CM Punk Makes Admission While Reflecting On Final Match With John Cena

While he did not win his final match against WWE Champion John Cena, CM Punk is extremely grateful that it happened.
CM Punk
CM Punk | WWE.com

CM Punk will challenge Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship this Saturday night on night one of SummerSlam, but over the weekend he was reflecting on his previous opportunity to capture a world title.

The self-proclaimed 'Best in the World' faced off against John Cena with the WWE Championship on the line at Night of Champions last month. Punk was unsuccessful in dethroning his longtime rival, thanks in large part to the interference of Seth Rollins.

While the finish and the build to the match left some fans disappointed, many enjoyed the trip down memory lane. Especially the role reversals that saw Cena deliver his version of a viral pipebomb promo, and the old chick magnet turn into the Dr. of Punkanomics.

“I’ve been fortunate to have a pretty long career filled with a lot of great moments. I think that’s just another one," Punk said during a panel discussion at San Diego Comic-Con.

Even though he didn't win the WWE Championship, Punk said it was an honor just to be in Cena's orbit during his retirement and admitted that getting the opportunity to have fun on a big stage at this stage in his career means a great deal to him.

"I’m turning very, very soft in my old age, so I am always just overflowing with gratitude. That moment was absolutely no different. I don’t think anybody expected that. It was a little bit different. It was fun. Obviously, I think we’re in the business of creating moments. So again, super grateful I still can do that and contribute at this level.” h/t Fightful.

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Rick Ucchino
RICK UCCHINO

Rick Ucchino is the Assistant Editor & Content Coordinator for The Takedown on SI. He also works full-time for 700WLW Radio in Cincinnati, Ohio as a local news and sports anchor, in addition to his time covering the Cincinnati Bengals for Sirius XM. Rick has been on the professional wrestling beat since 2019, having provided coverage for a number of outlets, including Fightful, SB Nation’s Cageside Seats and the Bleav Podcast Network. With an educational background in theater, creative writing and journalism, Rick focuses primarily on the storytelling aspect of pro wrestling, but he’s no stranger to the squared circle himself. He had the privilege of training with former WWE & WCW cruiserweight Jimmy Wang Yang for nearly two years and retired early due to back issues with a perfect 1-0 record in singles competition. Rick is a married father of two incredibly adorable children, who are budding pro wrestling fans themselves. Much to the chagrin of their mother. You can reach Rick at rwucchino@gmail.com