’t know if Hulk fully understands the scope. But people get what they deserve, so I’m happy to see it. I love to see it.
—Seth Rollins, WWE Wrestler
At the same time, Rollins acknowledged the positive impact Hogan had on professional wrestling and on his own passion for the sport but emphasized that Hogan needs to accept responsibility for his past behavior before reconciling with fans.
I said this before about the Hulkster: he’s the guy that got me into this industry as far as love for professional wrestling. So I’ll never take that away from him. What he’s done for our business, I’ll never take that away from him. But I do think there’s some responsibility that he needs to own up to that he hasn’t yet and maybe when he finally figures that out, he might be able to move forward with our fans, so we’ll see.
—Seth Rollins, WWE Wrestler
Despite Hogan’s passing, Rollins, akin to Punk, has not displayed the typical public displays of mourning seen among other WWE talents and legends.
Ongoing WWE Fallout and Future Speculations Involving Seth Rollins and CM Punk
The recent events involving Hulk Hogan’s tribute have intensified the existing tensions and differing perspectives within WWE, particularly spotlighting the conflict between Seth Rollins and CM Punk. Fans are now curious about Rollins’ return from injury and potential confrontations with Punk at the upcoming SummerSlam event.
With Rollins holding the Money in the Bank contract, speculation abounds about his next move and which opponent he might target, adding further intrigue to the WWE storyline dynamics. Monday Night RAW continues to be available for streaming on Netflix at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, where fans can watch ongoing developments unfold.
