WWE's Growing CM Punk Problem
Even as he enters the twilight of his incredibly accomplished in-ring career, CM Punk still has plenty more to offer WWE and its audience, and already has had a celebrated and successful return run with the company.
His unforeseen feud with Drew McIntyre was, arguably, WWE's most consistent creative hit of 2024 and most of his matches and promos throughout the year were well-received.
Coming into 2025, though, his focus has been firmly on Seth Rollins, and although it's resulted in some memorable, must-see moments, it seems almost as if the powers that be have lost sight of where Punk fits in the grand scheme of things, both currently and in the long run.
His bad blood with Rollins appears to be no closer to being over, the renewal of his rivalry with John Cena over the Undisputed WWE Championship was rushed and ultimately uneventful, and above all else, he's fallen short almost every time it has mattered most as of late.
His booking this year has left fans wondering whether he is destined to hold world title gold again before he hangs up his boots, or if he's doomed to remain at a level below the main event scene permanently.
It's imperative WWE addresses and attempts to rectify its growing Punk problem before it's too late.
Never-Ending Seth Rollins Rivalry
1 of 5Before Punk can finally move forward in WWE, he must first finish his feud with Rollins, or at least end this current chapter in a decisive manner.
They exchanged wins on the Road to WrestleMania 41, but while Rollins won their heated Triple Threat match also involving Roman Reigns, it was The OTC who The Visionary pinned, not Punk.
Thus, Rollins and Punk continued to wage war in the weeks and months that followed without ever actually having a one-on-one rubber match to determine who the superior Superstar is once and for all.
Worse yet, The Best in the World has suffered setback after setback because of Rollins, including failing to qualify for the men's Money in the Bank ladder match and to dethrone John Cena at Night of Champions.
Consequently, Punk has been made to look foolish on countless occasions because he's done little to even the score. He could have cost Rollins the MITB briefcase or exact revenge on the other members of the group, but he has instead sat on the sidelines and allowed everything to happen.
It would be logical to assume they'll face off at SummerSlam and have the big blow-off there, but with LA Knight now entering a program with Rollins and Gunther also getting involved in Punk and The Visionary's affairs on the June 30 edition of Raw, this feud may just continue until the audience grows too tired of it, by which point the conclusion won't pack as much of a punch.
Lack of Long-Term Direction
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Punk made his mission statement quite clear upon returning to WWE in November 2023: His sole intentions were to capture championships and make money, not friends. He'd also have the opportunity to close out his iconic career on his terms after walking out abruptly a decade earlier.
All signs pointed to him winning the World Heavyweight Championship from Rollins at WrestleMania 40, but a freak injury he sustained in the men's Royal Rumble that January forced the company to pivot and hold off on the Rollins vs. Punk program.
The Second City Saint instead shifted his focus toward Drew McIntyre, the man responsible for putting him on the shelf in storyline. As noted, their ruthless rivalry carried WWE programming for the better part of the year and culminated with an epic Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood in October.
Punk subsequently settling his score with Rollins before going back after the World Heavyweight Championship should have been the goal, but he and The Visionary have been at odds for almost eight months now and it's possible SummerSlam won't mark the end of it, either.
What is the long-term direction for The Straight Edge Superstar? When will the prestigious prize become his top priority again, if ever?
Punk could chase the title sometime in the second half of 2025 or even en route to WrestleMania 42, but the bottom line is WWE has to be careful to not drag out his stories for too long. Doing so runs the risk of him suffering another serious injury that further delays any potential plans for him or cuts his career short altogether.
A String of High-Profile Losses
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Punk is popular enough that a majority of fans won't notice his win-loss record in 2025 hasn't been the most stellar. He's reached such an established level that he's hardly hurt by losing as frequently as he has been, but he's still in need of a high-profile victory sooner rather than later.
The multi-time world champion last won when it mattered most against Rollins on Raw's Netflix premiere at the onset of the year. He also beat Sami Zayn in an Elimination Chamber qualifier a month later, but otherwise, he's lost every other televised match he's had in 2025.
That includes the men's Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber matches, the Steel Cage clash with Rollins in March, the Triple Threat on Night 1 of WrestleMania 41, a tag team match at Saturday Night's Main Event in May, a Money in the Bank qualifier on Raw in June, and his Night of Champions main event with Cena.
If he's headed for a Triple Threat with Rollins and Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship, beyond his hatred for The Visionary, there really is no reason for Punk to have another shot at a world title until he's earned it.
If Punk loses to Rollins—or anyone else for that matter—the next time he's in action, he'll have a tougher time ridding himself of the loser label from a storyline standpoint, despite proving in the past he's far from “washed up” at this stage of his run.
At Risk of Ruining Authentic Persona
4 of 5Punk has to be extremely careful to not lose that part of his persona that has resonated with the audience for so long: The realness and legitimacy that so many others on the roster lack.
It was that quality that elevated him to superstardom in 2011 when he made a name for himself almost overnight with the famed "pipebomb" promo. On the anniversary of that pivotal moment 14 years later, he made a mockery of himself by dressing up as Cena's old "Basic Thuganumics" character and delivering an intentionally cringeworthy rap ahead of their Night of Champions match.
It was obvious that it was intended to be a reversal of the roles and a fun trip down memory lane, but it was the antithesis of everything Punk has portrayed and stood for, for the last decade-plus. Their original rivalry in 2011 was as authentic as it got, whereas their most recent rivalry reeked of a cheap parody.
Of course, that was merely one instance, as The Second City Saint has carried himself in classic Punk fashion for a majority of his return run so far. But as a smiling, pandering babyface unable to back up his trash talk, he's slowly but surely losing his longtime edge.
Cena referring to his archnemesis as "Mr. TKO" during his own version of the pipebomb may have been a bit too on the nose. And if Punk doesn't combat that claim in the near future, his character could be on the verge of becoming what he once despised.
How WWE Can Get Punk Back on Track
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The first quick fix fans will fall back on is turning Punk heel, a role he excelled in and became synonymous with during his original WWE run between 2006 and 2014.
As beloved as he was, he did his strongest work while an antagonist, always pushing the envelope and bringing the best out of his adversaries, specifically in promos.
The 46-year-old has been great on both the mic and in the ring since being back in WWE, but a heel turn would cause a change in his output and presentation.
Turning heel isn't an immediate solution, though. Finishing his feud with Rollins is paramount, followed by focusing on the World Heavyweight Championship.
Gunther's second stint as champ doesn't need to last as long as his first. If the 2026 men's Royal Rumble is Sami Zayn's to win, Punk should take the title from Gunther before then.
That could be when Rollins cashes in his Money in the Bank briefcase and steals the strap from Punk, whether it be the same night or soon after. If Rollins vs. Zayn is the endgame for WrestleMania 42, Punk doesn't have an obvious opponent for the event, which might make a move to SmackDown and a storyline with Cody Rhodes more likely.
More meaningful wins, a clear path forward and a return to form are the keys to Punk regaining momentum and making the most of the time he has left inside the squared circle.
Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.
