Mick Foley on CM Punk walking out on WWE: He was in considerable pain

When CM Punk walked out on WWE all the way back on Jan. 27 (has it been that long already?), Mick Foley was one of the first wrestlers to publicly make his thoughts on the situation clear. At the time, he encouraged Punk to simply come back and work the rumored match with Triple H atWrestleMania 30, where they would surely steal the show.

He's changed his tune a bit now.

Recently, a photo has circulated showing CM Punk on the back of a milk carton. Because he's a missing person, you see. Funny, funny; ha, ha. Foley himself shared said photo and had a laugh along with most fans but got some negative feedback as well.

So he responded to it with a heartfelt message via his Facebook page (sic):

"Yes, the response to that funny photo of CM Punk on a milk carton was incredible. While I respect everybody's opinion - as long as it is given in a respectful way, I have to disagree with those out there who find great fault in Punk's simply walk away. I am kind of like a ghost that drifts in and out of WWE, but in my past three years of drifting, I have never been to a WWE event where Punk was not in considerable pain. Ice packs, heating pads, and visits to the trainer were as much a part of his daily routine as eating. sleeping, and wrestling. Performing at that level, in that degree of pain was only possible when accompanied by the passion that turned an unlikely Indy kid into one of the greatest WWE superstars of his generation. Once that passions gone, then so are all of the things that made him great. I know what it feels like to go through the motions, and to do what needs to be done solely for the paycheck. It's not pretty - and though I have not talked to Punk since the night before he left, I have to believe he has too much respect for what he does to let people see him going through the motions. If or when that day comes when CM punk returns to WWE, I hope it's with that same passion that made so many of you care about him to begin with."

Whether you agree with how Punk left or not, there's no questioning he was one of the most beat up wrestlers on the roster. To that end, let's all hope that Punk, the human being, is resting up and healing well in his time away after spending so much of it entertaining us at the expense of his body.

In fact, that's something to keep in mind with all wrestlers.