10 Biggest questions CM Punk answered on Renée Paquette's podcast: Bold claim about current WWE Superstars; fights with AJ Lee

Former WWE Superstar CM Punk was a guest on the latest edition of Oral Sessions with Renee Paquette. It isn't exactly a secret that CM Punk and Renee Paquette are quite close in real life and are the best of friends. Paquette was the one who managed to secure Punk for WWE Backstage on FS1 last year.

CM Punk's presence on WWE Backstage moved the rating needle on several occasions, but the show was eventually canceled during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Punk hasn't returned to pro wrestling in any capacity ever since, but still occasionally reacts to WWE's storylines via his official Twitter handle. On this edition of Oral Sessions, Punk and Paquette discussed several interesting topics in regards to his wrestling career, and life after he left WWE. Let's check out some of the most intriguing questions Renee Paquette asked CM Punk and his response to the same.

#10 Does it bother CM Punk that he isn't wrestling anymore?

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CM Punk last wrestled at the 2014 Royal Rumble pay-per-view and hasn't stepped foot in the ring for another match ever since. Six years is a long time, but not being a part of wrestling doesn't bother him much.

No, not at all. I love that in the same category as like, regrets, like what you are trying to run from something, or what you're trying to spend time looking back on what you should have done. I'm still a wrestler, right? I mean how long I did that for?

#9 CM Punk on how a lot of things changed in the business, while some remained the same, ever since he left

Six years is a long time, and a lot of things have changed in the pro wrestling business since CM Punk left WWE in 2014. What's worth noting is that Punk believes a lot of current Superstars wouldn't have jobs if it hadn't been for him.

The more they change, the more they stay the same. For ego purposes, because while I do have one, it's not as big as people like to imagine it is. I don't take credit for anything that happened. I do think there's a lot of people currently who wouldn't have jobs if it wasn't for me.

It certainly is a statement that's bound to receive quite a mixed response from the WWE Universe. One thing's for sure, CM Punk's exit was the reason Daniel Bryan headlined WrestleMania XXX. One wonders where would Bryan be if it hadn't been for Punk's exit.

#8 What does CM Punk miss the most from pro wrestling?

CM Punk opened up on what he misses the most in pro wrestling. Punk talked about how Paquette talked him into joining WWE Backstage and had nothing but praise for her.

That's one of the things I miss. People like yourself, you're a peach. I'm not gonna sit here and put you over. You know how cool you are. There's obviously people that I miss, and I miss seeing friendly faces, although they were few and far between while you were there, but you were one of them.

#7 CM Punk on wanting to cross over from WWE to MMA, (and planning to do it way before)

CM Punk made his MMA debut for UFC a short while after he left WWE in early 2014. Punk opened up on his move from pro wrestling to MMA and stated that he wanted to do it much earlier.

I had planned on leaving when my deal was up in 2010 or 2011, whatever it was. That as my plan, I always thought it was never gonna be just a hobby for me.

Punk eventually debuted in UFC, but the run didn't go as he had planned. He lost both UFC fights, and that was it in terms of an MMA career for him.

#6 CM Punk on the difference between Dana White and Vince McMahon

CM Punk worked for both Vince McMahon in WWE and Dana White in UFC. Renee asked Punk his views on both men, to which he had the following to say:

They vote based on what is good for their pocketbook. But, yeah I think if I had to really compare and contrast, I think Dana is more generous. I think Dana does a lot of stuff for the fighters behind the scenes, I think there is a lot of locker room money thrown around that people don't know about.

#5 CM Punk's views on WWE's policy in regards to Superstars using Twitch and other third party handles

CM Punk was pretty vocal on WWE's policy about Superstars using third party handles like Twitch, and drew parallels between Xavier Woods and Zelina Vega, while talking about the issue.

I just saw he (Xavier Woods) was petitioning to get a job with G4. Why is it ok for him to do that but Zelina Vega can’t have a Twitch? That was always my thing and people labeled me a complainer or whiny because I would always be the guy that would say, wait, why is so and so able to do this because there was always outside interest, not only from me.

Fans might be aware that CM Punk's WWE exit stemmed from him being upset at how the company was treating him, behind the scenes as well as on TV. Punk is one of several folks who weren't happy with how WWE was treating its wrestlers amidst the Twitch issue, most notably with the subsequent release of Zelina Vega.

#4 AJ Lee's reaction when CM Punk decided to try his hand in MMA

Renee Paquette asked CM Punk about AJ Lee's reaction when she learned that Punk wanted to fight in MMA. Here's what Punk had to say in response.

I don't know if I remember a specific reaction but I'm positive it wasn't elation. It was kind of a reaction a mother would give to her son. Worry, but also, she backs me 100%.

#3 How did CM Punk and AJ Lee's relationship change outside of WWE?

CM Punk left WWE in 2014, while AJ Lee parted ways with the promotion a year later. Ever since Lee left WWE, both former Superstars haven't stepped foot in a ring again. Punk opened up on their relationship following their WWE stints.

I don't know if anything changed. It was just hard. Being sued by this company. There were a lot of fights and arguments that were a manifestation of me being angry.

It was hard on her 'cause she was still working there, and also her neck got messed up, there was a lot going on. But obviously it made us stronger.

Unlike Punk, who came back for the role of a special contributor at WWE Backstage, AJ Lee has yet to return to pro wrestling in any capacity. Lee is a comicbook writer as well and wrote the GLOW vs. The Babyface comicbook series.

#2 Is CM Punk open to other genres, or wants to stick to doing Horror movies?

In addition to being a wrestler, CM Punk has worked on a couple of horror movies: 'Girl on the Third Floor' and 'Rabid' both starred Punk, who is a big horror movie buff. He talked with Paquette about whether he wants to stick to doing horror movies, or wants to explore other genres.

I'm navigating all the stuff by myself, I'm fortunate to have a lot of friends who I can learn from and pick their brain.

You basically want somebody who's gonna work their a** off for you, and this guy has already sent me so many things I'm self-taping for.

Punk added that he wrapped up a movie named Jacob's Wife, right before the pandemic hit. The movie is a supernatural thriller, but Punk made it clear that he is open to doing a romantic comedy 'in a heartbeat' if the opportunity arises.

#1 What would it take for CM Punk to come back to pro wrestling?

And here comes the million-dollar question that Punk has been asked innumerable times over the past six years. Renee Paquette asked it as well, and CM Punk stated that it would take an interesting scenario for him to return.

“Without wanting to insult anybody on either side of the fence, any WWE talent or AEW talent, it would take above all an interesting scenario. A story that would be fun to tell. Also, just the stupidest amount of money. But they could save themselves a whole lot of money if they just presented a fun storyline. Now, what that is, I don’t know. I’m a pretty picky guy, especially at this point.”

A lot of fans have given up hope, but as the old saying goes, one can 'never say never in pro-wrestling'. Several big names have returned in the past, and fans of CM Punk would love to see him have one final run as a wrestler, be it WWE, AEW, or anywhere else.

Edited by Kaushik Das