John Cena believes CM Punk’s passion for professional wrestling has always been clear, even during the most challenging moments of his career.
Replying to a question from Unseen’s Joey Karni at Fanatics Fest NYC over the weekend, Cena reflected on his iconic match against Punk at Money in the Bank 2011 and discussed how their careers have continued to evolve more than a decade later.
Cena acknowledged that some critics have been less enthusiastic about the match over the years, but noted that any criticism was not a reflection of Punk’s ability, instead crediting the chemistry between both competitors.
“That might have been like one of two matches that wrestling critics were like, ‘Eh, he’s OK–but it wasn’t because of him, it was because of the other guy,'” Cena said.
The match, which took place at Money in the Bank 2011 in Chicago, saw Punk defeat Cena for the WWE Championship in one of the most celebrated encounters of both men’s careers.
Cena explained that the ability of both himself and Punk to remain relevant decades into their careers highlights their passion for the wrestling business.
“I think what that shows is when you have two names that span such a long test of time, it shows the individuals’ passion for what they do. If you’re not passionate about being in wrestling, you are weeded out quick. You might get a push to the top, you might get a chance, you might get a championship. If you’re not passionate, a 10-year career, a 15-year career, a 20-year career doesn’t happen.”
John Cena Comments On CM Punk’s WWE Hiatus
Reflecting on Punk’s career journey, Cena admitted that he wished Punk had never stepped away from WWE, while acknowledging that the decision was ultimately part of Punk’s personal path.
“The fact we can talk about wrestling 15 years ago, and he’s got the championship and he’s main-eventing Madison Square Garden right now, regardless of the trajectory that Phil Brooks has been on–I wish he never took a break but that’s his personal journey and choice–his passion has obviously always been there, and it still is. And that’s the thing I admire most about him.” [H/T Undisputed]
Punk left WWE in 2014 following his controversial exit from the company and remained away from professional wrestling for several years. He eventually returned to the ring with All Elite Wrestling in 2021, ending his nearly seven-year hiatus.
However, Punk’s AEW run came to an abrupt end in 2023 after a backstage incident at All In led to his contract termination. Months later, Punk made his shocking WWE return at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023, completing one of the most unexpected comebacks in wrestling history.
The rest, as they say, is history.
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