A new edition of Renee Paquette’s “Oral Sessions” podcast will premiere tonight at 6pm ET with special guest CM Punk.
The timing of this interview is interesting as it’s believed that tonight’s AEW Rampage episode at 10pm ET will feature the official announcement on Punk signing with AEW to make his long-awaited return to pro wrestling.
The Paquette – Punk interview will premiere on Renee’s official YouTube channel at 6pm, just a few hours before Rampage hits the air at 10pm. Below is the official synopsis for the interview:
“It’s clobberin’ time when Renee is joined by none other than CM Punk, and the ‘voice of the voiceless’ has plenty to say about his short-lived UFC run, the fate of WWE Backstage and the most controversial questions facing the industry today.”
Punk and Renee previously worked together on WWE Backstage for FS1.
On tonight’s AEW Dynamite: Fight for the Fallen, Tony Schiavone announced AEW is headed to the United Center in Chicago on August 20 for AEW Rampage: First Dance. Tickets go on sale this Monday, August 2. The announcement led to loud “CM Punk” chants from the crowd.
AEW filed to trademark “The First Dance”, which is a play on The Last Dance documentary on Michael Jordan and the famous 1990’s Chicago Bulls. Punk also took to Instagram to post the song “Sirius” by the Alan Parsons Project, which was the entrance song for the 90’s Bulls, leading to speculation that “The First Dance” trademark is related to him.
AEW is also holding three shows in Chicago in September: September 1 for Dynamite, September 3 for Rampage, and September 5 for All Out. All three events are at the NOW Arena.
Right after that announcement, Darby Allin was interviewed and said he’s been around lot of people who say they are the greatest ever in wrestling. The only place to prove that is AEW, “even if you think you’re the best in the world.” Obviously, a reference to CM Punk’s catchphrase. As noted, Punk has been rumored to be heading to AEW.
AEW has been mentioned as the likeliest landing spot for CM Punk. Here is the latest.
It sounds like CM Punk and AEW are closing in on a contract that will change the professional wrestling landscape.
On Thursday, it was reported that CM Punk has engaged in talks regarding a return to the ring, and that AEW is the most likely promotion to land him. More details have emerged on this story.
Ringside News heard that an agreement between AEW And CM Punk is practically a “done deal”, and that they’re simply “waiting until they are in person to sign the contract.”
Also, Dave Meltzer reported on a Wrestling Observer Forum (h/t WrestlingNews.co), that the two sides have held “talks about certain dates.” Meltzer believes that even if they haven’t signed a deal yet, CM Punk and AEW “they have an understanding and unless (there is) a blow up, it’s happening.”
On his Instagram page, CM Punk posted a story of the song Sirius by The Alan Parsons Project, and some are interpreting this as a hint that he’ll be joining AEW soon. Sirius has been played at Chicago Bulls home games since the Michael Jordan dynasty days. The AEW All Out pay-per-view will be held inside the Now Arena at Hoffman Estates, Illinois on Sept. 5. Hoffman Estates is a suburb of Chicago, CM Punk’s hometown.
Signing CM Punk, who left the WWE seven and a half years ago, would be a massive game changer for AEW. And yet, he may not be the only former WWE Champion who’s about to arrive in the company. Recent reports have also stated that Daniel Bryan is about to join AEW. Apparently, the company’s partnership with New Japan Pro-Wrestling was a significant factor in Bryan’s decision to sign with AEW. His contract with WWE expired nearly three months ago.
If AEW signs both CM Punk and Bryan, that promises to quickly change the competition with WWE. These are two of the most popular and accomplished wrestlers of the past decade, after all. We’ll just have to wait and see how everything plays out over the coming days or weeks.
Last night on Raw, Seth Rollins took some shots at CM Punk in the opening segment of the show. When the crowd chanted Punk’s name during Seth’s opening address to the roster, he stated Punk just wants to sit behind a desk in Los Angeles and talk about change.
“I tried to get [Punk] here, I’m sorry,” Rollins said, while the crowd chanted for Punk. “He didn’t wanna show up. He wants to sit behind a desk in Los Angeles and talk about a change that he’s too afraid to make himself.”
There is no deal in place for a Punk vs. Rollins match as of now. According to Dave Meltzer on the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Vince McMahon was reportedly furious that Rollins mentioned Punk.
Meltzer pointed out it is a rule that you shouldn’t push an idea of match if you can’t deliver on it. In 2015, McMahon was upset at the ending of a Steve Austin Podcast episode with Paul Heyman, because they teased an Austin vs. Brock Lesnar match that was not in the works.
