Tag: CM Punk

Backstage News On CM Punk’s Return To WWE At Survivor Series: War Games

CM Punk made a somewhat unexpected return to WWE at Survivor Series: War Games after a tumultuous near-decade long absence. PWInsider has more details on his Punk’s return as it played over the few weeks:

  • The agreement between WWE and Punk is believed to be “several years in length” according to company sources but despite previous reports, the two sides only began talking to each other over the last week.
  • Once the two sides began having conversations, the deal reportedly came together “rather quickly” and from WWE’s side, they are looking at it as a “new beginning” of a relationship between Punk and the company. The actual deal wasn’t hammered out until sometime yesterday, hours before Survivor Series.
  • WWE reportedly gave serious consideration to holding back Punk’s return until January’s Royal Rumble in Florida but the consensus feeling ended up being that the longer they waited to re-introduce him after signing him to a contract, the more likely it would become that word would spread backstage about their plans, leading to a higher chance that the news would be leaked, ruining the surprise.
  • The other consideration was of course that Survivor Series was in Chicago – Punk’s hometown – where he was guaranteed to get a huge ovation. After agreeing to terms on a new deal and because Punk lives only 20 minutes from the AllState Arena, the company was able to have him drive to the venue and sneak in at the very last minute for his end-of-show appearance.
  • The belief is that while be wrestling for WWE, he probably won’t be working a full-time schedule though this has not been confirmed by anyone.
  • Speculation has already started that WWE has its eyes on potential matches down the road which would see Punk wrestle the likes of Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes and possibly even in the long-sought-after dream match against Stone Cold Steve Austin, likely at WrestleMania.
  • The locker room dynamic with Punk back in the fold is something that remains to be seen on how it will fold out and is also a situation that AEW will no doubt be looking at with some level of curiosity. If Punk returns to WWE and remains incident free, it would go some distance in silencing his critics who believe he is the source of a lot of backstage tension. However, if his WWE tenure is also riddled with controversies, it would be validation for AEW. Most wrestlers within WWE have already gone on record to state that if and when Punk returned to the promotion, they were ready and willing to “make money” by putting their differences aside in order to work with him.

Tony Khan Says He Can’t Legally Talk About CM Punk’s Return To WWE

After his departure from AEW due to a backstage altercation with Jack Perry at All In 2023, CM Punk made a shocking return to WWE following the main event of Saturday’s Survivor Series 2023 pay-per-view event.

Tony Khan recently did an interview with BBC West Midlands, where he was asked about Punk’s WWE return. The AEW President said,

“Can’t talk about that, nor do I think it’s the time or the place. But I appreciate you asking, and I’m very excited about AEW All In Wembley Stadium. Not to dodge or duck your question, it’s just not something I can legally talk about.“

Source: eWn

Report – CM Punk Received ‘Major Money Offer’ From TNA/Impact Wrestling Ahead Of WWE Return

As many of you know by now, CM Punk made his return to WWE at Saturday night’s Survivor Series: War Games 2023 pay-per-view event at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, IL.

Pwinsider is reporting that Punk was considering a “major money offer” made by TNA/Impact Wrestling before finalizing his multi-year deal with WWE on Saturday.

According to the report, Punk was “amazing” during his discussions with TNA/Impact Wrestling, which included dealing with top executives such as Scott D’Amore and Lou D’Angeli.

Sources in Impact believed at one point that the promotion was very close to signing Punk and hoped he would appear at Bound for Glory 2023 as part of the announcement that Impact was rebranding back to TNA.

The conversations continued after Bound for Glory 2023 and people in Impact remained hopeful about bringing Punk in full-time.

However, Impact executives soon realized that Punk could earn a bigger paycheck in WWE, and they were happy for him.

Several Impact wrestlers appreciated the time Punk spent with them when he visited the TV tapings in Chicago, IL.

Source: eWn

BREAKING NEWS – CM Punk Returns To WWE At Survivor Series 2023

CM Punk has made his return to WWE at Survivor Series: War Games.

In the Men’s WarGames match that headlined the show, Randy Orton hit JD McDonaugh with an RKO while Cody Rhodes hit Damian Priest with the Cross Rhodes to pick up the win for his team.

As the babyfaces all stood tall, the Cult of Personality theme music hit and CM Punk made his way to the ring in a white t-shirt and jeans. CM Punk hyped up the fans on the entrance stage and soaked in the reaction as the show came to a close.

