Why CM Punk Is More Like Triple H Than He Wants To Admit

CM Punk has reflected on the similarities between himself and Triple H.

In the closing seconds of Survivor Series 2023, CM Punk made his remarkable return to WWE. Walking out to a thunderous ovation in front of his beloved Chicago public, Punk made his first WWE appearance in almost a decade, just weeks after being fired by AEW.

Punk’s previous run with the company came to an abrupt and controversial end in 2014 when he walked out following the Royal Rumble. After no-showing two TV tapings, Punk was suspended by the company and later fired on his wedding day.

Both Punk and WWE spoke negatively of each other in the years that followed, and it was believed he would never wrestle for the company again. Even when he finally resumed his career with AEW in 2021, a WWE comeback appeared impossible.

CM Punk Reflects On WWE Mistakes

While appearing on Stephanie’s Places, Punk looked back on his surprise return to WWE and admitted he was a “schmuck” at the end of his previous run in 2014.

“I certainly made mistakes, I certainly did dumb things, I certainly was a schmuck, and I think there was some stuff that was unfair, whatever. The broader spectrum, we’re talking about how many countries were in worldwide and the millions of people around the world, they just know that one day, I was gone.”

Punk went on to recall clearing the air with Triple H over a Zoom call during Thanksgiving. While the pair had endured a rocky relationship in the past, that now couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Thanksgiving, I’m on a Zoom with [Triple H], probably having a conversation that we should have had ten years ago,” he said. “I’m telling him, hey, don’t worry about it, go cut the turkey, go spend time with your family. He’s like, no, we gotta do this.

I think everything came together so fast, I was still unsure of a lot of stuff, and there definitely is that part of a performer’s brain. ‘Are they going to remember me? Are they going to care?’

I think me and your husband [Triple H] are way more similar than maybe even today we want to admit. I felt it was going to be a big deal, and then that wash over me was, oh, this is way bigger of a deal than I thought it was going to be [laughs]. Okay, we got something here.

The fans made this return so huge because it was just one of those things. I was the last guy now, right? ‘Who’s never going to go back? Oh, it’s going to be CM Punk, he’s never going to go back.’ We can do things as great as all these gigantic, iconic sports figures.

To me, me coming back in Chicago and getting that kind of response just proves it. I left a huge part of me in that moment. I’m tethered to it so I can constantly relive it and be there.”

CM Punk is set to take part in his first WrestleMania since 2013 when he faces Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 41. While Punk’s issues with Rollins are well-known, the tension in recent weeks has centred around his relationship with Reigns’ Wise Man Paul Heyman.

H/t to Wrestle Zone