CM Punk – “I’m Done With Professional Wrestling”

CM Punk is ready to put his career in professional wrestling behind him.

After saying on Wednesday that he didn’t think he’d be open to an offer to return to the ring, Punk clarified his position during today’s UFC 225 media day in Chicago, Illinois.

“I’m done, I’m done, I’m done with professional wrestling,” Punk told Aaron Bronsteter of TSN. “A lot of people like to be mad at me about that and make fun of me because I lost my first fight. And it’s like, that’s fine. You’re entitled to your opinion. But you do not own me, and I am entitled to do what I want to do. And that’s what I’m doing.

“Wrestling is in the rearview mirror. I’ve been trying for five years to put wrestling in the rearview mirror. And some people…they won’t let it go. They, I don’t know, want to live my life for me. I kind of don’t understand that. But it doesn’t matter what I say. I’ve said ‘no, no, no, no’ so many times that people just always kind of be like, ‘oh, so there’s a chance.'”

After saying yesterday that an offer hasn’t come along yet, CM Punk is emphatic about his pro wrestling future: “I’m done, I’m done, I’m done with professional wrestling” pic.twitter.com/xKnW56XHSU

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) June 7, 2018

Punk was following up on comments that he made during an interview with Ariel Helwani yesterday. Helwani asked Punk if he’d be participating in Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks’ ALL IN show this September, and Punk replied that he wouldn’t be. Punk said that no one has ever made him a concrete offer to wrestle since he left WWE in 2014. He said he didn’t think he’d be open to one and feels like he’s out of the business — but didn’t completely close the door at that point on something coming up in the future.

“Nobody has ever asked me, like straight up asked me to come wrestle for them. Nobody.

“Not since I left [WWE]. There’s been ‘Oh hey, uh, if you ever wanted to do anything” — and I know what this gonna sound like to a lot of people and everyone is always gonna find a way to spin it to make sure whatever they want to have happen happens, but I just like — nobody’s ever been like ‘Hey, here’s the deal. We’re having a show, we’re gonna pay you x amount, you’re working this guy — what do you say? Yes or no?’

“Nobody’s ever done that. Everybody’s always been like, ‘Hey, you know, if you want to ever maybe do something,’ and you know, to me that’s absolutely not an offer.”

Pressed on if he’d be open to a “real offer”, Punk answered:

“[Sigh] I don’t think so. But it’s a hard question to answer. You know, a lot’s happened this week. I could definitely tell you if you asked me that question a week ago when I felt like I still had a foot in the grave so to speak? The answer’s no, I don’t want anything to do with it. You know? I feel like I’m out and the future is yet to be written, it’s a wide-open book, it’s my story to tell — I’m just being real. You know me, I’m always honest with you. I’m always probably honest to a fault. And you know, I’m not gonna sit here and be like, ‘No, no.’ You know, something might come up. Some fun might be had. But right now my heart and my mind and my focus is 100% on Saturday and fighting. So does that mean fighting beyond Saturday? To me, yes.”

Punk’s second MMA fight takes place at the United Center in Chicago this Saturday as he faces Mike Jackson in the opening match of the pay-per-view portion of UFC 225.