CM Punk has spoken out about not being able to travel to Australia for a major show.
Back in February 2024, WWE brought the Elimination Chamber down under as the show aired live from Perth and was also the final Premium Live Event before WrestleMania. However, as Punk suffered a torn tricep in the Royal Rumble match the month before, the former World Champion was not cleared to compete and had to sit that one out, along with many major shows that year.
WWE is set to return to Perth in October to present Crown Jewel, a show that has traditionally taken place in Saudi Arabia. Although the former World Champion was unable to make it to the 2024 event, he is remaining optimistic that things will be different this time when the show takes place on October 11.
CM Punk Confident About Australia Appearance
Appearing on the Wide World of Sports podcast, Punk opened up about missing multiple international shows, but barring any unfortunate circumstance,s would be in Australia later in the year:
“So knock on wood (hopefully I’ll be at WWE Crown Jewel in Australia). Everything’s a do-over at this point. I came back to WWE and got hurt kind of right out the gate, and I remember being really depressed, like heading into Perth, because I couldn’t go. I was hurt, we had big plans. Best laid plans of mice and men, you know, dashed against the rocks and I was really disappointed because I was excited to go to Australia, and now, we’re looking down the barrel of it again in October. I get to do that. I missed out on Paris last time too — France — and we’re doing that coming up too so, knock on wood, everything remains in the places they’re supposed to remain in and I’m looking super forward to the next couple months. You will see me in Australia and I cannot wait.”
Also in the interview, Punk was asked what the biggest lesson he has learned has been since his WWE return back in late 2023:
“A lot tougher than I thought I was, and in saying that, I thought I was really tough. To me, that’s (what) life is. It’s the corniest thing you could possibly say. It’s not about how many times you get knocked down. It’s about how many times you get up, and even over the past year, there’s been times when I could have easily just rolled over and said, that’s good. I think I’ve had a good enough career and it’s not even really about legacy. To me, legacy is making other people around you better, and that’s how I want to be remembered. So, everything now is just extra credit. I think I had a pretty good career so far but that doesn’t mean I need to hang it up, when I’m legitimately, every day, having the time of my life, looking forward to going to work and working with everybody in front of and behind the camera.”
Punk will next compete on a PLE at SummerSlam in August as he challenges Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship. According to a recent report, the match is a strong contender to headline the first night of the event.
H/t to Fightful for the use of transcriptions.
Featured image: WWE
