CM Punk Talks About His MMA Training, Returning to Wrestling, Hulk Hogan, And More

Former WWE Superstar CM Punk was recently interviewed by Red Eye Chicago, and discussed various aspects of his career.  There has been speculation on how is training is going for his MMA debut, and Punk comments on that, along with his entrance in to the world of comic book writing, Hulk Hogan, if we will return to wrestling, and more.

Below are some excerpts from the interview:

You have been training in Milwaukee for almost six months. How do you think your development in the fight business is coming along, and when do you see yourself entering the octagon?

Well, I’m my own worst critic. I always want to be better than I am, and you can apply that to any aspect in my life. I want to be a better husband, better comic-book writer and better mixed martial artist. I am right where I need to be. I am keeping up with everybody, and that’s a tough task with all those “killers” in that gym.

You recently announced you will be writing for DC Comics. When will the first issue be released, and will we see more issues in the future?

Drax No. 1 is slated to be released late fall, early winter, whenever the seasons change here in Chicago. From when I first started writing, it’s definitely getting easier. Reading from scripts of comic books definitely helps, along with a great editor and an awesome co-writer, and they are all teaching me as I go.

Does it bother you when people ask, “Will you return to wrestling?”

Yes and no. It irks me a little bit because I think it’s the same people that are asking it. But at the same time you have to roll with the punches because it comes with the territory. It’s probably what I’m most known for, and there are fans out there that miss me in that venue. I am not one to draw in the past and I’m sailing on.

Hulk Hogan has made headlines for some of his racist comments becoming public. Being a former wrestler, what was your reaction?

I don’t really have a comment on it. Like I said, though, stuff that you say can come back and bite you in the ass. Everybody gets what they deserve in the world. Hopefully he issued a sincere apology and we can all move on from it.

We all have said stupid things, and I don’t think you should judge somebody on what they said a long time ago. But some of the stuff is harsher than other things. It is what it is. 

Recently you received a text from WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan. How was that getting a vote of confidence from one of the people you grew up with through the ranks of pro wrestling?

I thought it was pretty cool. Everybody in WWE whether they admit it or not are big fans of the UFC. Like everything else, they are 10 years behind the curve on everything, but they are slowly warming up to MMA. Now it’s all Ronda Rousey. But a couple of years ago when I mentioned her they told me the sport was despicable. Everything they are doing now is something I told them five years ago. They live in a bubble. When you are on the road this much, you are “all in” and nothing else matters; I lived in a bubble.

They built this empire and they are the best at what they do. But they still have no [bleeping] idea what goes on outside their bubble.

CM Punk has most recently been in the news for his lawsuit with WWE doctor Chris Amann.  As previously reported, Punk and former WWE superstar Colt Cabana are being sued for their comments on the “Art of Wrestling” podcast on Thanksgiving day, 2014, and the case is set to move forward.

You can find the full interview here.

Editor’s Note:

CM Punk was my favorite superstar in WWE right up until the left the company.  I have been very disappointed with the way that he has conducted himself since his departure, and while a part of me still has mad respect for him, another part of me hopes that he gets destroyed in the octagon.