CM Punk Addresses Vince McMahon’s Impact On WWE Return

CM Punk has commented on why he decided to return to WWE.

At Survivor Series 2023, CM Punk completed one of the most remarkable WWE returns in history. The star had previously claimed he’d never work for the company again after leaving in explosive fashion back in 2014.

The return came after CM Punk visited a Raw taping in Chicago that April while still with AEW. After chatting with several Superstars and members of the WWE crew, Punk was reportedly asked to leave by Triple H at the behest of Vince McMahon.

CM Punk Reflects On WWE Comeback

During a new interview with Denise Salcedo of Instinct Culture at San Diego ComicCon, Punk was asked whether there was a moment he realised he needed to return to WWE. He denied there was a revelatory lightbulb moment, but admitted McMahon’s departure “illuminated the way.”

McMahon stepped away from WWE and TKO in January 2024 following allegations of sex trafficking and sexual assault, although he hadn’t been involved in the day-to-day running of the company for several months.

“No, because it was never a thing that I was yearning to do. There were a lot of things that had to happen for the pathway to kind of clear. The stars had to align. There had to be a full moon. A lot of dominoes fell in order for us to get here.

There was a never a, ‘Man, I’d really like to go back.’ Vince (McMahon) being out of the picture probably illuminated the way. That might have been one of the biggest things.

That’s both ways, for everybody who is going to sensationalize a headline. It wasn’t me, it wasn’t him, there’s just a lot of history there. All of a sudden, one of us is removed from the equation, and I think it changed a lot of things,”

After overcoming a torn triceps, CM Punk will be back in action at SummerSlam where he will take on Drew McIntyre. For added intrigue, Seth Rollins will be the special guest referee.

H/t to Fightful