CM Punk Teases Involvement In WarGames Match At WWE Survivor Series On Social Media

Next week, WWE will travel to Chicago, Illinois for their 37th annual Survivor Series event. Based on the location of this show, many wrestling fans have brought up the possibility of a major return – specifically that of former WWE Champion CM Punk. Despite previous reports stating that there are no talks between Punk and WWE, the “Second City Saint” continues to tease his involvement in the November 25 premium live event.

In one of his new Instagram stories, Punk shared an update on his Tuesday afternoon exercise session, revealing he had burned 666 calories. “Just working out!” the caption read. Upon closer inspection though, Punk also attached the song “War Pigs” by Faith No More, which is a cover of the official 2023 Survivor Series theme song, “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath. As of now, it remains to be seen if Punk’s teasers will result in a return to WWE, or if they’re simply a bluff. 

Following Monday’s episode of “WWE RAW,” Cody Rhodes’ team appears to be down a number heading into WarGames, fueling more speculation that Punk may resurface to fill that position. Recent reports, however, have pointed toward Randy Orton as the likely candidate for the final participant in the men’s WarGames match.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Backstage News On CM Punk’s Reported Appearance At Impact Wrestling Event

CM Punk is a free agent in professional wrestling following his abrupt AEW exit in September, and while questions remain over where he will go next, recent reports indicate that Impact Wrestling, soon to once again be known as TNA, may have his attention. Nick Hausman’s “Haus of Wrestling” is reporting that Punk was backstage for the “IMPACT Wrestling on AXS TV” tapings in Chicago, though not for the Bound for Glory pay-per-view event. According to the report, Punk arrived just before the tapings began, around 6:30 pm CST, and was quickly taken to the locker room area. 

Punk reportedly spoke with anyone who wanted to get some time with him backstage, which was said to have included key talent within the promotion. His backstage presence follows a weekend of post-Bound For Glory buzz, which has only gotten stronger since Impact announced it was returning to its original TNA name. There were also reports that his Punk’s friend, Ace Steel, had also been seen working backstage for Impact as a producer. Hausman claims Steel was even considered to wrestle in the “Gauntlet for the Gold” match on the PPV, but Impact didn’t want its fans to assume Steel coming into the fold was a guarantee that Punk would follow, generating potentially unfounded excitement. 

CM Punk left AEW amidst controversy following an altercation backstage at All In, the massive event held at Wembley Stadium back in August. Recent reporting has indicated Punk wanted a return to WWE but his former promotion turned him down. If these reports prove accurate, the newly-rebranded TNA — a name that hasn’t appeared on one of Punk’s checks since 2003 — could end up being a bidder for his services.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Report: WWE Not Bringing Back CM Punk

According to F4WOnline, WWE has decided against bringing back CM Punk. 

There have been previous reports that Punk had intention to return to WWE and he and the company were said to be in talks.

Also per the report from F4WOnline, WWE turned Punk down, with Vince McMahon, Nick Kahn and Paul Levesque deciding on not to bring Punk back at this time.

It was further noted the main reason for not to bring back Punk, was the negatives out weighted the positives.

When Nick Khan spoke last month with ESPN about WWE’s potential interest in Punk, he said they “only have respect for Phil” and “wish him nothing but the best.”

Latest On CM Punk’s Possible WWE Return, Dave Meltzer Suggests Potential Timeline

Since CM Punk was fired by All Elite Wrestling, rumors have been swirling that the Chicago-born wrestler might be set to make a sensational return to WWE. In this week’s edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, veteran wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer wrote that people close to Punk have said that “it is his intention to return” to the Stamford, Connecticut-based promotion and that “the two sides are in talks.”

Meltzer went on to suggest that if a deal was put together, then the upcoming WWE Survivor Series 2023 premium live event at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois, would be the perfect time to pull the trigger for a surprise return.

Punk is currently a free agent after he was dismissed by AEW following a backstage altercation with Jack Perry at the AEW All In pay-per-view at Wembley Stadium on August 27. The incident reportedly took place right before Punk successfully retained the “Real World Championship” against Samoa Joe; Perry had just lost the FTW Championship to HOOK on the All In pre-show before that bout. Perry had referenced an alleged disagreement he and Punk had over the use of glass during his FTW title clash.

