WWE Sources: CM Punk And WWE Are Not In Talks

I do not care

Fightful Select

I agree with those asking about the non-compete. Also wondering if they perhaps keep him on the sidelines until Royal Rumble as SP3 and Jeremy talked about yesterday on In the Weeds.

Amber

He did it a ton in Japan, and hit one as recently for sure as late 2022 as well (perhaps more since then, but I don't watch WWE often enough to know for sure.)

rocksolid124

Could it be possible that Punk has a non compete? Meltzer and Nick both said that it was likely then everything got backtracked today. Could this be a way of down playing it due to legal issues?

Super Dave Osborne

You think there is any chance he comes back to AEW if WWE continues to say “no thanks”? Or is impact more a possibility than AEW?

Zachary Grinslade

I got respect for you guys at fightful. But the punk situation is very tough to believe. I'm hearing from 1 side he is in talks of a return with him being reliable while I'm hearing from u guys he aint coming back. I love all news stories but it's extremely tough to believe on stories and who is right and wrong

meatknight8

Get ready for muted CM Punk chants during the Survivor Series broadcast . Just like they did with the Sasha chants during last year’s event.

Ryan Murray

Agree. If things cool off than maybe they reconsider at some point next year but right now - no need for the headache.

David C

I'll make this very clear -- WWE sources would not reach out unprompted to deny this. I did not reach out to them on this

Fightful Select

Hey there. You subscribe, so I know you know our info is good. Contrary to other places, often times additional context is necessary, helpful, or even desired in order to paint a broader picture of the information, why it is reliable, how it was procured, and how it can change. You know, sometimes more than what Twitter will allow TLDR: Shut the fuck up and scroll past

Fightful Select

Hope it's true.

Tommy Larsen

Don't need like 6 paragraphs to tell us punk ain't coming back

meatknight8

WWE has zero reason to say they are. Already sold out for the show and PLE through Peacock. They don't need Punk to out them over the way AEW did. For those reasons it's a huge misdirect and they are talking

Jeremy Ruh

People are coping by saying obviously wwe wouldn't tell SRS if he was coming in but I strongly disagree. It would build up hype for survivor series. Same way Cody's return to wwe did

Flameducky

You may be right. We have to wait and see. But we can't say that a wrestler has too many enemies to return somewhere. Not in this form of entertainment. We've seen it go both ways. If Bret can come back after everything that happened to him, Punk is possible as well. We will see. He's not "needed", but if there is an opportunity to finesse him on a light work run while he's in the same boat as Rock and Cena (acting), time will tell.

Shannon Willis

I believe being fired with cause breaks the entire contract, including the non-compete

Zack Gallagher

Here is what people need to realize regardless of how you feel about Punk. WWE does not need CM Punk two years absolutely they could of used but since Hunter took over creative the shows have been red. Even during the period when Vince returned & started interfering the product still managed to hot & now Vince is out creative. WWE is the hottest it’s ever been from a product standpoint to selling out shows & merchandise. You havs two top heel factions in Bloodline & Judgement Day. You Roman Reigns who is there biggest ratings draw. Then on the babyface you have red hot babyface that the crowd loves like Cody Rhodes Jey Uso La Knight Sami Zayn Kevin Seth Rollins Becky Lynch & others. They don’t need Punk ratings are up on all three shows.

Matt Hennessy

It is actually WWE playing you like a fiddle. They are smart enough to know every Punk reference will get social media buzzing with uninformed people thinking Punk is coming to WWE, but he has burned too many bridges to go back to WWE at this point.

Forceofwilliam

Shinsuke randomly just doing a GTS outta nowhere when he’s never done one in his career (as far as I know) is way too on the nose for me to not think that they haven’t at least had a discussion with him.

Geo

Why? This isnt the first time the WWE has done this. People wanted to believe the whole best in the world thing with Shane McMahon a few years ago was hinting at Punk. Its not the WWE's fault fans want to over analyze everything

Alexander Fitzgerald

He's gonna say 50/50

Leo Chirichiello

It's called "social media engagement" aka getting stupid marks talking. Punk has too many enemies in WWE to go back, but WWE also knows that X and social media will start talking about it and drive traffic to WWE social media and it will come down to SRS and Fightful to debunk the rumors.