Rollins has called Punk out multiple times recently on social media. Punk responded to Rollins on last week’s episode of WWE Backstage, stating, “Seth needs to stop tweeting and realize sometimes it’s better to be viewed at as the fool and shut your mouth, or open your mouth and remove all doubt.”
Later on the show while cutting a promo on Tom Arnold, Punk insinuated that Rollins was using him to stay relevant. During an interview with 101 WKQX in Chicago last week, Rollins responded to Punk and once again invited him to face him.
“The funny thing is, for me, from a guy telling me I need to look for relevancy, here’s someone who has been in the doldrums for the past few years because he got his butt kicked in the Octagon, so bad that he didn’t want to show his face anywhere,” Rollins said. “Now he shows back up on a WWE TV show, called WWE Backstage. You can say it’s a FS1 show all you want, which it is, and you might be paid by FOX, but that show doesn’t exist without our company. The company you left 5 years ago. So, say whatever you want, play it however you want. That’s what Punk always does.
“But at the end of the day, if he wants to come on our show and run his mouth about me and a company he’s had no part of for the last 5 years, then of course I’m going to stand up for us. This is a place that has given me everything that I’ve ever wanted in my life. Not only me, but it’s provided a living for my family, for people that I love, that I care about. Of course I’m going to have its back. I’m not going to let you push it around, and push me around, and act like you’re so cool. You couldn’t bust a cherry in a fruit fight, dude. I want to make some money – so, if CM Punk wants to talk all the smack in the world, I’ve invited him a million times now to come to my ring, to my domain, on live television. Where you can’t hide behind anything, no desk in LA. Come, let’s do this thing, man. Let’s fight, let’s fight it out like men.”
While speaking to Wrestling Inc. at the NXT Takeover post-event press conference on Saturday night, Triple H admitted that despite Punk appearing on WWE Backstage, a Punk return to WWE is a “long, long way.”
“I have not spoken to him,” Triple H admitted. “To be honest, we have not had that conversation. I know he’s working for FOX and it’s a bit of an arm’s length from us. All of this stuff is baby steps, when people want something so bad, it’s like they’re saying, ‘So you’re saying there’s a chance.’ That’s the moment of time that we’re in.
“Be happy that he’s on WWE Backstage and doing something with the business again. The rest of it, I’ve said it a million times, never say never. But that’s a long, long way. I know when you say that, people say, ‘they’re working us!’ Because there’s nothing that you can say that will make people think otherwise, it is what it is.”
Punk is an occasional analyst on WWE Backstage on FS1 on Tuesday nights. Punk will not be on tonight’s episode, which features Triple H.
Phil Brooks who is known better to wrestling fans under the name of CM Punk was interviewed on the Fox Sports FS1 program WWE Backstage on Tuesday. the studio program which is part of the partnership between World Wrestling Entertainment and Fox Sports announced CM Punk as an analyst for their program last week which covers the happenings in WWE. In 2013 Punk abruptly left WWE after not being happy with the direction of the company and his on-screen character and medical issues. During the interview with WWE Backstage host, Renee Young CM Punk confirmed to viewers that he is not signed directly with WWE but instead signed with Fox Sports as an analyst for the program. Punk also went on to say that this allows him the freedom to openly criticize WWE something he has not been afraid to do in the past.
During his time on WWE programming, CM Punk became one of the most popular characters often referred to as “the voice of the voiceless” often voicing displeasure with WWE and it’s programming and being an anti-hero to fans. it has long been speculated whether CM Punk would ever return to wrestling or WWE but Punk says the opportunity that came up for him to appear on WWE Backstage wasn’t even around 6 months ago.
WWE’s next big event Survivor Series will take place in Chicago Illinois later this month which is the home of CM Punk that fact has left many WWE fans speculating whether or not he will, in fact, appear at the annual event? in regards to a return in the ring CM Punk says that he has learned to never say never.
Tensions between WWE and AEW escalated on Monday when Randy Orton went back back and forth on social media with All Elite Wrestling President Tony Khan.
Things kicked off earlier today when CM Punk tagged Khan in a tweet promoting his appearance on tomorrow’s episode of WWE Backstage. “It IS weird trying to catch up on 5+ years of rasslin’, I’m doing what I can. There’s bright spots, mostly women from what I can tell. There’s BAD too. I’m gonna talk about it, and no one is safe. Join us,” he wrote.
Tony Khan responded hours later saying, “No one is safe? Sounds like a plane full of wrestlers in Saudi Arabia!” This was obviously in reference to WWE’s recent travel delays after Crown Jewel.
