CM Punk isn’t holding back about why he’s back in WWE—and he’s pointing fingers at the absence of Vince McMahon as the key to his return. After famously ditching the company in 2014 and promising he’d never step foot in a WWE ring again, Punk stunned fans by reappearing at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 in his hometown of Chicago. In a candid chat on The Rich Eisen Show, the “Second City Saint” explained that his comeback hinged on a major shift in WWE’s power structure.
“I swore I’d never come back,” Punk admitted. “But life has a funny way of throwing curveballs. It humbles you, teaches you never to say never.” Then came the kicker: “If it was the same old WWE, with the same old faces running the show, neither side would’ve bothered reaching out. It just wouldn’t have happened.” Though he didn’t name McMahon outright, the dig was clear as day.
The turning point? Triple H, now WWE’s Chief Content Officer, stepped up to mend fences after years of bad blood. Punk said the TKO merger and McMahon’s fading grip on the company set the stage perfectly. “Timing is everything,” he mused. “A spark turned into a wildfire, and here I am.”
McMahon’s exit wasn’t exactly graceful—by early 2024, a lawsuit from ex-WWE staffer Janel Grant piled on allegations of sexual misconduct and trafficking, further tarnishing his legacy. With new leadership in place, WWE’s moved on, and Punk’s thriving in a company he once swore off for good.
What do you think—could Punk have patched things up under McMahon’s reign? Sound off below and tell us if you’re all in on his WWE revival!
Interesting Factual Facts:
- CM Punk’s real name is Phillip Jack Brooks, and he hails from Chicago, Illinois, where his Survivor Series return took place.
- Punk’s 2014 WWE exit sparked a 434-day reign as WWE Champion to end unceremoniously—he later aired grievances in a viral podcast with Colt Cabana.
- Triple H (Paul Levesque) took over WWE creative control in 2022, ushering in a new era praised for better storytelling and talent freedom.
- The TKO merger in 2023 fused WWE with UFC under Endeavor, diluting McMahon’s once-ironclad authority.
- Punk’s return match at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 drew a record-breaking gate of $2.4 million at Chicago’s Allstate Arena.
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