One MIND-BLOWING Secret From Every Year Of WWE History
4. 2021 - CM Punk Negotiated With WWE
In a wild revelation dropped on the infamous MMA hour interview with Ariel Helwani, CM Punk revealed that he wasn’t far off signing with WWE before ultimately making his return to wrestling with AEW in August 2021.
That tidbit made Punk’s return promo that bit less incredible in retrospect. AEW on the night of the First Dance made it feel as if the entire company almost existed to prove itself to Punk. Finally, an operation was big enough to accommodate him. He said that he left pro wrestling in 2005, spent some time selling out…at a place he called “home” three years later…and only returned to the great sport in 2021.
It is important to note that CM Punk is a worker, a professional wrestler, an onscreen fictional character distinct to the human being Phil Brooks - but then, so much of Punk’s identity is tied into the notion that he speaks truth to power and is - his words - the one genuine article in a business of counterfeit bucks.
Ariel, in fairness, did follow that up with Punk. Punk shrugged and said that he made a mistake “pandering” to a niche internet crowd. His new thing is that he’s Jim Londos and he’s back where he belongs in the major leagues selling out buildings.
What’s he going to say the next time he needs to jump?