Shawn Michaels Shares Crucial Advice For CM Punk In WWE

Originally posted on SE Scoops | By Michael Reichlin | Last updated 11/30/23

Shawn Michaels recently stated "of course" he'd welcome CM Punk to NXT with open arms, so how did he react when Punk showed up unannounced at Survivor Series this past weekend?

WWE's Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative spoke with Peter Rosenberg this week for the Cheap Heat Podcast. The full episode drops this Friday, but the Rosenberg Wrestling YouTube channel has released a clip, including HBK's reaction to CM Punk's WWE return.

Michaels is all too familiar with a lot of the issues that have plagued Punk's career, and shares some of the wisdom he's picked up along the way. He knows Punk can be a volatile person to work with, but the unpredictability he brings is part of what makes the business so exciting.

CM Punk needs to be dependable

Michaels says that as long as you're reliable and can do your job without incident, there's a place for you in WWE. He's had his own issues in the past, but he's loving his current role in NXT and that doesn't happen without proving he can be relied upon.

"I get, like everybody else, I get happy, thrilled, like, holy cow... I understand business. And also, look.. I wasn't always the most popular guy to people, but I was really good at my job and I feel like that's one of the reasons I've had one here in the WWE for almost four years. I'm dependable, and I'm good at my job. I think if you are that, there's always an opportunity here, especially if you if you want one.

Whatever drama there's been in the past, Michaels sees the potential of CM Punk finishing off his career in WWE. He wants Punk's story to have a happy ending and hopes it all works out so the fans get the best product possible.

"Look, I'm happy for him," Michaels said about Punk. "I'm happy for the company. I'm happy for the WWE Universe. Stories like this are always fantastic. Even if they're controversial, that's part of what makes them fantastic. There are times I don't always know what's going on and truth be told, I don't think sometimes, they know what's going on... but that unpredictability is what makes this job so fantastic and so unique, unlike anything else. That's why we've continued to thrive for 40 plus years, as well."

Michaels added that the surprise element of Punk's return made it extra special. Today's wrestlers are so active on social media, which is just part of the business and modern culture, but it's great when even the fans who follow wrestling obsessively can be caught off guard to create special moments like this.

Catch Peter Rosenberg's full interview with Shawn Michaels on the latest episode of the Cheap Heat Podcast, dropping this Friday (12/1).

This article first appeared on SE Scoops and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: