CM Punk knows he is closer to the end of his career than the beginning, but he is not circling a retirement date on the calendar. The Undisputed WWE Champion says his body—not his contract, age or match count—will decide when it is finally time to walk away.
Speaking with Busted Open Radio on the newly launched WWE Radio ahead of SummerSlam, Punk was asked how often he thinks about his legacy. He admitted the thought crosses his mind, but it does not consume him.
“I do, but not much. It’s a fleeting moment, just because I know I’m much closer to the end than I am the beginning.”
Punk then made it clear that nobody, including himself, knows exactly when that ending will arrive. He does not view retirement as something tied to the expiration of his WWE deal or a specific number of matches.
“Where that end is, nobody knows. I don’t even know. It’s not measured in the length of a contract. It’s not measured in matches.”
For Punk, the decision comes down to whether he can still perform at the level he expects from himself. As long as he looks right, feels healthy and can recover from the punishment, he plans to keep going.
“To me, honestly, it’s measured in health. It’s how I look, and more importantly, how I feel. Right now, I’ve never felt better.”
Punk also said he has become much more serious about recovery, something he admits was not always a strength earlier in his career. WWE’s current schedule gives him more room to take care of his body between appearances.
“I’m double-timing my recovery on things, which is something I’ve never been really great at. The business now allows you to fit all that in.”
That means fans should not expect Punk to announce a retirement tour anytime soon. His current plan is to keep fighting until his body gives him no other choice.
“I’m just going to go until the wheels fall off. We’ll see what happens.”
Punk is currently preparing to defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes in the main event of SummerSlam Night One on Saturday, August 1. He said he is “very psyched” for the match and expressed pride in Rhodes’ success, noting that both men left WWE, rebuilt themselves elsewhere and eventually found their way back.
Roman Reigns will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Seth Rollins in the closing match of Night Two on Sunday, August 2. CM Punk is not promising five more years or five more matches. As long as his body keeps answering the bell, he has no intention of stepping aside.
How much longer do you think CM Punk can continue wrestling at the top of WWE? Leave your thoughts and feedback in the comments.
