CM Punk’s surprise return to WWE at Survivor Series 2023 was something many fans never expected, especially given the contentious circumstances surrounding his departure a decade earlier.
Since Punk’s initial WWE run, significant changes have occurred, including Vince McMahon no longer being in charge. Triple H took over the main roster’s creative direction in the summer of 2022, helping WWE flourish. McMahon stepped down as CEO and chairman of WWE in that year following reports of hush money allegations.
McMahon continued to have some involvement and influence in the company until the WWE-UFC merger last September, when he became the executive chairman of TKO. However, after serious allegations by former WWE employee Janel Grant, McMahon left the company.
In an interview with Denise Salcedo of Instinct Culture, Punk was asked if there was a specific moment when he felt compelled to return to WWE.
Here’s what the former WWE Champion 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.”
Also Read: Update On How WWE Feels About CM Punk’s Drawing Power
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