Shawn Michaels Gives Honest Assessment Of CM Punk’s WWE Return
Shawn Michaels has weighed in on CM Punk’s shocking return to WWE.
CM Punk made his return to WWE at Survivor Series 2023, making his presence felt in the company for the first time in almost a decade. The move came less than three months after CM Punk was fired from AEW for an altercation with Jack Perry backstage at All In. This was the last of multiple controversies Punk was part of during his time in the company.
No stranger to controversy himself, Shawn Michaels has reacted positively to the Straight Edge Superstar’s remarkable comeback to WWE. During an appearance on Cheap Heat, HBK said he was thrilled to see the star return, explaining that he knows firsthand that there’s always opportunity in the company if someone is “dependable.”
“Like everybody else; happy, thrilled, Holy Cow. I got asked a couple months ago, ‘if you had a chance to use him, would you?’ Yeah, who wouldn’t?
“I understand business. I wasn’t always the most popular guy with people, but I was really good at my job. I feel like that’s one of the reasons I’ve had one here in the WWE for almost 40 years. I’m dependable and I’m good at my job. If you are that, there is always an opportunity here if you want one.
“I’m happy for him, I’m happy for the company. I’m happy for the WWE fanbase, the WWE Universe. Stories like this are always fantastic, even if they’re controversial, that’s part of what makes them fantastic.
“There are times, I don’t always know what’s going on. Truth be told, I don’t think sometimes they know what’s going on. Unpredictability is just that, unpredictable. That’s what makes this job so fantastic and so unique. That’s why we’ve continued to thrive for 40-plus years,”
Shawn Michaels Believes CM Punk Will Respect Other Peoples’ Opinions In WWE
Turning to how Punk might be feeling going back into the WWE locker room after the events of the last decade, Michaels admits it could be uncomfortable for the star to begin with, but expects he will “get used to it.”
“Early on, it’s uncomfortable. After a while, you get used to it. Everybody would prefer to be liked. Second guessing is always going to go on in this line of work. It is impossible to please 100% of the people 100% of the time.
“In any line of work and any walk of life, anyone can say, ‘I like this guy and I get along with him,’ and they’re talking about him two minutes later. That goes for everyone, even the most liked individuals.”
Michaels thinks that, like him, Punk could have had problems with respecting other peoples’ opinions in the past, but would be “good with it” today.
“He’s been doing this for a long time. I’ve always liked Phil and I always understood the…heaven forbid you have a different opinion. That kind of stuff doesn’t bother me. At one time, it did, and I didn’t have the maturity to accept and respect other’s opinions if they didn’t agree with mine.
“At one point, it might have bothered him. I would imagine he’s accepted it as a reality and is good with that.”
Although he is officially a WWE Superstar again, CM Punk was namedropped on the latest edition of AEW Dynamite during a promo by MJF.
H/T to Fightful for the above transcription.