“What’s that whole thing about glass houses and stones,” Orton replied along with a news article on allegations made against Tony’s father Shahid Khan, who funded the promotion.
Tony wrote back: “I thought you only tagged me in your posts when you were grasping for leverage. That article’s over a year old + is about baseless claims made about my dad years ago. That’s the best you can do, nothing. Meanwhile in the time since that was written, you used the N word on twitch.”
And lastly, Randy ended the night firing back with: “Jacksonville Dixie: Why else would I tag you? If I wanted to talk business, I’d call your father.” He also added a kissy-face emoji.
You can see the tweets below:
It IS weird trying to catch up on 5+ years of rasslin’, I’m doing what I can. There’s bright spots, mostly women from what I can tell. There’s BAD too. I’m gonna talk about it, and no one is safe. Join us. @ReneeYoungWWE @WWEonFOX@BookerT5x @RealPaigeWWE @VinceMcMahon@TonyKhan
I thought you only tagged me in your posts when you were grasping for leverage. That article’s over a year old + is about baseless claims made about my dad years ago. That’s the best you can do, nothing. Meanwhile in the time since that was written, you used the N word on twitch.
CM Punk arrived to the FOX lot in secret this week for a surprise appearance on WWE Backstage … and the whole thing was documented in a cool behind the scenes video.
WWE on FOX’s Twitter account shared the video which begins with Punk talking about meeting with FOX executives about his role on the show. The former WWE champion says he was told they want him on the show as an analyst, similar to A-Rod with MLB coverage and Troy Aikman with NFL coverage.
Punk is shown arriving to the lot shortly before Backstage was set to begin and hiding his face with a scarf to make sure the secret wasn’t spoiled beforehand.
Prior to making his first appearance on the show, Punk is shown in the elevator saying “this is kind of a big deal.” When someone in production reaffirms that he IS kind of a big deal, the former wrestler replies saying, “For the first time, I will say yes. I will admit that. This is kind of a big thing.”
Watch the full video below to see CM Punk watching the show before his intro and more.
WWE Backstage airs Tuesday nights on FS1 at 11pm ET/ 8pm PT.
CM Punk reportedly turned down significant money from AEW, according to Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Live.
Punk did actually have talks with AEW, despite what has been said in the media, and he met in person with AEW President & CEO Tony Khan, according to Alvarez. There’s no word yet on details of AEW’s offer, but Khan reportedly offered “a lot of money” to the former WWE Champion.
There’s been no update on Punk possibly returning to the ring for WWE, but turning down the AEW deal could be a sign that he has no plan for an in-ring future.
Punk is signed to a FOX deal, not WWE. It’s been reported that Punk’s agents contacted FOX a few months back, which led to the initial tryout in Los Angeles, where the show is filmed each week. WWE did give their blessing to the hire, but this was a FOX decision.
As seen in the tweet from FOX Sports PR below, “CM Punk” and “WWE Backstage” trended #1 and #2 worldwide on Twitter. The return had more than 5.5 million video views across the FOX Sports social media platforms, and counting. This was also the most re-tweeted post of the year on any FOX Sports account.
As we’ve noted, Punk appeared at the end of this week’s Backstage episode after being introduced by host Renee Young. It was later announced that the former WWE Champion will appear as a Special Contributor and Analyst beginning next week, making “select appearances” in the studio alongside host Renee and analyst WWE Hall of Famer Booker T.
CP Punk appeared at the end of last night’s WWE Backstage. Punk will be on next week.
“It’s as simple as this, just when they think they’ve got the answers, I change the culture,” Punk said to the camera. “I’ll see you here next week.”
FOX’s Twitter announced Punk will be “appearing periodically” on the show. Punk originally left WWE in 2014.
At the end of last month, Punk had commented in an interview that he hadn’t heard back since his tryout, however FOX was obviously happy with how it went.
“I did the FOX thing,” Punk said last month. “They asked me to come out and I was already in LA, so I went into the FOX studios. I guess you could call it an audition? I haven’t heard a thing.
“Renee Young and Booker T, I haven’t seen either of them in five+ years. I think Renee is great, that’s the kind of thing she is built for. Booker, to me, he’s Booker; he’s always laughing and he’s good for that kind of role.”
Punk has also noted that a deal for the show would be with FOX Sports and not WWE.
You can check out Punk’s appearance in the video below.
After a nearly six-year absence from WWE TV, CM Punk made a shocking, unannounced appearance on Tuesday night’s episode of WWE Backstage, FS1’s new weekly studio show.
