Is the Punk vs Rollins Feud Overstaying Its Welcome?
When CM Punk returned to WWE in 2023 after leaving AEW, fans knew a feud with Seth Rollins was inevitable. Over the next year and a half, their rivalry built up on TV, culminating in three matches in 2025. The storyline had been brewing for years, with Rollins repeatedly expressing his disdain for Punk, even calling him “a cancer” before Punk’s return. While many fans were excited at first, the feud has now begun to feel like it’s overstaying its welcome, with some feeling that the storyline has dragged on too long.
Their history runs deep. Punk was instrumental in bringing Rollins to WWE’s main roster as part of The Shield, alongside Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose. They protected Punk during his legendary WWE Championship reign, which went from late 2012 to early 2013. When Punk left WWE in 2014 due to creative and personal issues, Rollins stepped up as a top star, turning against his Shield teammates and joining Triple H’s Authority. He committed the Heist of the Century when he cashed in his Money in the Bank contract at WrestleMania 31, winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and solidifying his place among WWE’s biggest stars.
Fans expected Punk and Rollins to finally collide at WrestleMania 40 for Rollins’ World Heavyweight Championship, but unfortunately, Punk suffered an injury at the 2024 Royal Rumble, which altered plans significantly. Instead, Punk focused on a high-profile feud with Drew McIntyre, culminating in a Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood. Rollins was involved in that storyline as well, serving as a special guest referee at SummerSlam 2024. In 2025, Punk finally main evented WrestleMania 41 against Rollins and Roman Reigns, where Rollins stole Punk’s best friend, Paul Heyman, away from him and became Rollins’ oracle.
It should have been clear that the feud was far from over, especially after Rollins screwed Punk during his WWE Championship match against John Cena at Night of Champions. Despite their past and some memorable moments, many fans now feel it’s time to move on. The feud has been lengthy, with the repeated confrontations beginning to lose their impact. While Punk and Rollins have created some great moments together, the storyline seems to have run its course, and fans are eager for WWE to focus on new rivalries and fresh talent.
