CM Punk on WWE post-injury 'business decision' return, running into Vince McMahon

In a lengthy interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour that got social media buzzing due to his comments about AEW, CM Punk also talked about the lead-up to his WWE return at Survivor Series, when he could return from a triceps injury he suffered in January, Vince McMahon, and more.

Punk said the ruptured right triceps tendon injury he sustained early in the men's Royal Rumble match in January is healing better than the left triceps injury he suffered while in AEW as the process is "night and day" due to the company having more structure and more protocols in place.

He said WWE is protecting him against himself from potentially returning too early which he considers "a welcome change."

"I'm the one that's trying to push everything based on protocols for a ruptured triceps tendon but they're telling me to pump the brakes. I'm just sitting back listening to them as best I can," he said.

Punk said his eventual return is a "business decision" but that it could be in half the time as compared to his other triceps injury.

He verified there was no audible called during the men's Rumble match in terms of who was supposed to win. He said it was "real bad" on him after the injury and that while there was an idea for what he should do afterward, he pitched the promo he did instead.

Asked about the plan for himself for WrestleMania, Punk said it changed a lot but he thinks it was going to be himself vs. Seth Rollins on night one in the main event spot which he was 100% fine with.

The return

Punk said talks with WWE started on the Monday of Survivor Series week after Nick Khan gave him a call. They were initially interested in bringing him in for the Royal Rumble, but thought he had a non-compete. The ball really got rolling after he met with Paul Levesque on FaceTime that week to hash out any past issues and then to talk business.

Punk said very few people knew about his return (his wife, Levesque, Nick Khan, and his lawyers) and that he told his family on his way to the Allstate Arena. He said he had no idea about any of the "clues" people thought they saw on TV in weeks leading up (people using a GTS and saying 'best in the world') and was curious himself about why that was happening.

He also said he was "real close" to returning before, even before his tenure on WWE Backstage, and that Nick Khan was a driving force behind it.

He said WWE doesn't feel the same as it did 10 years ago, and that someone told him they were glad he was back to experience what he helped start when he was first there. He said it's "friendlier" now and a more laid back, relaxed atmosphere.

On "the visit"

Punk said his invite to come visit WWE Raw while under AEW contract came from Bayley who DM'd him after Liv Morgan helped him find his earbuds on a plane from Florida. He said AEW personnel weren't happy about the visit and used the word "betrayed" to him.

"I think the word betrayed was used and I was just like, 'Alright, man.' As a company, you are allowing guys to go on their television to do things. I went backstage to say hi to friends: two totally different things. If you're going to be mad about it, okay," he said.

The Vince McMahon allegations

He has interacted with McMahon just once since he returned, seeing the former WWE/TKO executive chairman by chance at the gym at the new WWE offices in Stamford, Connecticut, shortly after Punk returned. He said McMahon hugged him, welcomed him "home" and that they should connect at some point. They never did.

On the allegations against McMahon, Punk said they are indefensible and "horrific" and was surprised McMahon left such a paper trial. He hasn't read through the lawsuit, getting his information via various text messages. His biggest concern is for the victims. He had no idea any of this was happening during his time there and equates coming to terms with the situation as similar to when he had to come to terms with the Chris Benoit double murder/suicide. 

He said he feels the business is better now without McMahon in it.