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CM Punk recalls conversation with Triple H that led to WWE return as he makes shock confession
CM Punk has opened up on his earth-shattering return to WWE at Survivor Series in 2023. ‘The Best in the World’, who had spent the preceding two years with rival promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW), had vowed never to return after an acrimonious split from the company in 2014. Punk made waves across the wrestling industry with his return at Survivor Series in 2023WWE He walked out after the Royal Rumble event that year, and was later sent his termination papers on his wedding day – an incident former WWE chairman Vince McMahon claimed was purely coincidental. In the decade that followed, Punk went on to become one of the most outspoken figures in the industry, often taking shots at the company on podcasts and in interviews. He was also involved in a long-running legal dispute against WWE doctor Chris Amann, before eventually signing with AEW. But with Survivor Series hosted in his home town of Chicago in November 2023, and news that Punk had departed the rival promotional a couple of months earlier, a packed out arena held its breath as the show came to a close. Seconds before it went off the air, his iconic ‘Cult of Personality’ music hit, and Punk strolled out as the crowd went crazy. His return was one of the most shocking of recent memory – and 16 months on – the man himself has detailed how it came to fruition. Speaking to Stephanie McMahon on the first episode of Stephanie’s Places, Punk broke down the conversations that led to his comeback. He explained: “Thanksgiving, on a Zoom with your husband (Triple H), probably having a conversation we should have had ten years ago. “I’m telling him, ‘Hey, don’t worry about it. Go cut the turkey. Go spend time with your family.’ He’s like, ‘No, we gotta do this.’ “Everything came together so fast. I was still unsure of a lot of stuff. There is definitely that part of a performer’s brain, ‘Are they going to remember me? Are they going to care?’ Punk has returned straight to the main event scene since his WWE comebackGetty His Survivor Series return came about after Punk had a Thanksgiving conversation with Triple HYouTube: WWE “I think me and your husband are way more similar than maybe even today we want to admit. “I felt it was going to be a big deal, and then that washed over me, ‘Oh, this is way bigger of a deal than I thought it was going to be. Okay, we got something here.'” During the episode, McMahon also introduced behind-the-scenes footage of Triple H and Punk at SummerSlam 2024 in Cleveland. The pair are seen sharing a hug, with the wrestler thanking WWE’s Chief Content Officer for the opportunity to perform on the show. That video, and Punk’s admission that he and Triple H are ‘similar than they want to admit,’ quickly caught the attention of fans on social media. “Crazy how things have changed over the years,” one person wrote. Punk and Triple H shared a moment at SummerSlam last yearStephanie's Places/ESPN “Happy they resolved their issues,” another said. “Triple H and CM Punk’s new relationship is so wholesome man, you love to see it,” a third wrote. “Never ever thought I’d see this. Happy for them,” a fourth responded. Triple H, meanwhile, also discussed Punk’s return, adding it was inconceivable a couple of years ago. He explained: “If there was ever a guy you said will never return here, it would be CM Punk. “If you look at the history and you look at everything that had gone down – his side, company side – I think he would have said it a couple of years ago, ‘Never happening.’ But things change. “When I spoke to him on the phone I said, ‘Phil, if you’re the same person now that you were ten years ago, you wasted ten years of your life. If I’m that same person, then I wasted ten years of my life. Let’s put all that stuff beside us and talk about what are the possibilities?’ “We snuck him into that building. The contract wasn’t done yet. All that stuff was happening in real time… I guarantee you (CM Punk) was beside himself with doubt.”
CM Punk has opened up on his earth-shattering return to WWE at Survivor Series in 2023.
‘The Best in the World’, who had spent the preceding two years with rival promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW), had vowed never to return after an acrimonious split from the company in 2014.
He walked out after the Royal Rumble event that year, and was later sent his termination papers on his wedding day – an incident former WWE chairman Vince McMahon claimed was purely coincidental.
In the decade that followed, Punk went on to become one of the most outspoken figures in the industry, often taking shots at the company on podcasts and in interviews.
He was also involved in a long-running legal dispute against WWE doctor Chris Amann, before eventually signing with AEW.
But with Survivor Series hosted in his home town of Chicago in November 2023, and news that Punk had departed the rival promotional a couple of months earlier, a packed out arena held its breath as the show came to a close.
Seconds before it went off the air, his iconic ‘Cult of Personality’ music hit, and Punk strolled out as the crowd went crazy.
His return was one of the most shocking of recent memory – and 16 months on – the man himself has detailed how it came to fruition.
Speaking to Stephanie McMahon on the first episode of Stephanie’s Places, Punk broke down the conversations that led to his comeback.
He explained: “Thanksgiving, on a Zoom with your husband (Triple H), probably having a conversation we should have had ten years ago.
“I’m telling him, ‘Hey, don’t worry about it. Go cut the turkey. Go spend time with your family.’ He’s like, ‘No, we gotta do this.’
“Everything came together so fast. I was still unsure of a lot of stuff. There is definitely that part of a performer’s brain, ‘Are they going to remember me? Are they going to care?’
“I think me and your husband are way more similar than maybe even today we want to admit.
“I felt it was going to be a big deal, and then that washed over me, ‘Oh, this is way bigger of a deal than I thought it was going to be. Okay, we got something here.'”
During the episode, McMahon also introduced behind-the-scenes footage of Triple H and Punk at SummerSlam 2024 in Cleveland.
The pair are seen sharing a hug, with the wrestler thanking WWE’s Chief Content Officer for the opportunity to perform on the show.
That video, and Punk’s admission that he and Triple H are ‘similar than they want to admit,’ quickly caught the attention of fans on social media.
“Crazy how things have changed over the years,” one person wrote.
“Happy they resolved their issues,” another said.
“Triple H and CM Punk’s new relationship is so wholesome man, you love to see it,” a third wrote.
“Never ever thought I’d see this. Happy for them,” a fourth responded.
Triple H, meanwhile, also discussed Punk’s return, adding it was inconceivable a couple of years ago.
He explained: “If there was ever a guy you said will never return here, it would be CM Punk.
“If you look at the history and you look at everything that had gone down – his side, company side – I think he would have said it a couple of years ago, ‘Never happening.’ But things change.
“When I spoke to him on the phone I said, ‘Phil, if you’re the same person now that you were ten years ago, you wasted ten years of your life. If I’m that same person, then I wasted ten years of my life. Let’s put all that stuff beside us and talk about what are the possibilities?’
“We snuck him into that building. The contract wasn’t done yet. All that stuff was happening in real time… I guarantee you (CM Punk) was beside himself with doubt.”
