WWE legends Stone Cold Steve Austin and Mick Foley have opined on CM Punk's potential return to WWE. Speaking on The Steve Austin Show podcast, Austin seemed more inclined to believe that Punk will return one day. Foley in contrast was more sceptical, noting how headstrong Punk had been in past conversations. Austin noted that pro wrestling is Punk's passion, which could inevitably lead to him returning. "Because if it's what you love -- and I know he loves the business," Austin remarks. He then goes on to express the fed up feelings he himself suffered in 2002, which resulted in his own walkout. Austin points out that he ended up returning after less than a year out, "I jumped at the chance to come back." Perhaps in time Punk will end up feeling the same way Austin did. Yes he was fed up, but then he got over it, and returned to what he loved doing. One point that Austin really emphasises is the need for the 35 year old wrestler to make the most of his opportunities. "You gotta make hay while the sun shines. He ain't making hay right now. You can only make hay so long." Foley is a bit more bearish on the idea of Punk returning, but does see some possible scope for a comeback. "He's gotta find something he loves as much as this. Because, you know, it's really hard to replace. "You know, you don't get to be as good as Punk was without loving it. And if you love it, there's really only one place to be, there (in WWE)." Mick then expresses some regrets about his own career, reflecting how he ended up coming back and diminishing his own legacy in cheap novelty spots. The example he uses is John Cena's 'This Is Your Life' segment. He looks back to a conversation he had with Punk at the time - "I said, '12 years from now, do you envision yourself coming back after a three year layoff to do a segment that is intentionally bad, referring to me coming back to do the 'This is Your Life, John Cena' spot. And he said 'no'. And I said, 'that will give you some indication how far I've fallen from my ideals.' And I will always regret that I let myself fall that far." That's the thing about Punk, whereas other wrestlers always end up returning, Punk sees himself as a cut above. He isn't going to return unless there's some very compelling creative on the table. Whether WWE would ever offer him anything in the way of a major spot is doubtful - he burned a lot of bridges with the way he abruptly quit in January. Austin and Foley's conversation pretty much sums up Punk's impasse with WWE. He needs to work while he can, but his headstrong attitude may stop him ever taking the opportunities.
