CM Punk Received MAJOR Offer From Another Wrestling Company

Which promotion's offer was CM Punk considering before WWE return?

CM Punk
AEW

CM Punk was reportedly mulling over a "major money offer" from IMPACT Wrestling prior to returning to WWE at Survivor Series 2023.

Punk, who broke the internet with his WWE comeback this Saturday (25 November), was reportedly putting thought into the IMPACT offer before agreeing terms with the market leaders. This is per PWInsider's Mike Johnson, who adds that the 45-year-old was "amazing" in his dealings with top IMPACT Wrestling executives.

IMPACT believed that they were "very close" to landing Punk. They hoped to have him locked down for October 2023's Bound for Glory pay-per-view, where the promotion announced it would be returning to its old monicker, TNA. This didn't end up happening, obviously.

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Punk continued his talks with IMPACT after Bound for Glory, with the promotion keen to land him as a full-time performer. Once IMPACT realised the reality of the WWE situation, including the volume of money in play, IMPACT was happy for Punk.

PWInsider notes that at no point was the prospect of Punk returning to AEW seriously broached, either as part of the ongoing Devil storyline or through other means. Tony Khan's group fired Punk with cause in September.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.