World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk recently opened up about the real motivation behind his 2023 WWE return, revealing that main eventing WrestleMania was the one missing piece that brought him back after nearly a decade away.
'The Second City Saint' admitted that if he had already headlined the biggest show in wrestling before leaving, he likely would have stayed gone for good.
Punk returned to WWE at Survivor Series 2023 in Chicago, shocking the wrestling world after years away from the company. Since then, he's been featured in major storylines and finally got his WrestleMania main event moment last year. This year, he is involved in a rivalry with Roman Reigns and even dropped a pipebomb.
CM Punk Wanted WrestleMania Main Event
Speaking to WWE Now, Punk was asked whether main eventing WrestleMania would satisfy his younger self. His answer revealed just how much that unfinished business weighed on him.
You know, satisfy, I don't know if it's the word, but it might be dangerous because, yeah, because if you think about this, if I main evented WrestleMania before I left, I don't think I would have come back because I would have done it. What am I coming back for?
The admission makes Punk's WWE return feel less like a typical comeback and more like the completion of unfinished business. He didn't return for money or nostalgia, but to check the one major box left on his wrestling resume.
This year, CM Punk is putting his World title on the line against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42.
