CM Punk: I Graciously Stepped Back For Ten Years, And It Took Roman Reigns That Long To Become The Superstar That He Is

CM Punk famously left WWE after the 2014 Royal Rumble, walking out on the company and stepping away from wrestling until 2021.

He returned to WWE in 2023, and is the reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

Appearing on No Contest Wrestling with TJ Henderson and O’Shay Jackson Jr, CM Punk was asked about his 10 year gap and if he has any regrets about what he could have done during those ten years.

“Do I ever think like, ‘I missed ten years. I could have worked with AJ a bunch. I could have done more with Cena.’ I think I did pretty good. The Tribal Chief says he graciously scaled back for two years. I graciously stepped back for ten, and it took him that long to become the superstar that he is. I have no regrets,” he said.

Speaking to Pat McAfee ahead of the Royal Rumble, Roman Reigns noted that he’s stepped back the last two years after losing the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40 to allow others to get over, but that the creative didn’t evolve.

Elsewhere during the interview, Punk commented on a potential retirement tour. You can find his full comments here. 

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