Punk’s most recent appearance for WWE came when he participated in the 2014 Royal Rumble match. Punk walked out on WWE the following day. He first joined the promotion in 2005 after many successful years on the independent scene. In 2019, he became an analyst on FOX’s “WWE Backstage” show; Punk was contracted to FOX for those appearances. Shawn Michaels, WWE’s Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative, recently said that he’d love to have Punk on the “WWE NXT” brand.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

CM Punk Makes First Public Comments Since AEW Firing, Says He’s Free For ‘Two Months’

It’s been just over two weeks since AEW owner and CEO Tony Khan publicly announced that CM Punk had been fired by the company, “with cause,” due to a backstage incident involving Punk and Jack Perry during All In at London’s Wembley Stadium one week earlier. Despite initial reports that Punk might issue an “explosive response,” to being let go, he has since stayed silent on anything to do with the subject. That silence ended last night, at least somewhat. Punk returned to his occasional gig of doing color commentary for Caged Fury Fighting Championships on Friday, and he and broadcast partner John Morgan made several clear references to the incident at All In.

First, Morgan introduced Punk by saying “look who I ran into backstage,” and adding that Punk was back on commentary “with cause.” Later in the broadcast, Punk suggested the commentary team do a post-fight show, to which he was asked by another colleague if he had time on his hands, and Punk responded “yeah, I got some time on my hands, for the next two months.” At one point, Morgan also playfully mentioned that he and Punk had some things to discuss, and Punk replied with “what do you wanna talk about,” in an equally playful manner.

Nothing is known publicly about whether or not Punk has a noncompete clause with AEW following his firing that would prevent him from working for WWE or any other wrestling company for a certain period of time. That said, Punk’s comment about having two months on his hands has unsurprisingly already led to rampant fan speculation that after that time, he will be free to return to wrestling. Furthering that speculation is the fact that in just over two months, WWE is in Chicago for Survivor Series, although knowing Punk’s penchant for messing with the internet, he may well just be trolling fans on purpose.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

CM Punk Fired From AEW

All Elite Wrestling on Saturday announced that it has fired top star CM Punk with cause after AEW investigated an incident that occurred during its “All In” pay-per-view show last Sunday at Wembley Stadium in London.

Punk and fellow AEW wrestler Jack Perry, the son of late actor Luke Perry, reportedly got into a physical altercation backstage during the pay-per-view event.

AEW’s statement, which was issued on X (formerly Twitter) said Punk’s wrestling and employment contracts have both been terminated.

“Following the investigation, the AEW Discipline Committee met and later convened with outside legal counsel before making a unanimous recommendation to [AEW owner Tony] Khan that CM Punk be terminated with cause,” AEW’s statement read.

Khan, AEW’s CEO, general manager and head of creative, said in an accompanying statement that he wishes he “didn’t have to share this news” but made the decision “in the best interests of the many amazing people who make AEW possible every week.”

AEW is scheduled to have a pay-per-view, “All Out,” on Sunday at United Center in Chicago, the day after its weekly Saturday “Collision” television show in the same building.

Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks, is a Chicago native and a major star in the city.

“Phil played an important role in AEW and I thank him for his contributions,” Khan said in his statement. “The termination of his AEW contracts with cause is ultimately my decision, and mine alone.”

To open AEW’s “Collision” show Saturday night, Khan appeared in a pretaped interview and said the incident last weekend was “regrettable” and “endangered people backstage.”

“I’ve been going to wrestling shows for over 30 years,” Khan said on the show. “I’ve been producing them on this network for nearly four years. Never, in all that time, have I ever felt until last Sunday that my security, my safety, my life was in danger at a wrestling show. I don’t think anybody should feel that way at work.”

Punk, 44, returned to AEW in June after suffering a torn biceps in a match last September. After the match last year, Punk engaged in a controversial news conference and then reportedly got into a physical altercation with AEW wrestlers Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson and Kenny Omega, who are also company executive vice presidents.

Punk said in June that he apologized to Khan about what he said in the news conference.

The incident in September 2022 came after AEW wrestler Adam “Hangman” Page went off script in a televised interview segment with Punk, bringing up things the two did not agree would be talked about — and things Punk said were not true.

Punk said nothing was done to Page for the indiscretion.

“It poisoned everything for me, and it made it all really, really ugly, and that was what set all of this off, and here we are over a year later and ain’t s— been done about it,” Punk told ESPN in June.

The belief among people in the locker room was that Punk had gotten another wrestler, Colt Cabana, fired from AEW, or at least tried to do so. Punk and Cabana used to be close friends but had an ugly falling-out that included lawsuits. Punk has denied trying to get Cabana fired. Cabana is still employed by AEW.

Punk has been one of the most popular stars in the pro wrestling business over the past two decades. He is a former two-time WWE champion and three-time world heavyweight champion. Punk is also a former two-time AEW champion. He fought twice in the UFC after leaving WWE in 2014.

Source: ESPN

Below is the announcement by Tony Khan that he has fired CM Punk for cause to open AEW Collision on Saturday night.