While fans were waiting for the Chicago-based wrestler to appear throughout the night, WWE didn’t reveal CM Punk until they were done with all the main cards of the event. This was the perfect surprise for viewers as both the internet and the arena in Chicago erupted with joy.

But if the wrestler returned to the promotion after all this time, why did he leave WWE in the first place? If this is something that you have wondered about throughout Punk’s career run, now might be a good time to find out.

CM Punk disliked WWE’s booking style

Booking in the wrestling world is always subject to opinions and debates. However, there have been moments in WWE where fans have objectively hated the promotion’s booking. Whoever was responsible for realizing a wrestler’s potential and getting them over, didn’t satisfy Punk enough.

Despite walking out of the promotion without any announcements, Punk didn’t offer further clarification as much as fans wanted him to. He still managed to reveal an important reason during a post-media scrum after AEW ‘Double or Nothing’ a year ago.

The Best in the World said during the press conference, “I feel that I never [reached my full potential]. I reached the potential that I could have given the limitations they constantly put on me.”

Punk blamed the creative department for not pushing him enough and not using his potential to the fullest. This can be considered one of the reasons why he left the Stamford-based company in 2014. Now that the department has changed drastically, Punk could’ve felt like trusting the promotion a bit more this time around.

The 45-year-old did not do much during the seven-year gap before AEW. However, one notable move that he made was to star in the UFC, which ended as quickly as it started off.

CM Punk realized he wasn’t cut out for MMA

Punk debuted on WWE’s main roster in 2006 and had prior wrestling experience and training as well. So, after working in the pro wrestling industry for so long, he tried his luck in MMA as well. Since UFC already had wrestlers as fighters, he wanted to fight in the promotion as well.

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Punk had two fights in the leading MMA promotion. While one ended in a ‘no contest’, he was completely dominated by his opponent in the other. Two disappointing defeats, plus the health problems and injuries he faced during fights and training, forced Punk to leave this dream of his behind.

Down the same road, he eventually landed in WWE, which came out as shocking to everyone. Hopefully, the WWE superstar will now have better cooperation with the creative department.

WATCH THIS STORY:- CM Punk Makes Triumphant Return to WWE at Survivor Series WarGames 2023 After 9-Year Hiatus