CM Punk WWE Return Latest: Controversial Star Not 100% Welcome
Signing CM Punk would be a big coup for WWE, but not all company personnel would welcome it.
CM Punk would not be universally welcomed back to WWE with open arms should the market-leading promotion choose to pursue the suspended AEW star.
Dave Meltzer reports on Wrestling Observer Radio that although Punk's comeback would represent a coup for WWE, potentially "shaking up the business" if they were able to make a 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin match happen, some within WWE "absolutely do not want" the 44-year-old back in the company.
Stephanie McMahon, Nick Khan, and Paul 'Triple H' Levesque would ultimately be responsible for bringing Punk back. Whether or not Punk himself is interested is another matter, considering how critical he has been of the promotion since his 2014 departure.
Punk's current contractual status has effectively grounded his career. Although the two-time World Champion and AEW have been in talks over a potential contract buyout, Meltzer reports that there are still "a lot of issues" surrounding this situation. Other promotions will not be able to negotiate with Punk until this is resolved.
Signed to a big-money AEW contract in August 2021, Punk has been suspended since September, when he and the since-released Ace Steel brawled backstage with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks. This was the product of an incendiary post-All Out 2022 media scrum, during which Punk took aim at AEW's Executive Vice Presidents and other parties.