At Survivor Series 2023 in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois, CM Punk made his grand return to the WWE after a 10-year hiatus. The moment cemented itself in the history books as soon as the All-State Arena buzzed with his iconic ‘Cult of Personality’ theme song. The crowd went nuts! And why not? The ‘Voice of the Voiceless’ was finally back! The ‘Second City Saint’ had returned ‘home’ to take his rightful place at the very top. And during his comeback promo on RAW right after the PPV, Punk boldly declared, “I’m not here to make friends. I’m here to make money.”  Yes, the same ‘Indies guy’ who once championed WWE as a brand of ‘professional wrestling’ rather than just an entertainment extravaganza, which was the case since its ‘genesis’ under Vince McMahon in 1985.

But does the 46-year-old icon still carry the same dreams as the little kid, Phillip Jack Brooks from Illinois? Interestingly, it seems like he does—because he’s coming back to main event Night 1 of WrestleMania 41 in what promises to be an emphatic generational triple-threat match with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, and with his best friend, Paul Heyman, in his corner. And guess what, this is the first time that Punk will ever close the show of shows! But is it too late? What was meant to arrive nearly 10 years earlier at WrestleMania 28 or WrestleMania 29 is now set to take center stage in Las Vegas at the biggest show of the year. You know the story!

The night when we got John Cena vs. The Rock facing each other in what was billed as ‘Once in a Lifetime.’ A moment stolen from the then-WWE champion who featured on the undercard against Chris Jericho after ‘legitimising’ the company with his infamous ‘Pipebomb’ in June 2011. But that’s not it! From an extremely difficult childhood marked by an alcoholic father and a mother struggling with bipolar disorder, Punk has always weathered storms. Yet through it all, he stood tall and kept fighting. But at 46, is he tired of taking on the physical and mental battles?

Well—surprise! He’s still going strong. The former champ is all about living in the moment rather than fearing worst-case scenarios. How do we know? Punk recently opened up in a heartfelt conversation with Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA. While reflecting on his recent fight and long journey through combat sports, Punk shared the emotional highs and lows of his career. He admitted that he always pushed hard, always asked “What’s next?”—but recognized it as a double-edged sword. He reflected on his expedition and said, “It’s been so good I feel uncomfortable telling people how good it is. Because you get the people who are like ‘Oh, he is just that company guy now, this that.’ I am 46 years old. I am still doing what I dreamt of as a little kid to do at a high level. Like I am just rolling around, I am happy.”

This is when Cormier complimented CM Punk as one of the titans of modern WWE. Moreover, ‘DC’ added that this main event opportunity should have knocked on his door a long time ago. The legendary WWE star answered, “To me, what this main event represents is especially with Paul Heyman being in my corner. This is almost like this is what should have happened in 2011, 12, 13, you know. So I feel like I’m fortunate I get a do-over.”

He conveyed further, “I try not to build things up too much anymore, I try not to downplay important things. Because make no mistake, this is still very important to me. This business holds too much. For anyone, especially me, to go out and do what I do, to not care. Right? I think in the past, one of my biggest crutches was that I cared too much, almost, but this is everything to me, and it’s evident that all the close people in my life reached out daily.”

Flashback to June 2011—CM Punk delivered his iconic ‘Pipebomb’ promo on the June 27 episode of Raw, a moment that’s since become legendary in professional wrestling history. Why? Because it wasn’t just a promo—it was a raw, emotional airing of real frustrations. “Do I have everybody’s attention now?” These words have echoed the eternal chambers of the wrestling business ever since. Back in 2005, John Cena had become the face of WWE as he clinched the title at WrestleMania 21, holding the top spot for years despite criticisms of his in-ring performances, flashy persona, and PG-oriented gimmick.

Punk, a darling of the Indies from Ring of Honor, was featured as a side act in Cena’s WrestleMania 22 entrance in his hometown of Chicago, no less. What a bummer! Moreover, Punk, who had long felt sidelined by the company despite his talent and connection with fans, used his voice to convey what many were thinking but no one dared to say. The emotion, the truth, and the delivery made the ‘Pipebomb’ a defining moment. Not just for Punk, but for WWE as a whole!

Punk’s rise culminated in his WWE Championship win over Cena at that year’s Money in the Bank PPV. But even then, he didn’t get the recognition he deserved. As mentioned, WrestleMania 28 didn’t feature the WWE Champion in the main event—it featured Cena vs. Rock, with the spotlight going to a part-time star and WWE’s golden boy. That moment became symbolic of the system Punk had criticized all along. Apart from Vince McMahon, who faced Punk’s wrath on that fateful night, Punk also targeted his “doofus” son-in-law and now the undisputed creative leader of the promotion, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque!

Fast forward to 2025: Punk made his return to WWE. And guess who hugged Punk backstage at Survivor Series and welcomed him with open arms? You guessed it right! It was Triple H of all people. And that is the difference Punk talked about in his heartfelt admission to Cormier. And while he’s in the WrestleMania main event himself, he’s not completely thrilled about the company’s choices.

He recently expressed some disappointment on The Masked Man Show over the placement of the WWE Women’s World Championship triple threat match—featuring Iyo Sky, Bianca Belair, and Rhea Ripley—kicking off Night 2. Still, Punk is aware of the moment he’s in. After a disastrous and toxic outing with AEW, Punk has finally realised the worth of his roots.

Speaking with Cormier, he said he feels lucky for the opportunity and doesn’t want to overthink things anymore. Instead, he’s choosing to stay present, to “keep it chill,” and soak it all in. For Punk, it’s about legacy now—leaving behind something unforgettable. He knows the day will come when he hangs up the boots for good. But until then, he wants fans to remember his impact on professional wrestling and combat sports as a whole.

Yet there’s still a hint of that old frustration. Speaking with Sonnen and DC, Punk admitted he’s annoyed that John Cena once again secured a major spot at WrestleMania. Despite everything, it seems some things haven’t changed. And Punk is still fighting the same fight he was over a decade ago.

CM Punk is not happy that John Cena is still getting the top billing

The 46-year-old recently voiced his distaste for John Cena being part of the Elimination Chamber event without participating in a qualifying match. He said, “I’m looking at the Chamber now like, ‘Oh, Cena’s got a bye? Cena just gets to be in it?’ Okay, Mr. I’m filming ‘Matchbox’ in Budapest. I’m gonna just disappear, and then I just get a gift?”

Punk further told Sonnen and Cormier on the Good Guy/Bad Guy podcast that he still held grudges toward Cena and wanted to qualify for the Chamber just to slap him. He stated, “Obviously, Mania’s a big deal, and I’m not putting that on the back burner or anything like that, but he’s already in it, and he got a gift, he got a bye, he got a handout, he’s in the Chamber because he’s John Cena? Well, I’m gonna qualify, and I’m gonna come after him. That’s my goal.”

And considering how the Chamber PPV went down with Cena turning heel for the first time in 20 years, aligning with The Rock and main eventing Night 2 of WrestleMania 41 against Cody Rhodes for the WWE title, Punk’s critique is not misplaced. However, in the latest interview with DC, his demeanor seemed to shift. He no longer appeared to want any bad blood and expressed that he just wants to enjoy the ride.

This change in attitude heading into WrestleMania 41 reflects a more grounded mindset. While the competitive fire is still there, it seems he’s approaching things with more perspective. It’s less about grudges, more about the moment. What are your thoughts on CM Punk’s demeanour ahead of his iconic Mania outing? Let your wrestling soul pour it out in the comment section below!