Forceofwilliam

I could believe that Graves at least was intentionally needling him - he's spoken about how Punk dropped him and others still in WWE like hot garbage as friends after everything went down the first time.

Talia

What's the percentage possibility that he does go back to WWE

Patrik

Just a random GTS from a talent not known to do it. And that got green lit on TV, yet, WWE wants to make it clear that they are not in talks. Ok. Although, you wouldn't have to BE in talks with someone if you have already TALKED...but I digress.

Shannon Willis

I don't see how this could surpass D-Lo Brown returning in '08

Eric

WWE is absolutely thriving right now in every imaginable metric. The guy was given every possible concession to make him happy in AEW and he still found a way to be miserable. I think Punk needs WWE way more than the Fed needs him.

Evan Mince

I think it was Bodyslam

JoshsTown

Well it wasn’t you guys, but someone reported after Cody had left AEW, that talks fizzled out between WWE and Cody, could this not be the same thing, just kinda different? I just want it to happen lol

JoshsTown

Is there a chance that they just want to keep quiet about this, since it could be the biggest return of all time?

Spencer Branch

Maybe not. We'll see. As of today, they're not in talks

Fightful Select

Literally no. The same thing did not happen with Cody Rhodes. Please do not perpetuate misinformation

Fightful Select

Similar to Edge leaving and going to AEW, I’ll believe it when I see it.

thaddperkins

Goku Kenshi

I've always been in the "believe it when I see it" camp when it comes to CM Punk returning to WWE. He's just alienated too many people and his ego seems to big to sit down and hash things out with them. The way he was fired from AEW probably didn't help things.

John Horton

No offense but them ratings are crazy not to believe. WWE are gonna make a ton of money with punk and there gonna hold a ton of leverage against him. It's also a way to clear his name. We all said the same thing about Cody that there is no way he's gonna return despite your reporting saying he is, but he did return. I still think Punk is returning despite your reporting.

David Swed

Any chance they’re stating that there’s been no contact due to a non-compete clause that’s still active?

Joe Pascuzzo

I think at this point he’d only wanna go back to wwe to spite aew , that’s it . Then you take his attitude problems and couple that with he’s 45 and had 2 serious injuries while in aew , he definitely couldn’t do a full schedule in wwe , he’d be a part timer , just don’t know if he’s worth that kind of investment for them .

Terry Alan

I think the Punk marks need to accept the fact that he has burned so many bridges in the business that no one but Impact would touch him with a 20 foot pole. It's called dealing with the consequences of your actions.

Forceofwilliam

From the talent? Absolutely lol

Tempo1337

Feels a lot like the “Josh is our QB” line the Cardinals used before drafting Kyler Murray 2 months later.

Trevor D.

So if we get a story one day that says wwe has decided they aren’t bringing him back 100% not , what do all the wwe marks say then who have been saying he’s definitely coming back and how great punk is ect. Will all the wwe marks be saying punk sucks again like they have the last 9 years ?

Terry Alan

Sean killing it. Not sure why WWE would risk their morale with Vince out (again) and thriving currently. Sure, it would be a great moment but would it be worth it for the long run? Add in the issue with top stars, Punks issue with Triple H, and the stuff he has said about the company.

Scott Payne

Could change tomorrow. Here is to not hearing about Punk for at least a month!👍

Scott Newcomb

I would absolutely believe them just making those references to get under his skin.

Patrick Farrugia

Had a feeling this might’ve been the case as Corey graves did some references and from what he gather he and punk aren’t cool.

Omar S.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHA A lot of sad Punk Stans today! This made my day! Have a great day everyone I know I will :)

Alexander Fitzgerald

Hope it stays that way, keep him out

Justmask

If that's the case they should probably tell Corey graves to shut up then LOL

GarretRan

So all those innuendos meant nothing. I think they have no choice but to come right out and say he isn’t signed

Jordan Lassiter

CM Phil sits on the sidelines for a while longer, it seems.

Alex Sabo

I guess we will ultimately just play the result - if Punk returns to WWE this was all obvious alluding and teasing if he doesn’t it’s just the people on screen poking fun. I’d still be surprised if Punk came back to WWE based on all the stuff he’s said about them very recently. I don’t think Punk is that desperate nor is WWE that interested to give him an offer he can’t refuse.

Chris Kessler

Damn.

Edgar M.