10 Wrestlers That Vince McMahon Hasn't Forgiven
3. CM Punk
The rights and wrongs of Phil Brooks’ decision to walk out on WWE in January 2014 have been debated ad nauseam, as have the WWE’s treatment of him and of its independent contractors in general, and there’s little value in rehashing any of that here.
Suffice to say that if CM Punk hasn’t burned his bridges with Vince McMahon, it’s not for lack of trying.
A lot of people use Punk’s situation as just another example of a wrestler butting heads with McMahon who will, one day, cut a deal to return. Bret Hart, Ultimate Warrior, Hulk Hogan - as McMahon himself said on Stone Cold’s podcast, it’s a long list.
Never say never, right?
In church circles, there’s a truism: the only unforgivable sin is never asking for forgiveness. Well, few men are as proud as CM Punk, and it’s genuinely unlikely that he’ll ever take that step. Hart had unfinished business and no life outside of pro wrestling. Warrior never had a legitimate grievance, just a lot of hot air. Hogan had no scruples and went where the money was.
Punk? It’s been nearly six years and he still shows no interest in wrestling - not in doing it, not in the industry itself. He has other, much more valuable things in his life. He has no unfinished business - WWE was never his dream job, just a mountain to climb.
He can make money without ever stepping back into a WWE ring again…and it’s doubtful he ever will.