Seth Rollins speaks for the first time about his outburst during CM Punk's WWE return

Seth Rollins addressed his viral reaction to CM Punk’s WWE return during Survivor Series 2023. In an interview with Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Rollins confirmed that Punk’s return was a surprise. Rollins expressed his dissatisfaction with the chosen moment for the return:

Randy had just come back after a long absence. It was his moment. The reaction when he went through the curtain was incredible.

There were 10 of us in the ring, we had a great match. We didn’t need him, but it was Chicago, his city. It was the most classic CM Punk moment of making everything about himself that I’ve ever seen.

When you’re in that moment, your adrenaline is through the roof, you’re on top of the cage celebrating with your friends, Allstate Arena packed and vibrating. Then that happens and it’s no longer about the performance. It’s no longer about Randy. It’s no longer about what you did to get to that point. It’s just: ‘Hey guys, it’s about me. Remember I’m the one you miss? Remember me, guys?’

Seth Rollins recalls CM Punk’s controversial exit in 2014

In the same interview, Seth Rollins commented on CM Punk’s troubled departure from WWE in 2014. Rollins revealed how Punk dealt with his friends who remained with the company:

It was one of the most selfish things I’ve ever seen from a human being. To leave the way he left and still expect other people to follow him. Then, criticize the company from a distance without even explaining to friends why he was so resistant to maintaining those friendships. I never got an answer from him.

CM Punk defeated Seth Rollins in the main event of the first WWE RAW on Netflix, on January 6.