CM Punk done with WWE

[EcwHardCore07]

From F4W

C.M. Punk has been removed from all house shows over the next several weeks.
C.M. Punk reportedly told Vince McMahon last night that he was going home, and did so. That's where things stand right now. At this point, he's off everything going forward.

Former WWE and World champion CM Punk has been pulled from all advertising of WWE live events going forward after a meeting with WWE management yesterday at the Raw taping in Cleveland, Ohio.

We have been working on details for the last 24 hours (as Dave Scherer and I noted on our respective Elite audios earlier today), but the belief among those who are willing to talk about the situation is that Punk is no longer factored into company plans. Punk is under contract to WWE through July.

Punk was slated to face Triple H at Wrestlemania 30. This past Monday's Raw instead began teasing Daniel Bryan vs. HHH down the line, possibly for Wrestlemania.

We have heard from several sources that the original script for yesterday's Raw called for Punk to wrestle Antonio Cesaro and lose after Kane interfered, allowing Cesaro to qualify for the Elimination Chamber. It should be noted that another source has denied that and claimed that Punk was never booked to wrestle last night and was only booked to do a promo that would follow up on Kane causing Punk's elimination from the Rumble. But, Punk was originally slated to be on Raw and those segments were yanked. He was not backstage during the taping and was not backstage at Smackdown.

It is believed that when Vince McMahon had the writers re-write Raw late yesterday (6 PM for a taping that was scheduled to start at 7:45 PM), it was because Punk had informed the company he was going home and wouldn't be back.

While we cannot 100% confirm why, the belief among wrestlers backstage is that Punk leaving was not an injury issue. It was described to us as more likely a case of burnout and unhappiness with the overall direction of the company. Punk had been very vocal in the past about the usage of returning and "part time" stars being pushed beyond wrestlers who were working full-time for the company.

In his interview with Ariel Helwani last week, Punk talked about the crazy schedule he's held up working for the company over the last decade. Punk said that he's been doing it ten years and doesn't know anyone else who can say that. He said that he's only taken time off for injuries and that when he took two months off in 2013, it may not have been long enough.

Punk, who worked about 50 minutes in the Royal Rumble match was described as "pissy" after the PPV, although that wouldn't be an unusual description of Punk's demeanor backstage.

One source believed that since Punk's last goal was to work a Wrestlemania main event, it may also be a situation where Punk realized it wasn't going to happen this year and with his WWE deal expiring in July, that may have weighed down upon him because he was so goal driven and this was one he couldn't accomplish because of elements that were outside of his control.

In the interview with Helwani, Punk was asked about WWE killing his momentum at times and why such things happen. Punk responded that he'd like to think they don't make those decisions on purpose and it's more they wanted to go in another decision. He claimed it's a different era and different time and it can't be looked at the same way he did when he was a kid.

Yesterday, Punk wrote on Twitter, "Thanks for all the support. Keep being you guys, it's pretty cool."

Depending on how you read the statement, it could be taken as a cryptic farewell.

We'll obviously update more as we confirm additional details.



If this is true that Punk is done with WWE holy shit this could be great for ROH

[Mattxx87]

We can all dream about him coming to Ring of Honor, I already made a joke that he has to kick Michael Bennett's ass once. It's not happening before July, when his contract is up. Maybe longer, if at all. This could also get ugly and in a breach of contract, resulting in an even longer "early retirement" for him. I'm sure he'll enjoy the time off.

Additionally, this has nothing to do with ROH and it should be in the "Other Wrestling Discussion" > "WWE Thread"

Just...one thing for everyone to keep in mind. How huge of an iPPV with AJ Styles vs CM Punk in a ROH ring would be i 2014 (kill me if it happened at Final Battle), or early 2015 (13th Anniversary? SCOH IX?). One match. One time. It would legitimize the company, and that's something the company should think about. It would be Tyson vs Ali. Mayweather vs Pacquiano. Hogan vs Cena. The biggest independent show of ALL TIME.

[Braggis]

I don't see him coming back to RoH, as cool as that sounds.

He seems like a pissy guy in general and is known to throw hissy fits. In anything, he will take some time off until hes "found his smile" again and WWE either coughs up more money or guarantees him the kind of push he wants.

I can kind of feel for him. Last year he took on The Undertaker at Wrestlemania (a big deal) and it looked natural, at least then, he'd get a shot at something bigger next year.

