“Ten Years Wiser”: CM Punk Confident on His 10-Year-Old WWE Royal Rumble Return Despite His Troubling Past With It

CM Punk’s goal for 2024 is to show the wrestling universe why he is the best in the world in a literal sense. And it seems that the former world champion has already taken the first step in proving his mettle. He confirmed his entry into the Royal Rumble match following his monumental return at Survivor Series as he aims to pursue his dreams of main-eventing WrestleMania.

But ahead of that, The Second City Saint looked back at his last match with the company during the 2014 Royal Rumble PPV. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have pleasant memories of the event considering what happened.

CM Punk is looking forward to a successful Royal Rumble

He learned his lesson and came back stronger, which matters the most to the Chicago-based star at this point. CM Punk invoked a comparison of his journey to Cody Rhodes’ dreams of finishing his story.

He noted, ”It’s just going to be like walking out in front of the Chicago audience for Survivor Series I think there’s a lot of ghosts I am trying to put to bed and it’s almost kismet. You know you couldn’t write a better story ten years after walking out my last match was a royal rumble, and I am walking back in ten years later.

“Buddy Cody likes to say he’s you know going to finish his story to me this is finishing what I started. This is picking back up where I left off. Ten years wiser and still an experience that I have inside the Royal Rumble and the wrestling ring is going to come in handy and I am going to win the Royal Rumble and the main event WrestleMania at least that’s the plan,” Punk told at the WWE Preview Special 2024 show.

It remains to be seen what awaits the 45 years in the impending Royal Rumble PLE on the road to WrestleMania 40.

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But what happened to Punk at the most discussed Royal Rumble match of his career 10 years back? Let’s have a quick recap.

What went wrong with CM Punk in the 2014 Royal Rumble?

CM Punk’s eventful stint in WWE was put to an unforeseen halt following the Royal Rumble match in 2014. It came after he was left frustrated with the company, especially with the notorious WWE boss, Vince McMahon. It quickly culminated in an abrupt walkout.

Moreover, later on, reports have suggested that The 45-year-old just gave up on his WWE endeavor before the January 27, 2014, episode of the red brand. During a boiling backstage segment with Triple H and Vince McMahon, he rejected the idea of being in the ring despite injuries. Also, he opposed wrestling The Hunter in the 2014 WrestleMania.

Additionally, he came to know about the creative plan of getting him beaten up in an untelevised segment in the hands of Kane on RAW the next day.

With these massive creative clashes, his departure became quite inevitable.

Now, given that he came back after 10 years, his status in the company underwent a 360-degree shift and for good only.

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What’s your take on CM Punk talking about his unfortunate 10-year-old Royal Rumble match? Sound off in the comments.