CM Punk Admits WWE Return Might Not Have Happened If This Milestone Came Earlier

The former WWE champion reflects on the significance of finally main eventing WrestleMania.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:40pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action and tension of a wrestling match between two figures, their forms broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color.The high-stakes clash between two of WWE's top stars, CM Punk and Roman Reigns, is rendered in a bold, cubist style that captures the intensity and drama of their ongoing rivalry.Chicago Today

In a recent interview, CM Punk revealed that if he had main evented WrestleMania during his initial WWE run, he may not have returned to the company nearly a decade later. Punk made a shocking comeback at Survivor Series: WarGames in 2023 and has since become a fixture in the main event scene, including headlining WrestleMania last year. The wrestler explained that achieving that career-long goal made his return even sweeter, as he had previously resigned himself to the fact that it would never happen.

Why it matters

CM Punk's comments provide insight into the motivations and mindset of one of WWE's biggest stars. His admission that main eventing WrestleMania earlier in his career could have prevented his eventual return suggests the significance he places on that accomplishment, and how it factored into his decision to come back to the company.

The details

Punk made his surprise return to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames in 2023, marking his first appearance with the company in nearly 10 years. Since then, he has been a prominent part of the main event scene, including headlining WrestleMania 41 in a triple threat match against Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. In a recent interview, Punk reflected on the importance of that WrestleMania main event, stating that if he had achieved that milestone earlier in his career, he may not have felt the need to return to WWE.

  • CM Punk made his shocking return at Survivor Series: WarGames in November 2023.
  • Punk main evented WrestleMania 41 in April 2025.

The players

CM Punk

A former WWE champion who made a surprise return to the company in 2023 after nearly a decade away, and has since become a fixture in the main event scene.

Roman Reigns

The current WWE Universal Champion, who Punk will face one-on-one at WrestleMania 42.

Seth Rollins

The former WWE Champion who was part of the WrestleMania 41 main event with Punk and Reigns.

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What they’re saying

“If it had happened 10, 15 years ago, there's probably a big part of me that might have never come back because there wasn't anything on the horizon for me to conquer, no mountain to climb.”

— CM Punk

“WrestleMania is and always will be the pinnacle, top shelf show in pro wrestling. Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, those are the guys that were always talking about and hovering around the main event when I was watching.”

— CM Punk

What’s next

CM Punk will face Roman Reigns one-on-one in the main event of WrestleMania 42, with the WWE Universal Championship on the line.

The takeaway

CM Punk's comments highlight the significance he places on main eventing WrestleMania, and how that accomplishment factored into his decision to return to WWE after nearly a decade away. His admission that achieving that milestone earlier in his career may have prevented his comeback suggests the deep personal meaning it held for him.