[The Dragon Saga]

The biggest independent show of ALL TIME.

ROH isn't recognized as an indie by people within the business, so it would just a big wrestling event.

And this kind of does belong here, as it's discussing the possibility of CM Punk returning to ROH once his WWE contract expires in July. Which is general discussion involving ROH.

As for it happening, I honestly could see it going down once Punk has rested up. Punk was the person who wrote his worked shoot in 2011, he was the one who said, "maybe I'll go back to Ring of Honor" as a slight plug of Ring of Honor to a national audience, in easily the biggest and most viewed WWE promo of the last decade. It was also very evident in his documentary that he has a special place in him for ROH and as he said recollecting his farewell, "I just wasn't ready".

CM Punk walking back into ROH would probably be that thing ROH needs to make the step up to a national level. It'd be the equivilant in the modern day of wrestling, to Hogan joining WCW, just on a smaller scale but a pretty big step all the same. Punk has the history with ROH to merit a return, he'd instantly be the poster boy, the top guy, and could be the person who leads ROH to the - as they say - promise land.

You think PPV providers will turn down PPV's headlined by CM Punk? Or that a national station wouldn't want a wrestling program where Punk is the focal point? I don't know if it will happen, I don't think there is a great chance of it happening, but I do think it could happen and if it did it would easily be the biggest moment in ROH history.

[Mattxx87]

Absolutely and fully agreed. I think we will all be dreaming though. It's more likely he takes a "dream match" IF he does come back. He would either need to be full time and carry the company (helping them build a national tv deal and PPV deal), or one time in Chicago (maybe a double shot with Dayton), but that's it.

I think we're all grasping at straws though. The thought is awesome, but the chances are very low.

[SteenMark23]

Dear ROH please do whatever you can to make this happen....

[Marketh.]

It'd be epic for so many reasons, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

[Burnside]

The Ring of Honor we now have isn't CM Punk's Ring of Honor.

[DieHard]

Final Battle 2014:

It's ROH's biggest match and biggest show in history history where CM Punk will be making his huge return to ROH for one night only, and he's going to face..... RODERICK STRONG!!!


Seriously now, don't get your hopes up. I think it's just a rest for him, as he was nagging injuries for a long time and had only one break that lasted a month and half during his WWE career.

[Mattxx87]

Final Battle 2014:

It's ROH's biggest match and biggest show in history history where CM Punk will be making his huge return to ROH for one night only, and he's going to face..... RODERICK STRONG!!!

I didn't even consider that. I just now remembered how brutal Escape from New York was. Pretty sure Roddy hit like 15 backbreakers in some form and barely lost. It would be an excellent feud for Decade, and a complete pun on why Punk left WWE in the first place....only to get a heros welcome for a one time appearance in ROH. The irony there would be off the charts.

...fuck...maybe he joins Decade as an honorary member? He's said time and again that he never wanted to leave ROH and never felt it was right.

[Shook1]

I don't see him doing any shows outside of the WWE. He has a contract until July and until its confirmed by WWE or Punk himself, I'm taking this as him taking some time off. I haven't seen anything that actually says he quit or isn't coming back while he is still under contract, so until the contract expires or he flat out says he is done with the company, I'm taking it for what it is.

[Mattxx87]

People understand this. No one is proposing he shows up until around Final Battle 2014 (a year from now), or later, if at all. Also, you don't walk off the job in wrestling on the Road to Wrestlemania to take time off unless you are absolutely legitimately pissed. He's not hurt. Maybe burned out, but not actually injured.

All people are saying is, CM Punk to Ring of Honor in late 2014 or 2015 would shake the wrestling world to it's core.

[Mattxx87]

"Ever since CM Punk was a young boy, 17-18-19, his goal was to main even Wrestlemania. That's why he left Ring of Honor in 2005 against all his gut instinct. He wanted to main event Wrestlemania. In 2006 in Detroit, he escorted John Cena to th ring during Cena's main event match. That's the closest he ever got. Even when he was WWE Champion in 2012, he failed to main event the company's premier wrestling event. He told the company he was frustrated with the direction they were headed and that it wasn't fair that part-time talent get the premier spots at Wrestlemania, and that since he knew he wasn't going to main event Wrestlemania once again it was time to leave and enjoy life."

