During a recent appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast, WWE President Nick Khan addressed the experience of working with CM Punk since his highly publicized return to the company in November 2023. Punk’s return followed a controversial period, including an acrimonious departure from WWE nearly a decade earlier and a tumultuous tenure in AEW that ended with his firing amid reports of backstage conflicts.
Khan, drawing on his extensive background as an agent representing various talents before becoming a top WWE executive, directly countered the negative narratives surrounding Punk. “It’s been great,” Khan stated, adding emphatically, “It was so obvious to me that he wasn’t a cancer.”
He elaborated on his assessment, referencing his professional history: “In having been an agent, assume I had dealt with some personalities that were not the easiest from time to time. That’s part of the job.” Despite potential difficulties others might associate with Punk, Khan shared his consistent personal experience: “I had always found him to be a gentleman. I always found him to be honest, responsive.”
Khan expressed confidence that Punk’s positive demeanor would carry over upon rejoining WWE. “I felt if he was that way outside of the company, and if given an opportunity to come back to the company, he would be that way, and he said that he would be,” Khan explained. He concluded with high praise for Punk’s conduct since returning, despite Punk currently being sidelined with a triceps injury sustained at the Royal Rumble: “and he’s been a gem to work with.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Bill Simmons Podcast with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
