CM Punk Explains Why He Won’t Do Inferno Matches

CM Punk might be the World Heavyweight Champion and the face of WWE 2K26, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to dive into every type of gimmick match the game—or WWE—throws at him.

In a Complex News interview, Punk was asked about the inclusion of over-the-top match types in the video game, like Inferno, Dumpster, and Bull Rope matches. While he’s respected for his technical wrestling and storytelling, fans were curious if there were any wild stipulations he actually enjoyed. That’s when Punk made it clear there are limits to his in-ring preferences. For Punk, logic matters just as much as spectacle:

“I mean, I always love cage matches, you know—as long as there was a reason for it. It wasn’t just, ‘We’re having a cage.’”

“The cage isn’t used traditionally in pro wrestling to keep people out. So, I like a good cage match.”

But when it comes to fire? Absolutely not. He pointed to old-school brutality that still holds up without flames or explosions:

“Inferno matches—less of a fan of those. Don’t want to do those. Don’t want to be set on fire.”

“There’s the classics, too. Like Valentine and Piper in a dog collar. When you watch that and realize that was really the first time on such a wide scale a match like that was seen… it holds up.”

For Punk, it’s not about being flashy—it’s about making every stipulation count. And while WWE 2K26 might let fans virtually wrestle in flames, don’t expect the real-life “Best in the World” to volunteer for a fireball finish anytime soon.

What’s your favorite gimmick match of all time—and do you think CM Punk should try one more wild stipulation before he hangs it up? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.