CM Punk was a recent guest on “The MMA Hour” podcast to discuss a variety of topics, including how he was able to change his negative mindset toward WWE after walking out of the company back in 2014.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On his time away from WWE: “When I left, I did stop talking to a lot of people because I was immediately embroiled in this lawsuit. I look at it now and it fed into the tribalism of them vs. me. Right or wrong, that’s how I survived. I had to draw a line somewhere. There were people that I didn’t talk to. I couldn’t trust if I said something that it wasn’t going back to them, the people suing me. It was a sh*t situation that I wouldn’t wish on anybody.”
On how he was able to move on: “I woke up this morning. I tell people all the time, ‘I woke up this morning.’ You get one shot at all this. I see so much hate out there based on the color of someone’s skin or religion or all this stuff. We’re all here for such a short time. Maybe it’s because I’m not a religious guy and I don’t believe there is anything to look forward to. I woke up today. Cool. Everything else is gravy.”
On changing his mindset: “I think a lot of how I handled things was a trauma response from not getting what I needed as a kid. Broken home, no money. How do I better my life and the people who were supposed to take care of me never did. Like I said, respect is a default. I’ll walk into a room and respect you. The instant you piss on my shoes, okay. Some people are like, ‘that’s crazy, how do you hold that grudge?’ What are you pissing on my shoes for? What’s the point of that? It’s weird because when I’m on television, I’m CM Punk. What does that mean? There are so many elements of who I am on TV. It’s a double-edged sword, and I get to blur that line. ‘Oh, he did this.’ That translates over and there are people who hate me because I beat Jeff Hardy and he had to leave WWE. I’ve been such a good bad guy in my career and they think that carries over into real life. When they hear stories, ‘He’s super violent backstage. Of course he is.’ They conflate the thing.”
CM Punk, the former WWE superstar, recently appeared on “The MMA Hour” podcast to discuss various topics, including his mindset towards WWE after leaving the company in 2014. In the interview, Punk opened up about his time away from WWE, how he was able to move on, and the reasons behind his changed mindset.
When asked about his time away from WWE, Punk revealed that he distanced himself from many people due to being involved in a lawsuit. He explained that he had to draw a line and stop talking to certain individuals because he couldn’t trust if what he said would be used against him in the lawsuit. It was a difficult situation that he wouldn’t wish upon anyone.
However, Punk also shared how he was able to move on from that negative experience. He emphasized the importance of appreciating life and waking up each morning. He mentioned that he sees a lot of hate in the world based on factors like race or religion, but believes that we are all here for a short time. As someone who doesn’t subscribe to any religious beliefs, Punk finds value in simply waking up each day and considers everything else as a bonus.
Punk also discussed how his mindset has changed over the years. He attributed some of his past behaviors to a trauma response from not receiving the care and support he needed as a child. Growing up in a broken home with financial struggles, Punk had to find ways to improve his life on his own. He mentioned that respect is his default approach when meeting someone new, but if they disrespect him, he won’t hesitate to stand up for himself. Punk acknowledged that his on-screen persona as CM Punk has blurred the line between his character and his real-life self, leading some people to hate him based on his wrestling persona.
The interview provides insight into CM Punk’s journey and sheds light on the challenges he faced during his time away from WWE. It also highlights his growth and changed perspective on life. Despite the difficulties he encountered, Punk has managed to move forward and find a positive outlook. The interview offers fans and listeners a deeper understanding of the former WWE superstar and his mindset.