WWE Defending champion CM Punk doesn’t believe turning heel character would have the desired effect at this stage of his career.
Speaking to Radio WWE, Punk spelled out that wrestling community ultimately determine who is a hero or villain, regardless of how a wrestler is presented on television.
“The commendable guy, poor guy thing, I think, is decided by the audience. It’s their perspective. I think I am an incredible black hat that people love so much, it wouldn’t work. I’d still get cheered, while it would defeat the purpose. In a separate but related matter, it’s a real double-edged sword at this point.”
The comments come ahead of SummerSlam 2026, where Punk is penciled in to defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes. At present, both competitors are portrayed as babyfaces, making the championship clash a rare matchup between two of WWE’s top fan favorites.
Punk floated the idea of that even if WWE attempted to position him as a villain, the attendees’s continued support would undermine the role and make the turn ineffective.
Whether that dynamic changes during the build remains to be seen, although Punk thinks audience reactions—not creative direction—will ultimately determine who supporters choose to support.