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By Andrew Ravens
Contributing Sports Writer
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CM Punk has opened up about his legendary rivalry with John Cena, calling the 17-time world champion his "wrestling soulmate." In a new interview, Punk also expressed a measure of regret over his infamous 2014 departure from WWE, lamenting the matches with Cena that never happened.
The two icons recently shared the ring one last time at the Night of Champions premium live event in June. Speaking with E! News, Punk reflected on the special chemistry he and his greatest rival shared.
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"My Wrestling Soulmate"
Punk described his on-screen dynamic with John Cena as a "marriage that unfolded on screen that we both needed at the time." He noted the unique crowd reactions their matches and promos would generate.
"He was the goody two-shoes, boy scout, good guy that a lot of places booed out of the building," Punk said. "Then I was this despicable... bad guy, and people seemed to love it."
This dynamic was the foundation of their historic rivalry in 2011, which is now famously known as the "Summer of Punk."
A Legendary Rivalry
The feud between CM Punk and John Cena in 2011 is widely considered one of the greatest storylines in modern WWE history. It was ignited by Punk's now-legendary "Pipe Bomb" promo, where he blurred the lines between reality and fiction. The story culminated in a five-star classic at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view, where Punk defeated Cena for the WWE Championship in his hometown of Chicago.
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Their rivalry was built on a clash of ideologies: Punk as the anti-establishment "Voice of the Voiceless" and Cena as the ultimate company man. This created a special and unpredictable energy every time they were in the ring together.
A Decade of "What Ifs"
Punk's abrupt and acrimonious departure from WWE in January 2014 put an end to their rivalry. Now, over a decade later, he is reflecting on that decision.
"There's a part of me in my head that regrets stepping out because of what more we could have done," Punk admitted. "But it makes it so much sweeter that I'm back now, and I was able to come in here and work with him one last time."
With John Cena currently on his year-long farewell tour, their recent match at Night of Champions was the final chapter in their storied history. Punk concluded by saying it "means the world" to him to be back to witness Cena's "ride into the sunset," calling him "the ultimate top guy.
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