Does anyone else see the potential here for ESPN to get a 30 for 30 out of this? The greatest wrestler that never was. This is truly one of the greatest wrestling stories you will ever see. And for once, they won't have to talk about his dark days with substance abuse. Infact, it's the opposite. He's a straight edge vegetarian who is just like us. He likes music, he likes video games, comics, and sports. He is a huge supporter of the Cubs and Blackhawks, even appearing on Sportscenter to sing the National Anthem at Wrigley Field once (or twice).

[The Dragon Saga]

The Ring of Honor we now have isn't CM Punk's Ring of Honor.

It isn't the Ring of Honor Paul London or AJ Styles knew either, but it's still Ring of Honor.

[Burnside]

The Ring of Honor we now have isn't CM Punk's Ring of Honor.

It isn't the Ring of Honor Paul London or AJ Styles knew either, but it's still Ring of Honor.

Paul London and AJ Styles are not CM Punk.

I understand the wishful thinking, but this really isn't happening, guys.

[D2Kvirus]

The Ring of Honor we now have isn't CM Punk's Ring of Honor.

On the slimmest of slim chances he ever did return, and that would probably involve somebody taking an acetylene torch to SBG's purse strings (or maybe a stick of dynamite...) it certainly would be CM Punk's ROH in the eyes of a lot of people who'd start paying attention awful quick.

[DXvsNWO1994]

As a big CM Punk fan, I would love to see him back in ROH again, even if it's only for one match. I agree that it's highly unlikely, but don't forget, this is the business where you "never say never". Nobody thought five years ago that Bruno Sammartino & The Ultimate Warrior would be in the WWE Hall of Fame, and yet it's happened. It's possible, but it's not likely (and if I was a betting man I would say Punk probably won't appear in ROH again).

For now, it sounds like from all the reports that Punk just wants to take a break from wrestling right now, and it's a well deserved one, to be honest. Whatever small chance (again, highly unlikely, but the chance is there) their would be of Punk returning to the indies, I'm willing to bet that it wouldn't happen until at least the fall of this year.

Oh, and Gabe has posted his two cents:

"CM Punk and I were close at one time, but have not spoken in months. There was no falling out or heat to my knowledge, it’s just how things go with both of us leading very different lives now. In other words, I have no inside track or info, just a take on things. I have already received many messages with fans asking for Punk in DGUSA and EVOLVE, especially with the shows coming up in New Orleans on April 3rd, 4th and 5th as part of the WWNLive Experience. However, knowing Punk I would be shocked if he ever did an independent wrestling show again. There’s probably a better chance HHH shows up at a non-WWE event. Punk has given himself 110% to the business over the last few years. His scheduled amazed me because there was no way any human should have had to endure it.

He gave his heart, soul and body to WWE and every wrestling fan. My take on all this is it is best now to just leave Punk alone. Let him recharge, refresh and get his life back. He mentally and physically needs it. If and when he’s ready to do something, I’m sure he will. Just leave him alone and let him be.”

[bik100]

The prospect of AJ Styles, Chris Hero, and CM Punk all in one company are interesting. Not sure how ROH would be able to afford it though.

[DXvsNWO1994]

The prospect of AJ Styles, Chris Hero, and CM Punk all in one company are interesting. Not sure how ROH would be able to afford it though.

Going on the theoretical of Punk returning later in the year (I stated in my earlier post that Punk returning to ROH isn't likely, so this is just a theoretical), I think Sinclair would shell out the money for CM Punk. I believe I saw someone post either on the forum, or somewhere else, that basically it's not like Sinclair doesn't have a lot of money (because they do), it's just that they're keeping ROH on a budget (again, based on what I've heard. Correct me if I'm wrong). Punk would bring a lot of attention to ROH because of his WWE Fame, no question (along with his ROH past, but his WWE Fame would far outweigh it). Him returning would no doubt elevate ROH, possibly even above TNA (especially in their current state). It could bring people to ROH who have never seen the product before. Plus it could work in Punk's favor with the obviously lighter schedule ROH runs compared to WWE. His price tag might be high, but if I was at Sinclair, I think this is a scenario where the potential positives would outweigh the negatives.

But, as I keep saying over and over again, this is just a hypothetical. The return of CM Punk to ROH, is highly unlikely, and on the slim chance (again, never say never in wrestling) he does, it won't happen for several months at least.

[ROHFanAnthony]

Come back home Punk