CM Punk Recounts WWE Departure, Career Challenges, and Comeback

CM Punk, regarded as one of the brightest wrestling talents of his generation, left WWE in 2014 feeling deflated after his WrestleMania 29 match against The Undertaker, despite the match being one of his career highlights. After nearly seven years away from wrestling, during which he explored commentary and attempted a UFC career, Punk returned to wrestling in AEW but was suspended following a locker room altercation. His WWE comeback in late 2023, encouraged by Triple H, has marked one of the best phases of his career. Punk distinguishes between his wrestling persona and his personal life, emphasizing the importance of boundaries with fans outside the ring to maintain personal space. He also highlighted young WWE talents like Bron Breakker as future WrestleMania main eventers and explained the motivation behind his famous 2011 "pipebomb" promo as a push for creative control and to voice frustrations with WWE's older generation. Throughout his career, Punk has been driven by a strong belief in his abilities and a desire to deliver quality performances on his own terms.