Why did CM Punk leave WWE in 2014? A recap

The whole wrestling industry is stunned by the return of CM Punk to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023. This is the first time that Punk is showing up inside a WWE arena after almost a decade. As soon as the “Cult of Personality” song played for the first time in years, which drove fans crazy. The loud pop hit the roofs and the chants didn’t stop throughout the show since then. He then showed up on Raw and had a great promo addressing the WWE Universe. But what makes him take so long to return to WWE? Here is a detailed story on why CM Punk left WWE and why it took so long for him to return to the company.

CM Punk’s last appearance in 2014

CM Punk had a feud with the Authority, where the Director of Operations Kane booked a three-on-one handicap match against the Shield at TLC in 2013. In which CM Punk won after Roman Reigns accidentally speared Dean Ambrose. The win against the shield pissed off the Authority, as Kane and Punk had various altercations. Kane made CM Punk the first entrant for the 2014 Royal Rumble match and was eliminated by already eliminated Kane. That was the last appearance of CM Punk in WWE, after which he never showed up.

Issues between CM Punk & WWE Management

Punk didn’t show up on the following night on Raw and neither on that week’s SmackDown, which was taped on Tuesday. WWE stopped advertising Punk on their future events. Wrestling Observer reported that Punk walked out of the company by telling Vince McMahon and Triple H that he is going home. 

In March, when Raw was held in Chicago, Punk’s theme was played, but he didn’t show up, instead his manager Paul Heyman came to the ring with a sound boo!. Following which WWE removed him from promotional video packages and slowly removed from the active roster to alumni roster without any official statement. Punk the same day thanked his fans and said that he would “never ever” return to wrestling again. [WWE referenced it during his return stating “never say never”]

Punk revealed why he left WWE

CM Punk later revealed that Punk was sick and burnt out, and the doctors had told him that he wrestled with a staph infection for three months and he would have died. He said that he was suspended for the first two months for walking out of the company. After the suspension ended, nobody from WWE contacted him. He said that he had issues with WWE management over unpaid royalties after being released on his wedding day. Punk then gave permission to WWE to sell his remaining merchandise.

Vince McMahon’s apologize

At The Steve Austin Show, Vince McMahon gave an apology to Punk for his termination which was an unfortunate coincidence and lack of communication. He also said that he is open to work with Punk again. But Punk declined his apology stating that was a public stunt and the apology didn’t come straight through and it would have come much earlier.

Punk then announced his retirement from professional wrestling and went on to pursue his interest from 2015 to 2020. WWE fans however wished to see him inside a wrestling ring, for which he entered AEW, had issues there and got terminated. When everyone thought that his career was over, Punk made his return to WWE once again.

Triple H on CM Punk’s return

Triple H played a major role in bringing CM Punk to the company and secretly planned his return. He stated that he is a completely different man in a completely different company and said that he is excited to work with him once again.

“You know, a lot of time has gone by, almost 10 years, right? If you are the same person you were 10 years ago 10 years later you’ve messed up. Everybody grows. Everybody changes. I’m a different person, he’s a different person, this is a different company. We’re all on the same even starting ground.

The unfortunate walkout from the company and his unpaid royalties seems to be the main reason for CM Punk to leave WWE. The issues between Punk and WWE Management has been one of the major reasons for why it took so long for the return.

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