CM Punk has made it pretty clear that he wants to help WWE’s next generation of wrestlers, but anyone expecting him to take over NXT in the near future might want to pump the brakes. There’s apparently one big reason why that kind of move isn’t happening anytime soon — and it comes down to where Punk stands in his own wrestling career.
During the October 31 edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed Punk’s potential future behind the scenes while talking about possible changes to WWE NXT’s leadership. With Shawn Michaels being linked to Bruce Prichard’s position following WrestleMania 43, the conversation turned to who could eventually step in and help run WWE’s developmental brand.
And Punk’s name certainly makes sense. He’s spent considerable time around NXT talent since returning to WWE, and he’s been open about wanting to help younger wrestlers develop. Meltzer acknowledged that interest but made it clear he doesn’t expect Punk to walk away from competing anytime soon.
“Punk’s made it very clear he’s interested in that. But, you know, like, with Punk, I don’t see him stopping wrestling for a couple of years.”
The biggest issue isn’t whether Punk wants to help NXT. According to Meltzer, it’s the financial difference between being one of WWE’s top active performers and taking on a full-time role running the developmental brand. Punk is still a major attraction for WWE, and Meltzer doesn’t believe it makes sense for him to give up that kind of earning power just to move into a backstage position.
“He’s making, you know, way too much money than he could make, you know, running NXT.”
That doesn’t mean Punk will never end up working behind the scenes. In fact, Meltzer believes the possibility becomes much more realistic once Punk gets closer to the end of his in-ring career.
“As far as down the line, long term, yeah.”
The discussion comes as WWE faces questions about its future creative structure. Bruce Prichard is expected to step away from his full-time position after WrestleMania 43, while Michaels has been mentioned as a potential replacement.
However, Meltzer has also pushed back on the idea that Michaels taking over Prichard’s entire role is a done deal. That leaves questions about whether Michaels will continue running NXT and who might eventually assume those responsibilities if he moves into a larger position.
Punk’s experience and willingness to mentor younger wrestlers would certainly make him an interesting candidate. But there’s a major difference between helping talent backstage and being responsible for running an entire television brand every week.
For now, Punk appears to have plenty left to accomplish inside the ring, and Meltzer doesn’t see him trading that career for an office job just yet. A future running NXT isn’t being ruled out, but anyone hoping to see Punk take charge of WWE’s developmental system may have to wait until he’s ready to hang up his boots.
Do you think CM Punk would be a good choice to eventually run WWE NXT, or should he remain focused on wrestling for as long as possible? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
