CM Punk’s return to wrestling in 2021 may have been a huge deal, but his return to WWE last year was a completely different animal.
In the closing moments of Survivor Series: WarGames, Punk returned to WWE in his first appearance for the promotion since January 2014.
On a recent edition of “The Jackie Redmond Show” podcast, Punk spoke about his return to WWE and how it differed from returning to the industry. He said,
“100% of CM Punk was nervous. Returning to wrestling is one thing. Returning to WWE is a completely different animal. I didn’t know how things would go. It’s not like I was off TV for a super long time, but you still, as a performer, you’re like, ‘Is anyone going to remember me?’
“I was legit in an arena that had not been kind to me throughout my career. My first UFC fight was in that building. It was also hugely cathartic because I’m very much a guy who, if you ask me if I’m ready, I’m going to tell you ‘no’ because part of the juice is being in front of a live crowd.
“I’m the old guy on the ice now. I can stretch and warm up and I’m not going to be ready until I’m on the ice, the whistle blows, and the puck drops. Now, I’m ready. I need to be in front of the crowd and I need to see the red light on the camera and it’s like, ‘Okay, now, it’s go time.’”
Punk will compete in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match later this month, in his first televised match for WWE since the 2014 Royal Rumble match.
