CM Punk Still Has A 'Ton Of Heat' Within WWE

Talk of CM Punk going to WWE has certainly picked up, with reports indicating the two parties are in talks over a return and Punk would be willing to go back to the company that infamously fired him on his wedding day in 2014. Furthermore, sources within WWE believe it is a "safe bet" that Punk will be at Survivor Series on November 25 in Chicago, Illinois.

Fightful Select has since indicated that sources close to CM Punk and WWE higher-ups believe Punk would sign with WWE, with one source stating they believed a return was "actively being worked on."

As of last September, Punk sent out feelers to WWE and a WWE employee advised someone close to Punk that speaking to Vince McMahon directly was the best course of action to bring about a return. The TKO Group Executive Chairman previously turned down a Punk return in late 2019 after he became an analyst on FOX's WWE Backstage show. WWE have since tried to re-sign Punk in December 2020 and Punk wanted to go back to WWE in late 2022.

There are still major roadblocks to a Punk return, however. Punk's salary could be an issue as he was making above what many top WWE stars are paid when he was in All Elite Wrestling. WWE sources indicated to Fightful that Punk's leverage has been diminished which could be a big factor in negotiations over his schedule and salary.

There is also still a "ton of heat" on CM Punk within WWE stemming from his first run with the company. Both Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns have expressed their dislike of Punk in the past and people within WWE and close to Punk believed fences would need to be mended to bring about a successful return. It is also believed many whom Punk has heat with would be consulted if WWE decided to bring him back to the company.

Punk became infamous for being at the centre of drama within All Elite Wrestling which ultimately led to his firing on September 2, 2023. During that time Punk had two backstage fights, first at All Out 2022 with The Elite before an altercation with Jack Perry at All In 2023. A top WWE star doesn't believe that would be an issue if Punk returned, though, saying Punk knows "he wouldn't be able to pull any of his sh*t here. There's nobody here he could jump without getting his ass handed to him."

Another top WWE talent, meanwhile, believes Triple H wouldn't risk the negativity that would come with a Punk return, but they then recalled Triple H has brought back a talent with baggage since he has been in control. The overall feeling, according to Fightful, "was that Punk would need to make good with a number of influential talent in general."

As of now, people within creative and top WWE stars haven't been told anything about Punk returning. The speculation of teases on social media were not supposed to be teases for a Punk return and Punk has not been mentioned in regards to future WWE plans.

On the AEW side, a top star said before Brawl Out that Punk would verbalise how much he disliked WWE, Triple H, and Vince McMahon. That talent would be surprised if they returned to WWE. Another, meanwhile, acknowledged Punk is in a "much less forgiving situation from a career perspective."