For fans hoping to see CM Punk reprise his role as one of WWE’s most notorious villains, the former champion has delivered a reality check. Speaking on the Pardon My Take podcast, Punk explained why he believes his days as a top heel are likely behind him, suggesting he has entered a different stage of his career.
Punk acknowledged the long-standing sentiment among fans that he thrives more as a heel than as a babyface. He agreed with the logic, noting it is “a lot easier to get people to hate you than it is to get people to truly love you.” But he also pointed to nostalgia for his career and the respect he’s earned for continuing to perform at a high level as reasons why a return to the dark side may not be possible. “I don’t know if I’m ever going to be a bad guy again, ’cause it seems I’ve kind of leveled up,” Punk said. “A lot of it’s nostalgia, and a lot of it is, I think, how hard I work and how I still can compete at that super high level.”
While embracing his role as a babyface, Punk has not lost his outspoken edge. During the same conversation, which was centered on WWE’s new partnership with ESPN, he took aim at the branding for the upcoming Wrestlepalooza event. “That might actually be the first time I’ve said it. It’s a ridiculous name,” Punk remarked, referencing the show title that WWE reportedly views as a potential second WrestleMania. The name itself has historical ties, having once been used by ECW.
Despite his critique, Punk is positioned as one of the focal points of the inaugural card. He is set to team with his wife, AJ Lee, against Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch in a mixed tag team match that continues his heated rivalry with Rollins, a central storyline since late 2023.