CM Punk is not entirely pleased with how his time in AEW went.
Punk recently appeared on Cheap Heat with Peter Rosenburg and spoke about his first year back in WWE. He was also asked if he had any regrets about matches he didn’t get to have in AEW or stories he didn’t get to tell.
Punk responded:
No. I feel like I wasted some matches on some people, for sure, but that is what it is. Some people understand the business, and some people don’t. I think everybody here (WWE) understands the business.”
According to Cagematch, Punk wrestled 33 matches in his AEW career, beginning with Darby Allin at All Out 2021 and ending with his bout against Samoa Joe At All In 2023. He also worked programs with Eddie Kingston, MJF, Hangman Page, and Jon Moxley. During his final stretch in 2023, he formed CMFTR with FTR and worked matches against House of Black, Ricky Starks, and others.
Earlier in the conversation, Punk was asked how he would review his first year back in WWE, which began with his return at Survivor Series 2023. Punk said that despite the triceps injury he suffered in the Royal Rumble, he’d put this last year up against any he’s had in his career.
“I mean, aside from the whole triceps injury and the surgery, you know, we really turned chicken s–t into chicken salad with that one,” Punke responded. “Almost a little bit of a gift. I think people almost forget I was hurt because I was such a focal point.”
“I don’t want to grade myself. I leave that to the fans, and my peers, the people I work for. They can go ahead and grade it. I’ve had the time of my life, though, coming back. I weigh this past year up against any year of my entire career.”
CM Punk has been absent from WWE since the Raw after Bad Blood, where he defeated Drew McIntyre in a Hell in a Cell match in the blowoff to their feud. There is currently no timetable for his return to the company.