CM Punk Admits He Wouldn’t Have Greenlit WWE: Unreal But Understands Its Place

CM Punk has made it clear he isn’t really a fan of pulling back the curtain in WWE: Unreal but admits there’s a place for shows like this in the modern era.

While speaking to JoBlo Celebrity Access, CM Punk was asked if he was surprised that WWE gave Netflix so much behind-the-scenes access for WWE: Unreal. He said it didn’t shock him.

It felt like something that naturally fits where wrestling is today. Even then, Punk admitted he doesn’t personally enjoy that kind of open access and wouldn’t have chosen to do it if he had full control.

The Second City Saint still hasn’t watched the show yet, but he knows there are moments worth capturing. He’s not a fan of showing wrestlers talking right after matches and said that kind of content isn’t really for him.

“Oh, I don’t think I was surprised. I think it was more like a—‘of course we’re doing that now.’ It feels like a natural progression just based on where we’re at in the business. It doesn’t necessarily mean I like it, because I don’t think I have to like it. If it was, you know, 100% up to me, would we do this? Probably not. But in saying that—and again, I haven’t seen any of it yet—there are moments that I know I think are important to document.

I don’t necessarily want people seeing… I think earlier we discussed there’s a moment—two people had a match and then you see them talking about it right after. Maybe not my cup of coffee.”

But when something real happens like when Punk got injured, he allowed cameras to stay on because he felt those raw, human moments were important to share.

As a sports fan, CM Punk compared it to classic sports moments like Joe Namath breaking his leg on live TV. Those things stick with fans not just because they’re dramatic, but because they show how someone responds to adversity.

Punk said he could’ve just given up after his injury and taken it as a sign that his comeback wasn’t meant to be. But even at 45, he refused to quit and saw it as another challenge. He believes fans seeing that kind of determination and real struggle makes for strong and meaningful television.

“But the real human moments—even if it’s tragic like me getting hurt—you know, and I had cameras in my face for that. That’s when I was like, ‘No, cameras up, guys. This is what you got to see.’

Because I’m a sports fan, and those real sport moments—like, you know, it’s very famously Joe Namath got his leg broken on Monday Night Football—live television. And it’s just like, that’s something you remember. And it has to become not about that moment, but what you do with it as a human being, as a person.

I could’ve rolled over and been like, ‘Alright, I guess that’s the universe telling me this comeback wasn’t a great idea, and I can’t do this anymore.’ And even at 45 years old, I was like, ‘Nope. F*** that.’ You know what I mean? Like, this is just—it’s another challenge. It’s another mountain to climb. For our fans to be able to see that side of us, I think is… I mean, ‘important’ sounds kind of inflated, but I think that’s the kind of good, dramatic, real-world television that they need to see.”

CM Punk might not fully support pulling back the curtain, but he admits that shows like WWE: Unreal have a role in today’s entertainment-focused wrestling scene. Therefore, we’ll have to see whether the show will end up being a huge hit since it could lead to more seasons in the future.

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