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One of the most controversial superstars of all-time, CM Punk, has not been seen in WWE since the Royal Rumble match in 2014. Fans adored CM Punk and his rebellious nature, and have been clamoring for him to return.
There have been some instances where it looked likely that CM Punk might return, even if it was just a small chance. Punk confirmed he was no longer interested in wrestling following his WWE departure.
That being said, let's take a look at four times we thought CM Punk might return to WWE.
#4. Paul Heyman teased the WWE Universe in CM Punk's hometown
Just a couple of months after CM Punk's departure was confirmed, WWE arrived in Chicago, Illinois for an episode of Monday Night Raw. Of course, with Punk being from the Windy City, there was only going to be one man the Chicago crowd would want to see.
The episode started like any normal episode of RAW, an intro of the matches to come that evening. Then, out of nowhere, CM Punk's music hit and the arena went ballistic. Was CM Punk coming back already after walking out just a couple of months ago?
No, he wasn't. CM Punk's long-time friend and former manager Paul Heyman revealed himself instead to the disappointment of the WWE Universe. WWE had teased us for just a moment, and any fan would be lying if they said they didn't have goosebumps when Punk's music hit.
The WWE Universe in Chicago continued to chant Punk's name throughout the episode, hijacking the presentation that was being performed in front of them.
A month later, Paul Heyman spoke with This is Infamous about that night in on the road to WrestleMania in 2014:
"Because I knew the task at hand. Think about this. I didn't say one disparaging thing about CM Punk. It's because I have nothing disparaging to say about him. I said, "If CM Punk were in this ring tonight, he would prove to everyone that he is what he always claims to be: The best in the world." And I believe that to be true! I said everything about CM Punk that I felt in my heart and at the end of the day, we don't have that television show on the air to sing the praises of those who are not with us or just heap praise on people because we like them." Paul Heyman said. (h/t Cageside Seats)
WWE almost had us, but it just wasn't meant to be. Although it will go down as one of those moments we, for a second, thought maybe the Second City Saint was coming back.
#3. Rumors circulated in 2021 that CM Punk was returning to pro-wrestling
In July 2021, a report came out from Fightful that CM Punk is on the verge of making a comeback to professional wrestling. Although the report didn't fully confirm where, it is widely anticipated he will be returning to make his debut for All Elite Wrestling.
Of course, the news that CM Punk is set to make a return to pro-wrestling has got the WWE Universe excited. Could there be a twist and CM Punk show up in WWE once again?
It could be wishful thinking, but it has gotten wrestling fans into a frenzy wondering what the next step is for the former WWE Champion. Whilst speaking with Sports Illustrated earlier this year, Punk claimed that he wouldn't be returning to WWE anytime soon:
"I’ve said no before in interviews. I’m not fishing for a deal. I get offered to do a lot of stuff, and I say no to 90% of it just because my thing is I need to work with quality human beings. It just seems like maybe in pro wrestling there is a lack of quality human beings. I don’t know. I like doing fun, quality projects. If there is a fun, quality wrestling project that gets sent my way, I will listen to it," CM Punk said. (h/t Give Me Sport)
It has been known that wrestlers don't always tell the truth in interviews, and but it appears that CM Punk hasn't completely closed the door on a WWE return. We guess only time will tell when it'll be clobbering time once again.
#2. CM Punk made some independent appearances in 2015 and 2016
Before joining WWE, CM Punk was a hugely popular star on the independent wrestling scene around the world. He became so popular that when making his debut on WWE television for ECW, the whole crowd in the Hammerstein Ballroom was chanting his name.
Punk seemingly made a return to the independent scene, disguised, a year after his WWE departure. Firstly, in 2015, he made an unannounced appearance managing Japanese wrestler Kikutaro. The match took place at Freelance Wrestling, with CM Punk draped in a cloak.
Secondly, in 2016, CM Punk interfered in a match, with a masked disguise, helping friend Ace Steel, delivering a GTS to his opponent. The promotion's owner, Silas Young, confirmed it was Punk under the mask that night, though Punk never confirmed whether it was him or not.
Silas Young confirmed it was CM Punk with Fightful:
"I had Dave Prazak and Ace Steel booked on the show who are good friends with Punk. My wife came up and said ‘Punk’s going to do a run-in-on the match, do you mind?’ I said ‘of course I don’t mind.’ This is ten minutes before the show, not something I booked. That’s how it happened. I think it’s because his buddies were booked on the show. Just a kind of circumstance and luck based on who I had booked that it worked out the way it did. I never saw Punk at the building. Can I 100 percent confirm it was him? No. I can say I’m 99.9% certain it was him. It’s a cool thing for the area and the promotion," Silas Young said. (h/t 411Mania)
Many speculated that Punk had got the itch once again, but nothing ever materialized beyond these appearances.
#1. CM Punk returned to FOX Sports' WWE Backstage show
In November 2019, CM Punk made an unofficial return to WWE by appearing on their FOX show, WWE Backstage. The move prompted much speculation that CM Punk was setting up a return to WWE.
Punk looked into the camera and declared "It’s as simple as this: Just when they think they’ve got the answers, I change the culture!". WWE promoted the return on WWE.com and heaped a lot of praise CM Punk's way. It looked as though any wounds and bad blood had been healed.
Host of WWE Backstage Renee Pacquette discussed Punk's return with Alex McCarthy on TalkSport:
"I loved working with Punk! So I had been talking to him prior about coming in to do the show and I was like ‘there’s no way he’s going to come in.’ But I was like I’ll reach out to him and see! I hadn’t spoken to him in seven years? Since he left WWE I had not spoken to him, at all. I wasn’t sure what that relationship was or if he wanted to be reached out to at all. So when his name got floated to me ‘do you think CM Punk would do it?’ I was like ‘I mean, if we can get Punk, let’s get Punk! Let’s do it," Renee Pacquette said.. (h/t TalkSport)
Sadly, because of the global Covid-19 Pandemic, WWE Backstage was canceled and CM Punk was no longer on our screens. It was by far the moment that signified change in terms of WWE and CM Punk's relationship. We do hope that one day soon we will see the Punker back in the squared circle.
