CM Punk reflects on his return.
CM Punk shocked the world when he returned to WWE at Survivor Series 2023, nearly a decade after he walked out of the company. In his ten years away from WWE, Punk competed in the UFC, was part of FOXSports 1 studio show "WWE Backstage" and returned to wrestling with AEW.
Speaking to UFC on TNT Sports at UFC 298, Punk was asked about the itch to return.
"I think it's just time. Timing is everything. I wrestled for a very long time before I signed a WWE contract. I was on the road for ten years, zero time off. That takes its toll. I think one of the things that I never did before was try to balance everything out. I think a lot of fighters, a lot of wrestlers do that. Balance is kind of key. But when you're young and you wanna go and you have to take every opportunity that comes your way, you can't say no. Then after a while, you burn out. So I burnt out 10 years ago. I left. I did some other things. I got to do a lot of cool other stuff and then time heals all wounds. You slowly start to realize that a lot of the stuff that happened 10 years ago doesn't matter. Different people come and go. Different people are in charge now. Maybe I can go back and it kind of fits like an old slipper. It's good to be back and I'm super happy it happened. The way I came back and how big it's been never could have been what it was without all the other crap. That's just life. I woke up this morning, so it's a good day," he said.
Punk was fired by AEW after a backstage incident at AEW All In when he got into an altercation with Jack Perry. Punk had been suspended one year prior for a backstage incident with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) at AEW All Out 2022.
Punk is currently sidelined with a triceps injury. He hopes to return within six to eight months.
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