The champion stepped away to grieve personal losses and reset with his wife
Summary
– CM Punk said his WWE absence allowed him to grieve several close friends who died
– Punk confirmed the break was not caused by an injury or surgery
– He spent the time with his wife before returning as a full-time champion
CM Punk has explained why he disappeared from WWE television for nearly three months after WrestleMania 42.
Speaking with ESPN New York, Punk confirmed that his absence was not due to an injury or surgery.
The break marked the first time during his WWE career that he received extended time away without needing medical treatment.
Punk revealed that several close friends died while he was carrying the World Heavyweight Championship on Raw.
He continued to appear at WWE events after each loss and kept his personal struggles out of the public eye.
Punk said working around his road family and connecting with fans helped him cope during the difficult period.
Despite that support, he eventually realized that he still needed time away to process his grief properly.
Punk spent the break at home with his wife and focused on his mental recovery before returning to WWE.
He said the time together helped him reset and prepare for another demanding schedule on the road.
Punk also rejected criticism surrounding his absence and said anyone upset about him mourning his friends had their own problem.
He returned on the July 6 episode of Raw and defeated Sami Zayn to win the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Punk now considers himself fully committed to WWE again after taking the personal time he needed.
