CM Punk returned to WWE at the 2023 Survivor Series pay-per-view event this past November. This move was completely unexpected due to the controversial nature of his departure a decade earlier.
A notable shift has occurred between Punk’s initial and current tenures with WWE, notably with the absence of Vince McMahon’s leadership.
In contrast, Paul “Triple H” Levesque has played a pivotal role in overseeing the main roster creative since assuming the position of Chief Content Officer in the summer of 2022. McMahon relinquished his roles as CEO and Chairman of WWE in the same year following reports of hush money allegations.
Although McMahon remained involved in and influenced the creative process, he departed the company in September after the WWE-UFC merger, when he assumed the role of Executive Chairman of TKO.
McMahon’s departure was fueled by severe allegations made by former WWE employee Janel Grant.
In a recent interview with “Instinct Culture,” Punk revealed if there was a moment when he either wanted or felt he should return to WWE.
Punk said, “No, because it was never a thing that I was yearning to do. There were a lot of things that had to happen for the pathway to kind of clear. The stars had to align. There had to be a full moon. A lot of dominoes fell in order for us to get here. There was never a ‘Man, I’d really like to go back.’ Vince being out of the picture probably illuminated the way. That might have been one of the biggest things, and that’s both ways, for everybody who is going to sensationalize a headline. It wasn’t me, it wasn’t him, there’s just a lot of history there. All of a sudden, one of us is removed from the equation, and I think it changed a lot of things.”
Punk will battle Drew McIntyre next month at WWE SummerSlam 2024.
