A new “update” has emerged regarding the rumors surrounding CM Punk’s WWE status.
CM Punk has been absent from WWE television since his appearance on RAW after WrestleMania 42. While fans are eagerly anticipating his return, rumors have surfaced suggesting backstage issues between him and the promotion, leading the former World Heavyweight Champion to request his release.
Now, Fightful (via Fightful Select) has addressed all the rumors. While they did not substantiate any of them, they revealed what they heard (and haven’t heard) from WWE sources about the situation.
Rumors indicated several issues that allegedly led to backstage issues between WWE and CM Punk. One story is that Punk was frustrated with his wife AJ Lee’s booking/treatment in WWE. There were also vague rumors about an incident that occurred around WrestleMania 42. However, there’s no word on whether it’s related to the former World Heavyweight Champion slapping a phone out of a fan’s hand at the talent hotel lobby. He reportedly didn’t get any heat for the incident.
There was also another rumor that CM Punk politicked for something specific at WrestleMania 42 and got heat from TKO as a result.
WWE sources debunked rumors of CM Punk asking for his release
Fightful revealed that WWE sources they spoke to didn’t hear that CM Punk wanted out of his contract. None of the talent also heard that the promotion asked him to take a pay cut. One source they spoke to noted that Punk has a story coming up soon and he’s not off TV for any disciplinary reasons. The company is actively producing new merchandise for the Straight Edge Superstar, and planning dates for him this summer.
While AJ Lee is not in WWE’s immediate plans, Fightful notes that might change soon. Contrary to previous reports, the promotion never planned for the former Women’s Intercontinental Champion to be a full-time performer. The rumors about CM Punk being upset over her booking were reportedly scoffed at internally, as creative for Lee’s return and run were well planned from the time she returned last year. People who worked directly with and around Lee never heard of anything changing.
Fightful also debunked a viral tweet that claimed CM Punk said his goodbyes on RAW after WWE WrestleMania 42. Sources within the promotion who were never keen on Punk whatsoever claimed they had never heard of these rumors or of Punk wanting out of his contract. So if any of these are true, it appears they haven’t made their way around WWE talent yet.
People believe Punk will rebuild his relationship with AEW
Regarding talks about CM Punk ever returning to AEW, people within the company have long believed that the bridge will be rebuilt, even if he never works there again.
While it may not involve everyone Punk had an issue with, Fightful notes that people hit them with the classic “never say never” when they asked if he had burned that bridge completely.
When will CM Punk return to WWE? That remains to be seen. For what it’s worth, we noted earlier that he’s at least scheduled for several weeks of WWE RAW, starting with Monday’s show in Baltimore, and has been for several weeks.
WrestleVotes recently reported that Punk’s absence was not due to a lack of creative plans. In addition, PWInsider.com says new Punk merchandise is planned, and a WWE source said that there’s as much truth to Punk leaving WWE as there was for past “stories that claimed Saudi Arabia bought us years ago.”
Read More: Wrestler Arrested After Allegedly Slamming Man Through Glass Table at Bachelor Party
