CM Punk Says WWE Unreal Helped Humanize Wrestlers Like Charlotte Flair

January 8, 2026

CM Punk believes WWE Unreal has helped fans understand wrestlers on a more human level.

Season 2 of WWE Unreal is set to premiere on January 20, 2026, and will feature stars such as Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, Pat McAfee and more. While some WWE stars welcome the extra exposure, others remain cautious about pulling back the curtain.

Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Punk was asked whether Unreal bothers him. “Yeah, a little bit,” Punk admitted. “But there’s also a lot of good in it. I watched the first season and I liked it. There’s definitely aspects of things that I don’t want people to see and so I tell them not to film it.”

“You know, I’ll walk into a room and I’ll be like, “Not now.” But, you know, I also know that a lot of the times I get done and I’m coming through Guerilla, everybody’s back there, there’s multiple cameras. So if I really don’t want them filming something, I’m not going to go through Gorilla.”

“You know, you can control what they shoot and what they put on that show. You know, you can’t deny that there is a fascinating aspect of, you know, peeling back that curtain and letting people get a little bit of a glimpse.”

CM Punk addressed toxic WWE fan behavior

CM Punk pointed out how WWE Unreal helps counter the negative effects of social media and blurred lines between characters and real life. Punk explained that fans sometimes treat storylines as reality, especially after controversial promos or heel moments.

“I’ve done messed-up stuff in character, and people in real life will say it to me like it’s a gotcha,” Punk said. “And I’m like, that was a television show.” He praised how the first season helped humanize certain wrestlers, specifically mentioning Charlotte Flair.

“I think she’s had this public life, and she’s like all of us we make mistakes, and they happen very publicly. And so it’s easy to point at people and, you know, laugh or whatever. And listen, a lot of wrestling fans, what they like to do more than cheering on their favorites is tearing them down. It can bother a lot of people. But I think the show can show a side of a lot of the wrestlers that people might not be aware of.”