While there were ultimately many reasons for CM Punk's departure from WWE, they all had the same effect on the Straight-Edge Superstar - he wasn't happy. Perceived antipathy from Triple H, a lack of concern regarding his health and his repeated matches with allegedly unsafe workers, and his inability to secure a main-event slot at WrestleMania all made Punk so unhappy that he began to dread coming into work. In the end, he didn't leave WWE over issues of pride, he simply left because - as hard it is for some fans to conceive - he simply hated his job. Just months after leaving the company - and before the circumstances regarding his departure were made public - Punk began to describe himself as happier than he had been in years. Just being away from WWE did a world of good for the former champion, and his subsequent job opportunities - both competing for UFC and writing comic books - represented the realization of longtime goals for Punk. Today, the longest-reigning WWE Champion of the modern era is avidly working at both jobs, looking to prove himself anew in fields where he's as yet untested. Sink or swim, Punk is happy to be giving it his all and relying on himself, and to be away from a toxic environment. All things considered, he's a true winner.
Scott Fried is a Slammy Award-winning* writer living and working in New York City. He has been following/writing about professional wrestling for many years and is a graduate of Lance Storm's Storm Wrestling Academy. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/scottfried.
*Best Crowd of the Year, 2013
