CM Punk reflects on wrestling’s past, future on the eve of NXT’s CW Network debut

(NEXSTAR) — CM Punk reflected on professional wrestling’s past before looking to the industry’s future on the eve of WWE NXT’s debut on the CW Network Tuesday.

“The voice of the voiceless” called NXT the most important part of where professional wrestling is headed as an industry. Punk referenced the creation of pathways for young athletes to become sports entertainment superstars. Those pathways have led to some of WWE’s greatest success stories.

“I think Bianca Belair is the most perfect example of somebody who probably didn’t watch a lot of wrestling and was such an athlete and was offered an opportunity, recognized an opportunity, and now she’s one of the biggest superstars we have,” said Punk.

It’s an opportunity that he likens to college athletics.

“I really like the approach of NXT as being like a college athletic program, just like you would see for track and field or football,” Punk said. “Now, all these athletes have a different avenue to start a career.”

CM Punk made it clear that while NXT is the proud breeding ground for professional wrestling’s future, that doesn’t exclude it from being a groundbreaking, entertaining stand-alone product.

“We all like to say … this is the future. [These are] the future superstars of SmackDown and Raw and WrestleMania. But I think NXT is its own thing,” Punk said. “I think they have such a special thing [in] NXT. I really want them to try to live in the present and enjoy their time there.”

Punk recalled the time he spent in the WWE developmental league, Ohio Valley Wrestling, early in his career, remembering that the facilities used for that league didn’t have heating in the winter, or air conditioning in the summer.

“[Now] they’ve got central air baby. And they’ve got a full gym in there, and they’ve got like six rings and they’ve got trainers and all kinds of stuff, and I love it because that’s what we always should have had.”

Still, Punk looks back fondly on his time crafting himself into the “Best in the World,” calling his time at NXT the “fountain of youth.”

“I get to relive those days and enjoy the things that I was maybe too career-focused … that I couldn’t enjoy all the present,” Punk said.

While Punk is focused on what is sure to be a violent encounter with the “Scottish Psychopath” Drew McIntyre inside Hell in a Cell on Saturday, he says he is dedicated to fairly executing his role as special guest referee for Tuesday’s NXT Championship matchup between “All Ego” Ethan Page and Trick Williams.

‘I’m literally just going to play this down the middle, I’m the referee,” Punk said. “It’s important to find out who the man is to lead CW and NXT into the future, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

(In-ring footage contributed by WWE)

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