CM Punk just pulled the curtain back on something WWE never talks about. During promo taping for the upcoming Netflix docuseries WWE Unreal, Punk casually dropped a backstage truth: The Rock and Roman Reigns are the only guys allowed to break the time rules if the crowd’s hooked, they can keep going.
For most wrestlers, timing is everything. Go over your segment, and you're either getting chewed out or cut short next time. But Punk says if The Rock or Roman have the fans in the palm of their hand, producers will just let them ride that wave. It’s rare air that only a few ever breathe.
A Rule for the Chosen Few
This isn’t about ego. It’s about momentum. If the crowd is fully locked in, WWE wants to keep that fire going. Producers backstage usually strict about schedules know when to step back and let lightning strike twice. That’s what makes those main-event-level guys different. They’ve earned trust that their extra minutes won’t flop.
Punk made it clear: this isn’t favoritism. It’s performance-based. Reigns and Rock didn’t get this leeway overnight it’s built on years of delivering when it counts. And if they’re rolling, WWE knows better than to pull the plug early.
With WWE Unreal dropping July 29, fans will finally get a raw look at how the weekly show is timed, tweaked, and occasionally thrown out the window for magic. There’s headset chaos, ref cues, last-minute changes and moments when a Reigns promo goes long because, well, everyone backstage knows it’s gold.
For wrestlers trying to climb the ladder, the message is clear: stick to your slot until you prove you can own the room. And when you do, maybe just maybe you’ll get the same silent nod from the producers: “Go ahead, take your time.”