The two-time WWE Champion arrived during the show’s final moments, entering to the sounds of Living Colour’s “Cult of Personality,” Punk’s entrance music during his storied in-ring career.
“It’s as simple as this: Just when they think they’ve got the answers, I change the culture,” Punk told the camera, before adding, “I’ll see you here next week.”
Within minutes, the WWE on FOX Twitter account confirmed that Punk will make periodic appearances on WWE Backstage beginning next Tuesday.
Punk left an unforgettable legacy during his WWE career, including holding the WWE Championship for a remarkable 434 days. Since parting ways with WWE, Punk has gone on to author comic books for Marvel, compete in UFC and, more recently, star in the horror film “Girl on the Third Floor,” released in theaters last month.
Don’t miss Punk’s headline-making return to WWE Backstage next Tuesday at 11 p.m. ET on FS1.
PWInsider reported that Punk’s surprise appearance was kept a secret to the other on-air talents, except for Renee Young, who introduced Punk, in order to prevent leaks. As we previously reported, Punk’s deal is with FOX only, and not WWE. The decision to sign Punk was a FOX call, but WWE obviously gave their blessing. PWInsider added that while Punk and FOX have been in talks, the deal was only finalized in the last few days.
WWE’s official press release on Punk joining the show noted that he will appear as a Special Contributor and Analyst beginning next week, making “select appearances” in the studio alongside host Renee Young and analyst WWE Hall of Famer Booker T.
Even after leaving WWE in 2014, CM Punk continues to make headlines wherever he goes. Recently, talks of him returning to the pro wrestling world have heated up, especially with AEW forming and WWE partnering with FOX. During his time away Punk has done commentary for MMA and is even dabbling in movies.
Punk promoted his latest film, Girl on the Third Floor, while on Barstool Sports’ My Mom’s Basement podcast. He also talked about potentially getting back within the pro wrestling industry. Punk is open to a return compared to when he first left.
“Absolutely,” Punk stated. “For five years I’ve always been asked that question. No matter what I say, it gets reduced to clickbait and it gets warped. I’ve gone through some many iterations of people saying, ‘Oh, Punk hates wrestling.’ None of that was ever the case. I think I’ve always been open to it. My attitude has always been that I don’t see it happening. I think I’ve talked about it more recently, but my attitude hasn’t changed. People always ask what would it take to go back, and I say it would take a big bag. So people use their imaginations.”
When it comes to AEW and WWE, he definitely sees wrestling organizations taking advantage of rumors and everything else that gets fans talking.
“I actually think both companies, WWE and AEW, have used the fact that I’ve been whatever about it to kind of rope people in every now and again,” Punk continued. “To make people think I am coming back on a specific show at a specific time. Whenever a mystery opponent is announced they’ll think it is CM Punk. There is nothing wrong with them trying to do that. They texted me second-hand an offer and I was like ‘real offers only, please.'”
When asked if AEW was a possibility, Punk admits the company has given a small sample size since debuting on TNT. While they have provided offers, he believes the way to contact him has been different compared to most.
“How many shows have they had? There is not a lot of content out there for me to be able to watch,” Punk stated. “I like The Young Bucks, I what they are doing, it is very punk rock.
“I’m that white whale in pro wrestling. I don’t know if that freaks people out on how to approach me, it is what it is. I’m open to the idea, I haven’t been approached properly. I’m not courting anyone to show up with a dozen roses at my front door.”
It is not just AEW and WWE that have reached out to him in their own special way. Punk revealed that Master P, who recently bought House of Glory Wrestling, reached out to him on Instagram.
When it comes to WWE, there is a perception by fans that because Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart came back after so many years away, he will as well. Punk states that’s not really how he looks at it.
“I don’t do things for me based on what other people think, Punk continued. “There are people out there who think, ‘He’s just coming back because he needs the money.’ Do I? I don’t think I do.”
No matter how much time away he’s been away from the ring, Punk will always be a fan of wrestling. When asked his favorite matches and figures, Punk was all over when it came to content to watch.
“One of the greatest matches of all time, I think it was at a Clash of the Champions, it was Ricky Steamboat vs. ‘Stunning’ Steve Austin,” Punk stated. “That’s one of my favorite matches of all time. Look for Smoky Mountain stuff and anything with Prince Kharis. Huge Prince Kharis fan just because of how f*cking insane it is. Prince Kharis is a mummy that was resurrected, and of course he was in pro wrestling. Doesn’t get any better than that.”
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