Why CM Punk Is Motivated When Working With WWE Legends

CM Punk is always trying to raise his game.

During his long and illustrious career, CM Punk has shared the ring with a whole list of wrestling greats. What started out as Punk trying to learn as much as possible, in 2025, has turned into the next generation looking to him for guidance in the same way.

In a new interview with Inside The Ropes, Punk broke down his own philosophy when it comes to working with legends. He explained that no matter who he’s in the ring with, he’s always trying to raise his level to match theirs.

“I’ve always tried to rise to the level of the legends that I’ve worked with, you know, and early in my career, when I got to work with a guy like Eddie Guerrero, like, you know, I realized, like, real fast there was such a talent and experience disparity that any time, any chance I got to work with a legend, whether it was doing something dark with Stone Cold or doing something with Bret [Hart], I would always try to work with them as much as I could. Like, ‘Hey Bret you want to put me in the Sharpshooter?’ you know? Getting to work with Legends like Rey [Mysterio] and all that.”

In an interview of his own, Steve Austin opened up about his friendship with CM Punk. Austin said that although they don’t talk all that often, there’s a great deal of respect between them. The WWE Hall of Famer has previously said that if he ever gets back in the ring one more time, he’d like it to be with Punk.

CM Punk Set For Seth Rollins Grudge Match

On March 10, at Madison Square Garden, CM Punk and Seth Rollins will meet one more time in a Steel Cage Match. The match was set a week earlier when Punk opened Raw by calling out just about everyone who had ever crossed him, which included calling The Rock a “bald fraud.”

When Punk got to Rollins, his comments sparked a brawl as the pair tried to destroy each other.

The match on Raw will be just the third time Punk and Rollins have met one-on-one, and the former World Heavyweight Champion is currently without a win. Punk defeated Rollins back in 2013 and then came out on top when they wrestled again in January 2025.

H/t to Wrestling Inc