Why CM Punk Won’t Take Backstage WWE Role While Still Wrestling

CM Punk loves working with Triple H.

Since returning to WWE in late 2023, CM Punk has revelled in his role as one of wrestling’s elder statesmen.

It’s been widely reported that Punk regularly takes time to speak with younger talent and offer advice and critique where required. This saw him attend several NXT tapings at the Performance Center while being on hand for company tryouts.

His actions have only added to speculation that Punk will become the latest former World Champion to take on a backstage managerial role in the future, with some suggesting that it might happen sooner rather than later, even while he’s an active performer.

However, the man himself has other ideas.

CM Punk Open To Office Role, Just Not Yet

During a new interview with Scott Fishman of TV Insider, Punk was asked about his working relationship with Triple H. Things were notoriously frosty between the pair during Punk’s first WWE run, but in 2025, life couldn’t be more different.

Punk explained that they’d both changed and grown significantly, which helped change the dynamics of their relationship. He added that they’ve only “scratched the surface” when it comes to working together, but that doesn’t mean Punk is preparing to step into “the office” just yet.

“Between me and Triple H, there is so much more of an understanding. I’ve advanced in my life to a point where I have the perspective I didn’t have before. For him, likewise has advanced in life to where he has experiences and knowledge he didn’t have before.

Me and him, I think we were both on the main roster, and were talented guys. It was more adversarial because we were in competition. Now we’re not and are on the same page and want to help the next generation and kind of guide them the right way with their creativity showing through, but also producing them. It’s more like, ‘Maybe do it this way and see what happens.’

Look, I love working with the guy. It’s amazing. It’s really a treat. I think we’ve only scratched the tip of the iceberg. I’m still kind of pumping the brakes on any kind of office title. I don’t want to be office Punk while I’m active main roster wrestler Punk. Those things do not mix.

You can not try to tell somebody else what to do while you are essentially booked in a certain position on the show, in my opinion. I’m stoked being a wrestler, and until I hang my boots up, I’m going to be stoked being a wrestler. I want to do the best I can with the group I have, which are some supremely talented, genius minds for the wrestling business.”

Back in the ring, CM Punk is set to challenge Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam. The former AEW star became the number one contender after winning a Gauntlet Match on Raw.

The match will be just the second time Punk has challenged for World Championship gold since returning to the company in November 2023. At Night of Champions in June, he unsuccessfully challenged John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Title.