Raw Emotion: CM Punk Breaks Down in Candid Footage from Stephanie McMahon’s New ESPN+ Series

In a rare glimpse behind the curtain of professional wrestling, newly released footage captures CM Punk in an unexpectedly vulnerable moment following his match with Drew McIntyre at SummerSlam in Cleveland. The emotional scene is part of “Stephanie’s Places,” an upcoming ESPN+ Original Series produced through a collaboration between Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, ESPN, and WWE.

## A Different Side of the Second City Saint

The preview clip, shared by Stephanie McMahon on social media, reveals an unguarded CM Punk backstage after his loss to McIntyre. In a moment that stands in stark contrast to his often-confrontational on-screen persona, Punk openly embraces his emotions:

> “Yeah, I’m having a cry right now. I don’t give a f***. I’m really happy right now.”

## Finding Victory in Defeat

Despite coming up short against McIntyre, Punk’s perspective on the loss reveals a deeper understanding of his journey. Drawing a parallel to his beloved Chicago Cubs, he reflected:

> “Yeah, 100%. Obviously, I lost, but my favorite baseball team is called the ‘Lovable Losers’ for a reason. And I didn’t tear anything. If your dreams don’t scare the sh*t out of you, you need bigger dreams.”

## Behind the Scenes Chemistry

The footage also captures a genuine moment between Punk and Stephanie McMahon, highlighting their complex professional relationship. Their interaction culminates in what McMahon describes as a “big, sweaty hug,” with her playfully noting, “He loves to do this. He used to do this all the time.”

## Series Launch Details

Wrestling fans can catch the premiere episode of “Stephanie’s Places” on March 26 at 12 a.m. ET exclusively on ESPN+. The show will also be available to Disney Bundle subscribers through Hulu and Disney+, marking a significant expansion of WWE content into mainstream sports entertainment platforms.

## Looking Ahead

This unprecedented access to one of wrestling’s most controversial figures sets a compelling tone for the series. With CM Punk’s recent return to WWE and ongoing storylines, this intimate look at the man behind the persona arrives at a fascinating time in his career.

Will this new series reveal more surprising moments from wrestling’s biggest stars? What other superstars might we see in future episodes? The wrestling world eagerly awaits the full premiere to find out.