CM Punk returned to WWE at the end of 2023. Despite an unfortunate injury during last year's Royal Rumble PLE, the Best in the World has lived up to that moniker and, a few months ago, main evented WrestleMania for the first time.
While Punk wasn't able to dethrone Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena at Night of Champions, he's getting another shot at championship gold when he faces World Heavyweight Champion Gunther at SummerSlam next month.
TV Insider recently caught up with Punk—who appears to be having a blast being a WWE Superstar again—and asked what's changed from his previous WWE run (which ended in 2014) to this one.
"I don’t think I’m fighting for real estate anymore where as early in my career I was always fighting for what I thought was the way to do things. I feel like my role is 100 hundred percent more solidified now. It feels weird saying that I’m a living legend, but I’m not sure how else to say it. I’m 46 years old and have been doing this for a very long time. Pardon my French, I’m pretty f*ckin’ good at it. I know that now. It’s not me fighting and trying to prove that to people now. It’s me being more like, 'We all get it now. We understand each other.'"
The Second City Saint was also asked about the evolution of his relationship with Paul "Triple H" Levesque. It sounds like he's been offered the opportunity to take on a backstage role in the company.
Punk is resisting right now as he's focused on being an active competitor, but seems open to the idea down the line.
"I love working with the guy. It’s amazing. It’s really a treat. I think we’ve only scratched the tip of the iceberg. I’m still kind of pumping the brakes on any kind of office title. I don’t want to be office Punk while I’m active main roster wrestler Punk. Those things do not mix. You can not try to tell somebody else what to do while you are essentially booked in a certain position on the show, in my opinion. I’m stoked being a wrestler and until I hang my boots up, I’m going to be stoked being a wrestler. I want to do the best I can with the group I have, which are some supremely talented, genius minds for the wrestling business."
Finally, Punk teased his "exciting" match with Gunther, putting over his SummerSlam opponent in a big way while hyping up what we'll see from them when they do battle for the first time in New Jersey's MetLife Stadium.
"A tremendous opportunity for me to get to work against arguably the best guy in the business right now. Wrestling is very subjective. It’s easy to say, 'This is my favorite.' Other people may like something else or a different style. I think Gunther can do it all. The work he has put into his body and honed his craft. English isn’t his first language. There are so many people on the crew now where English is not their first language, and they cut better promos than most people who only speak English. It’s amazing."
"There is a wealth of talent there. I’m looking forward to putting on a show with the guy. I really don’t know what else to say. I don’t have anything bad to say about him. I think he is one of the best wrestlers in the world, and I know I am. So, it’s going to be fun at SummerSlam."
Do you think Punk will capture the World Heavyweight title at SummerSlam? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.