WWE Week In Review - 5 Things We Learned

5. Punk Won€™t Say Much

Last Sunday on AMC€™s Talking Dead€”the show immediately following their smash-hit The Walking Dead€”it was announced by host Chris Hardwick that CM Punk (billed by his real name, Phil Brooks) will appear on next week€™s show. This is important for a number of reasons, not the least of which is Punk€™s first televised appearance since the Royal Rumble back in late January. Rumors abound regarding Punk€™s sabbatical from the WWE, but for now, we know very little. Silence from Punk, along with barely anything of substance from the WWE has allowed the rumor mill to spin at a frenetic pace. This typically leads to far more speculation than fact. But this Sunday, it€™s possible that CM Punk addresses his status within the WWE. This probably won€™t happen for two reasons. First, all indications are that CM Punk is still under contract with WWE. As such, it would make sense that any televised appearances have to get the approval of the WWE itself. Remember, Punk was pulled from a Comic Con later this month, and he was scratched from Chris Hardwick€™s Comedy Central show @Midnight back in February. In all likelihood, this indicates that either the WWE is okay with this, or Punk is gone, and it just hasn€™t been made public yet. There€™s a chance that he€™s simply breaking protocol and going into business for himself, but that seems unlikely. Second, whether Punk has the approval of WWE or otherwise, the chances of him saying anything meaningful in relation to wrestling on Talking Dead is remote. It€™s a show predicated on the happenings of the show immediately preceding it. There€™s little chance that Hardwick or AMC allows Talking Dead to be hijacked by Punk. I wouldn€™t discount some type of subtle hint at the situation by either Punk or Hardwick during the broadcast (most likely at the very end, if at all), but fans looking for serious substance will probably be disappointed. There is one, albeit farfetched, reason that Punk could say something substantive on Talking Dead, and it has to do with a rumor of AMC wanting to merge with WWE. Put as much or as little stock in this rumor as you like, but it has yet to be fully repudiated in any form. This fuels the Punk return rumor mill with some convenient timing. Either way, we€™ll find out Sunday night.