WWE Report: WWE Turns Down CM Punk “For Now”

Many people wondered if CM Punk was returning to wrestling after his departure from AEW. As it was speculated last week, CM Punk was interested in returning to WWE. There was a potential return to happen at the upcoming Survivor Series event in Chicago. Maybe even the Royal Rumble.

However, WWE is pouring cold water on this hotly speculated rumour real quick. As Punk initiated discussions to come back to the company, WWE has decided to turn down CM Punk. At least for now.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio:

“They (WWE) turned him (CM Punk) down. He wanted to go there and the decision was a no. It can always change, and it was brought up to me. There’s no such thing as ‘no forever’ when it comes to WWE, but it’s no for now. That was the decision that was made. It’s Vince’s decision. Vince, Nick Khan, Paul Levesque, and obviously they decided that the negatives outweighed the positives.”

Meltzer was following up on a report from Sean Ross Sapp From Fightful. There Sapp wrote that WWE higher-ups told Fightful Select and top talent that the company is not currently in talks with CM Punk about a WWE return.

Meltzer added in the segment that WWE was against bringing back Punk when Fox wanted them to back in 2019. During that time, Punk was appearing on WWE Backstage, which aired on Fox.  In addition, CM Punk and WWE were also to have spoken with each other while was out injured following Brawl Out aka All Out 2022.

“About 10 months ago, they were talking again at that point but he was still under contract to AEW and I was told that that would be a no,” Meltzer said. “But it’s easy to say it’s a no because there’s no chance they could get him because of the contract. But this time, they could, and they decided to pass.”

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It was in Chicago, where Punk was injured for the second time in four months. He went off on the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega, which led to a backstage brawl between the parties and indefinite suspensions. Speculation at that time that Punk wanted out or the company was trying to find a way out of his first contract with them.

Ultimately, Punk returned to AEW, but it was not much longer before another incident occurred with Jack Perry at AEW All In.

CM Punk was trying to make amends when WWE came to Chicago on April 24. He met with Paul Levesque and the Miz before being asked to leave. Punk’s feelings about what went on in the backstage of AEW have been well documented.

Again, there is no such thing as never in this business. Anything can happen in pro wrestling. We all thought CM Punk was done after 2014. So you can never close the book on a WWE return.

“It could always change and it was made very clear to me that if WWE’s business went down, they know it’s a card that they could play but is it worth it?” Meltzer continued.

When Nick Khan was about Punk and potential WWE interest, he noted the company has “only respect for Phil” and “wish him nothing but the best.”

While a WWE return maybe closed for now, maybe he goes some place else.

He was at the Impact Wrestling show from Chicago on April 29th. Once Punk was released from AEW, sources from Impact reportedly told PWInsider that they were “super excited” about the possibility of working with him. NWA World Heavyweight Champion EC3 also stated publicly that Punk in the NWA would be a “game changer” for the company.

Again, never say never in this business.