CM Punk: 10 Talking Points About His WWE Exit And Future Return

10. What Made Punk Leave?

CM Punk was physically burned out in WWE and frustrated with the creative ideas for his character. This is what ultimately led him to walk out on the job in late January of this year. It was completely against better judgement, Punk knew this, he had a major spot with Triple H for WrestleMania 30 which would have seen him earn a lucrative payday. However, mentally and physically, Punk had no energy for that match. He looked at his prospects and didn't fancy them. He knew the likelihood was that with his contract up in July, he would be doing the job to Triple H at Mania. The Royal Rumble crystallised Punk's thought process against the company's direction, so the next night on Raw he went to see Vince McMahon. He left shortly afterwards. We know little of the discussion other than that Punk unofficially exited the company. The two have a good relationship, so it isn't entirely impossible that McMahon did actually sanction Punk's going home. The chairman perhaps saw the exhaustion in Punk and to an extent approved a makeshift sabbatical. That's certainly what Vince termed Punk's exit in February's conference call €” a sabbatical. So whether you believe WWE's version of events that Punk left for a sabbatical or the contrasting idea that he just outright quit, one thing that seems assured, sabbatical or quit it was down to a physical and mental tiredness that left him unwilling to work. WrestleMania meant a likely loss to Triple H, for CM Punk he decided he didn't need the hassle of the six months up until his contract officially ending in July.