CM Punk had a pretty selfish reason for suddenly wrestling at an NXT live event earlier this month. Even as WWE’s Undisputed Champion, Punk doesn’t think he’s getting nearly enough matches.
Speaking during a WWE vlog on August 25, Punk admitted that part of the reason he worked the August 15 NXT live event in Petersburg, Virginia was simply because he wanted more time in the ring.
“There’s a very selfish motivation for me being here. I want to stay ready. Yes, I’m the champion, yes, I wrestle on television, but to me, I don’t wrestle often enough. I need more reps. I think I’m better the more often I wrestle.”
Punk also made it clear that getting extra reps wasn’t the whole reason he wanted to be there. There was a veteran side to it too. That includes making sure the younger wrestlers around him can actually get something out of having him there.
“There is an element to giving back though, obviously. I have great respect for this business and I’m just following in the footsteps of the people who came before me. Hopefully, somebody watches and learns and observes from me and they can pay it forward when they have the opportunity to do so.”
Punk ultimately got in the ring and wrestled in the main event, teaming with NXT Tag Team Champions Tavion Heights and Myles Borne against Vanity Project members Jackson Drake, Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes. Punk’s team picked up the win after Drake went through a table. Several NXT babyfaces then joined Punk and his partners in the ring to pose for the crowd and close out the night.
Bottom line: being WWE Champion apparently hasn’t changed that mindset. Punk wants more reps, believes he performs better when he wrestles regularly, and NXT live events give him another place to get them.
What do you make of CM Punk admitting he doesn’t wrestle often enough in WWE? Let us know in the comments.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
