Former WWE Champion and AEW athlete, CM Punk, finds himself unaffiliated after a turbulent departure from All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in early September. A backstage altercation with Jack Perry and alleged threats towards AEW CEO, Tony Khan, culminated in his firing, “with cause,” triggering considerable buzz within the wrestling community.
In a recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, renowned journalist Dave Meltzer ignited discussions, revealing that, despite the conflict, Punk intends to make a return to the wrestling arena, and negotiations between the two parties are underway.
A deal is yet to be sealed, but the conversations are palpably in motion. CM Punk, renowned as a former five-time WWE World Champion—six if one factors in the ECW—commands substantial fan popularity, evidenced by his notable two-year stint with AEW.
His potential availability in the free agent market poses an intriguing prospect for WWE, given his rich history and fanbase magnetism within the wrestling entertainment sphere.
Potential WWE Reunion
Despite CM Punk's dramatic and highly-publicized exit from WWE in January 2014, followed by a torrent of critiques aimed at the company's creative trajectory, the longstanding philosophy among dedicated WWE aficionados firmly persists: "never say never" when it comes to spectacular returns.
Almost a decade since Punk’s contentious departure, the thought of a possible reconciliation perpetually looms, albeit embedded within nuanced dynamics. It's a situation rife with complexity, given Punk’s outspoken criticism and the industry's notorious unpredictability.
Both parties have traversed significantly different paths during the intervening years, yet, the electric potential of Punk’s return continues to ignite discussions and speculations among fans, demonstrating the indelible mark he left on the WWE universe.
The fusion of past grievances and potential future collaborations creates a compelling narrative that keeps the WWE community on its toes, always pondering the thrilling "what if" scenarios. While Punk's potential re-emergence in WWE creates a stirring narrative, Fightful Select underscores a critical aspect: his leverage within the company isn’t what it was in yesteryears.
Subsequent to his intensive engagement with AEW from June to August this year, notably featuring on Saturday Collision weekly, if Punk were to stage a WWE comeback, his schedule and terms of engagement remain veiled in speculation.