From OVW Nobody to WWE Top Guy: CM Punk Recalls the Moment He Knew He Made It
CM Punk has delivered pipe bombs, won world titles, walked away from the company, and returned like a conquering antihero—but none of those moments meant as much to him as… getting acknowledged by a WWE makeup lady?
Yes, really.
In a recent interview on Unsportsmanlike with Evan Cohen, Chris Canty, and Michelle Smallmon, Punk shared the bizarre yet memorable moment he realized he had truly made it in WWE—and it had nothing to do with a title belt.
“There used to be one makeup lady in WWE—her name was Jane. Not the nicest lady in the world,” Punk recalled.“Back in 2005, I was in OVW, doing a dark match. I grabbed a spray bottle from the makeup station to wet my hair, and all of a sudden I hear someone screaming like a sailor down the hallway. It was Jane yelling, ‘What do you think you’re doing? That is for talent. Put it down!’ I just quietly tiptoed away.”
Fast-forward six years to 2011—the peak of Punk’s “Summer of Punk” run—and the same woman came up to him with a totally different tone:
“She walks up and says, ‘How come you never come see me? You know I can cut your hair, right?’ That’s when I knew: I made it. I’m a top guy now.”
It's a hilarious full-circle moment from a guy who built his entire brand on not being Vince McMahon’s ideal superstar. CM Punk’s rise wasn’t just unexpected—it was inevitable, and these kinds of backstage anecdotes prove just how far he had come from indie cult hero to locker room leader.
👔 CM Punk Isn’t Ready to Be "Office Punk" — Yet
While fans have speculated whether Punk could slide into a backstage or creative role in WWE, the straight-edge superstar says not so fast.
“Being in the office while also being an active wrestler just doesn’t mix,” Punk said. “I’m not ruling it out long-term, but right now, that’s not where I’m at.”
He also spoke about his evolving relationship with Triple H, a man he once famously clashed with. But according to Punk, their dynamic in 2025 has shifted.
“It’s been a real treat working with him. I think we’ve only scratched the surface.”
🎙️ MainEvent.News | Backstage Take
What makes this story so great isn’t just the humor—it’s what it says about status in the wrestling business. You can headline pay-per-views and sell out arenas, but being treated differently backstage? That’s when you know you’re “one of them.”
Punk’s rise was never about checking Vince McMahon’s boxes. It was about shattering the mold and forcing WWE to embrace someone who shouldn’t have worked by their standards—but did, on his own terms.
Now, whether he’s working with top stars or shooting the breeze with old rivals like Triple H, it’s clear that CM Punk isn’t just back—he belongs.
