CM Punk has spelled out exactly what will end his in-ring career, and it has nothing to do with a contract expiring or a set number of matches left.
Speaking on WWE Radio, the veteran star said his retirement will come down to a single measure: his health and how his body feels.
Punk insisted he has never been in better physical condition and intends to keep going until he physically can’t. Watching peers like John Cena and AJ Styles walk away has only pushed him to keep wrestling rather than plan his own exit, he explained. When asked if he thinks about his legacy, Punk said:
I do, but not much. It’s a fleeting moment, you know? Just because I know I’m much closer to the end than I am the beginning. Where that end is? Nobody knows. I don’t even know.
Punk said that what he refuses to do is put a date on it.
It’s not measured in the length of a contract. It’s not measured in matches. To me, it’s honestly, it’s measured in health. It’s how I look and it’s more importantly how I feel. And right now, I’ve never felt better. I’m double-timing my recovery on things, which is something I’ve never been really great at,” Punk said.
He added that the modern schedule gives him room to prioritize recovery in a way he never did earlier in his career, before summing up his plan bluntly:
So I’m just going to go until the wheels fall off. We’ll see what happens.
Reshaping his physique has been a central goal for Punk in 2026. He has been open about that transformation, framing his improved conditioning as the thing keeping his career runway open.
Punk vs. Rhodes At SummerSlam
Punk made the comments ahead of his booked clash with Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam. He told Busted Open he is “very psyched” to face Rhodes and takes pride in what Rhodes has accomplished.
Punk sees the two as having walked similar roads. Both left WWE, spent time elsewhere including runs in AEW, and returned to the company in recent years, Punk making his comeback in 2023 and Rhodes in 2022.
