CM Punk Shares Thoughts On The Rock’s In-Ring Performance

CM Punk has revealed his thoughts on the WrestleMania 40 in-ring return of The Rock.

‘The Great One’ returned to compete in a match for the first time since an impromptu six-second bout with Wyatt Family member Erick Rowan at WrestleMania 32, whilst his last advertised bout was a defeat to John Cena in the main event of WrestleMania 29 on 7th April 2013.

It proved a successful night for the ‘Final Boss’, who teamed with Roman Reigns to defeat Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins and Cody Rhodes to ensure that the main event of WrestleMania Sunday between ‘The American Nightmare’ and ‘The Tribal Chief’ would be contested under ‘Bloodline Rules’.

The near-45 minute encounter has met with huge critical acclaim, with the return made all the sweeter for the TKO Board Member as he scored the winning pinfall on Rhodes after dropping a devastating ‘People’s Elbow’.

The Rock’s recent return has seen his longest prolonged spell on WWE television in over 10 years and one of his last great feuds came against CM Punk, whom he defeated for the WWE Championship at Royal Rumble 2013.

Speaking during a post-show interview with ESPN, CM Punk was asked for his analysis on The Rock’s return and he shared high praise for ‘The People’s Champion’:

“I thought he looked great. As being somebody who wrestled him ten years ago, the same questions were lobbied around. Everyone wanted to know what he was going to look like, how his wind was going to be.

While there is a giant difference between a tag match or coming back to wrestle the champion, I thought he did well tonight. I thought he looked really good. He won the match, what really can I say?”

CM Punk Set For Big Role On WrestleMania Sunday

CM Punk seemed destined for a huge WrestleMania 40 bout following his sensational return at Survivor Series, however a serious triceps injury suffered at the hands of Drew McIntyre during the 2024 Royal Rumble match forces the Chicago native to miss out this time around.

‘The voice of the voiceless’ will still make his presence felt at Lincoln Financial Field on WrestleMania Sunday, however, as he takes a seat at the commentary table for the World Heavyweight Championship bout between Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre. Punk is widely expected to challenge for the title once he returns and had a war of words with both competitors during the 25th March episode of Raw.

H/T: Fightful for the above transcription.