Former WWE superstar CM Punk recently interviewed with Barstool Sports’ My Mom’s Basement podcast to promote his new horror movie Girl on the Third Floor, which opens in theaters this Friday. During the interview, Punk admits that he is still “absolutely” interested in a potential return to the squared circle, calling himself the “white whale” of pro wrestling, and discussing how both WWE and AEW have roped fans into thinking that he was making a grand return in the past. He also mentions liking the Young Bucks, and referring to their product (AEW) as “punk rock.” You can read highlights below:

Being open to a return to wrestling:

Absolutely. For five years I’ve always been asked that question. No matter what I say, it gets reduced to clickbait and it gets warped. I’ve gone through some many iterations of people saying, ‘Oh, Punk hates wrestling.’ None of that was ever the case. I think I’ve always been open to it. My attitude has always been that I don’t see it happening. I think I’ve talked about it more recently, but my attitude hasn’t changed. People always ask what would it take to go back, and I say it would take a big bag. So people use their imaginations.

WWE and AEW taking advantage of his popularity:

I actually think both companies, WWE and AEW, have used the fact that I’ve been whatever about it to kind of rope people in every now and again. To make people think I am coming back on a specific show at a specific time. Whenever a mystery opponent is announced they’ll think it is CM Punk. There is nothing wrong with them trying to do that. They texted me second-hand an offer and I was like ‘real offers only, please.

Thoughts on the Young Bucks:

How many shows have they had? There is not a lot of content out there for me to be able to watch. I like The Young Bucks, I what they are doing, it is very punk rock.

Being pro wrestling’s white whale:

I’m that white whale in pro wrestling. I don’t know if that freaks people out on how to approach me, it is what it is. I’m open to the idea, I haven’t been approached properly. I’m not courting anyone to show up with a dozen roses at my front door.

Says he doesn’t need the money:

I don’t do things for me based on what other people think. There are people out there who think, ‘He’s just coming back because he needs the money.’ Do I? I don’t think I do.