CM Punk On Wrestling Return – “I Came Back With My Integrity Intact”
Following a seven-year absence, new AEW signee CM Punk says that he came back to professional wrestling with his dignity intact. It’s something that really mattered to Punk.
CM Punk made his long-awaited return to the world of pro wrestling on August 20th when he strolled out into the United Center in his home city of Chicago on AEW Rampage. After thanking the fans and expressing his happiness at being back, the former WWE Champion challenged Darby Allin to a match at AEW All Out on September 5th.
With the match now less than a week away, Punk appeared on the Angi Taylor show to look ahead to the clash and reflect on his arrival in AEW.
Punk initially confirmed that his return was his best moment in wrestling, adding that he came back on his own terms, without compromising himself.
“Yeah, hands down. Because there’s a triumph in that moment. You know, there’s a washing away of sorrow in that moment. It’s very much like, ‘Hey, I won.’ You know what I mean? Like, I did things on my terms, and I didn’t compromise myself one bit, and I came back with my integrity intact. Now let’s get back to business and that business is having fun.”
Punk continued, revealing that three little words from Thunder Rosa almost made him lose his composure before he even walked out on stage.
“I’m going to call out Thunder Rosa. I was a nervous wreck the whole time I’m pacing the hallway and can’t sit still. I can’t watch the monitor. I can’t talk to people, you know, I’m running around. Then from waiting to go out waiting for my music to hit and she just looks at me. She goes Hey, welcome back. And like I almost just burst into tears. I was just like, you son of a bitch. Yeah, so she got me pretty good with that. I don’t think that was her intention. But man, she got me.”
At AEW All Out, CM Punk will face off against Darby Allin in his first match since the 2014 Royal Rumble. Elsewhere on the show, Chris Jericho puts his career on the line against MJF.
You can see the full card for All Out below.
- Kenny Omega vs. Christian Cage (AEW World Championship)
- Britt Baker vs Kris Statlander (AEW Women’s World Championship)
- Andrade El Idolo vs. PAC
- CM Punk vs. Darby Allin
- The Young Bucks vs. The Lucha Brothers (Cage Match for the AEW World Tag Team Championships)
- Paul Wight vs. QT Marshall
- Women’s Casino Battle Royale
- Jon Moxley vs. Satoshi Kojima
- Miro vs. Eddie Kingston (TNT Championship)
- Chris Jericho vs. MJF (If Jericho loses he’ll retire from in-ring competition)
H/t to Fightful for the transcription.