CM Punk Addresses WWE Retirement, ‘It’s On My Mind, But Not Anytime Soon’ – ‘I Feel Like I’m Operating At A Very High Level Still’

WWE

CM Punk has addressed his potential retirement from WWE, noting that it’s crossed his mind but he isn’t planning for it anytime soon.

The last few months have seen retirement become a big topic of conversation with John Cena and AJ Styles both having their final matches within just over a month of each other in December and January.

Current World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk is another name who, at 47, is among the most experienced members of the WWE roster.

In an interview on Nightcap ahead of his WrestleMania 42 main event against Roman Reigns, Punk was asked whether he’s thought about retirement.

He replied:

“I can’t say that it hasn’t crossed my mind. I’ve had fans say, ‘We need you to dye your beard.’ Why? This is me. And I think I look good. This is it.

“You know how long I have existed, you know how old I am. I don’t wanna look like a guy trying to look younger. I don’t wanna have the shoe polish in my beard like Seth (Rollins) and Roman.

“Because what a shame it would be if I was 47 years old and I wasn’t covered in scars. That is not a life lived. This is it, right here. Maybe this is because of stress, maybe this is just something that happens when you get to 47, I don’t know.

“It’s crossed my mind, the retirement thing, but knock on wood, I feel like I’m operating at a very high level still.

“I’m still telling the same stories, people are still invested, people are gonna be going crazy Sunday night, I’m in the main event. I’ve gotta be doing something right. Why stop now?

“I also know, (clicks fingers) it could end like that. So, I’m not trying to plan anything. I just watched my friends AJ Styles and John Cena retire. So it looms, it’s on my mind, but not anytime soon.”

If you use this transcription or any portion of it please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

CM Punk Still At The Top Of His Game

While of course there is a physical toll that age and experience takes on the body, especially in pro-wrestling, WWE is about the spectacle and there are still very few spectacles bigger than a heated CM Punk rivalry.

Since his WWE return, he had the feud of the year in 2024 with Drew McIntyre, he became World Heavyweight Champion in 2025, and he main events WrestleMania in 2026 – there is clearly no reason for him to retire just yet.

Punk continues to be an asset on WWE TV and capable of main event level matches, and until that changes, hopefully that’s where he stays.

To make sure you stay up to date with all the biggest wrestling and WrestleTalk news, follow us on Threads by clicking this link!

• wwe
• cm punk

Share this article with friends