He wasn’t supposed to come back. Not after the lawsuits, the podcast rants, and the decade of "CM Punk" chants that echoed through arenas where he was nowhere to be found. But standing here in 2026, looking at the landscape of WWE, it's pretty clear: Phillip Jack Brooks is still the most polarizing, magnetic, and somehow essential figure in the industry.
Honestly, the "hell froze over" moment at Survivor Series 2023 feels like a lifetime ago now. Since then, we've seen the injuries, the blood-soaked trilogies, and a career resurgence that has effectively rewritten his legacy. If you thought he’d just be a nostalgia act, you haven't been paying attention to how he's currently carrying the World Heavyweight Championship.
The Long Game with Seth Rollins and That Netflix Debut
You can’t talk about CM Punk in this era without talking about Seth "Freakin" Rollins. It’s the feud that literally wouldn't die because the hatred felt—and likely was—too real to ignore. When RAW made its massive jump to Netflix in early 2025, it wasn't a fluke that Punk vs. Rollins was the centerpiece.
That match was a masterclass in psychological warfare. Remember when Rollins hit Punk with his own GTS? The irony was thick. Punk ended up winning that night with back-to-back Go To Sleeps, but the fallout was more interesting than the result. Punk actually admitted afterward that being on the receiving end of his own move made him rethink his entire arsenal. It’s that kind of meta-storytelling that keeps people hooked.
They’ve traded the World Heavyweight Championship back and forth like a hot potato, but it’s the "What If?" factor that keeps the ratings high. Rumor has it WWE 2K26 is going to lean heavily into this, with a Showcase mode dedicated to Punk’s career that features alternate timelines. Imagine a world where he never walked out in 2014. That’s the kind of stuff fans stay up arguing about on Reddit at 3:00 AM.
The Brutality of the Drew McIntyre Trilogy
Before the Netflix era, we had to get through the meat grinder that was Drew McIntyre. This wasn't just a wrestling feud; it was a year-long demolition derby. It started with a torn tricep at the 2024 Royal Rumble—a moment where Punk later confessed he went backstage and just broke down. He thought it was over before it really started.
Instead of disappearing, he became the ultimate pest. He cost Drew the title at WrestleMania XL. He screwed him over in Scotland at Clash at the Castle. By the time they got to the Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood, the "Best in the World" wasn't a slogan anymore; it was a survival claim.
The match was a bloodbath. 16 staples for Drew. A crimson mask for Punk. When Punk wrapped that chain around his knee to deliver the final GTS, it felt like the Attitude Era had been resurrected but with modern-day stakes. It proved that at 47, Punk can still go—provided his body doesn't betray him again.
Dealing with the Critics and Kevin Nash
Even as champion, the guy can't escape the noise. Recently, Kevin Nash took some shots at him for wrestling in a shirt during house shows and basically told him to "go to a gym."
Punk’s response? Classic Punk. He went out at a live event, teased taking the shirt off, only to reveal another shirt underneath. He later clarified in interviews that he does that stuff just to make the boys in the back laugh. He’s at a stage where he doesn’t feel the need to defend his physique to 90s legends. He’s focused on his "record-tying" second reign as World Heavyweight Champion and mentoring the next crop of talent at the Performance Center.
What Makes CM Punk Different Now?
- Self-Awareness: He’s vocal about his "expiration date." He knows he’s in the fourth quarter.
- The Schedule: He’s worked as a "special attraction," similar to how Triple H manages other top-tier stars like Roman Reigns.
- The Narrative: He’s moved past the "Voice of the Voiceless" gimmick. Now, he’s the veteran who everyone wants to take a shot at.
The Road to WrestleMania 42 and Beyond
The current buzz is all about the "John Cena Promise." With Cena’s retirement tour in full swing, Punk has hinted heavily that they have one more dance left in them. Whether it’s in a WWE ring or some James Gunn DC movie project, the chemistry between those two is something the fans aren't ready to let go of.
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Right now, the focus is on his upcoming defense against Finn Bálor in Belfast and the looming shadow of the Royal Rumble. People are wondering if he can actually main event Night 2 of WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. If he does, it would be the ultimate "I told you so" to everyone who said he’d never be back in the company's good graces.
Basically, CM Punk in WWE today is a guy who has learned to play the game without losing the edge that made him a rebel in the first place. He’s complicated, he’s injury-prone, and he’s still the best talker in the business.
To stay ahead of the curve on his current run, keep an eye on his "What If?" scenarios in the upcoming WWE 2K26 previews. They often mirror the creative direction the company is heading. Also, watch the promos between him and the rising NXT stars; that's where the real passing of the torch is happening, regardless of who's holding the gold.