Vince preferred big, muscular, larger-than-life wrestlers. Punk’s lean frame and straight-edge style didn’t match Vince’s traditional vision.

Vince likes wrestlers who follow the script. Punk repeatedly challenged creative plans, demanding logic and better storytelling — something Vince saw as defiance.

Punk openly voiced his frustrations with management, medical staff, and booking. Vince felt Punk was unpredictable and difficult to control.

After Punk’s iconic 2011 Pipebomb, Vince worried Punk might go off-script again on live TV — a nightmare for a tightly controlled company.

Vince trusted people who followed orders without pushback. Punk operated on his own terms, which created friction.

Punk built his popularity through promos, personality, and connection with fans — not Vince’s push. Vince traditionally distrusts stars he didn’t “create.”

Punk walking out in 2014 convinced Vince he couldn’t rely on him long-term, making full trust impossible even after his WWE return.