CM Punk says he cannot turn heel in 2026 because the crowd will not let him.
The Undisputed WWE Champion made the case to Dave LaGreca on WWE Radio, days out from defending the title against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam.
The good guy, bad guy thing, I think, is decided by the audience. It’s their perspective.
By his read, the audience has already returned its verdict.
I think I am an incredible black hat that people love so much, it wouldn’t work. I’d still get cheered. It would defeat the purpose. It’s a real double-edged sword at this point.
The comments track with what has been reported. Self Made Pro said this week that Punk originally wanted to work heel for the Rhodes program, casting himself as the Terry Funk to Cody’s Dusty Rhodes, but that a turn is unlikely because his standing with the crowd is too strong.
That leaves SummerSlam as a rare babyface versus babyface world title match. Bully Ray argued on Busted Open that Rhodes has more room to turn than Punk does, and Self Made Pro reported the call is Cody’s to make.
Punk won the Undisputed WWE Championship from Sami Zayn on the July 6 Raw in his hometown of Chicago. That came months after he dropped the World Heavyweight Championship to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42 and went on a three-month hiatus.
Punk and Rhodes go Saturday on Night 1 of SummerSlam at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
