The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer has published a bold, conclusive piece of reporting on his website, suggesting that AEW and CM Punk are close to a contract buyout, with the addition and length of a non-compete clause serving as the lone obstacle. This comes after weeks and weeks of radio silence during which every tweet, rumour, and word spoken on commentary was closely scrutinised. Below, with thanks to Sports Illustrated, you can read what Meltzer had to say on the topic.
AEW is in talks with Punk about the future but right now it looks doubtful he will be back. Those with close knowledge of the situation said they are in talks with Punk about a buy-out of the remaining years of his contract which tells you that they are not looking to bring him back. The hold-up right now is said to be the non-compete period.
Obviously if the non-compete is an issue, it s about interest in going to WWE because there s no need for a non-compete otherwise because nobody else but AEW and WWE can pay [Punk] close to what he was making.
So what’s going on? In order to prevent Punk from returning to WWE, the organisation he hasn’t exactly been kind to over the previous several years, Tony Khan, the son of a millionaire, may be trying to get out of his obligation to pay Punk. Does he have any knowledge of specific interest within The Fed, whether it comes from Paul “Triple H” Levesque or someone else, that might lead to the “Best in the World” making his in-ring comeback at the business he pipe-bombed in 2011? Khan could easily pay Punk’s remaining contract balance, plus any further adjusted time away due to injury, and ensure that the 43-year-old continues to be a well-paid non-wrestler in the business if he is really that serious about keeping him away from WWE.
Would Levesque and company benefit greatly from Punk’s return to WWE? The “Best In The World” only needs to recall his own comments from his battle with MJF to remind himself of a critical lesson: the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Yes, bringing Punk back in Chicago would generate a large gate and a major television pop for eitherRAWorSmackDown.
This promo has a complete opposite meaning today.
MJF really had the last laugh here. pic.twitter.com/HKd0xDfE5P
— Drain Loves The Acclaimed. (@DrainBamager) October 21, 2022
CM Punk would leave AEW for WWE at his own risk.
If CM Punk’s time in AEW is all but done, his feud with MJF—whom he most notably faced in a Dog Collar match at Revolution 2022—will most likely serve as the narrative that sums up his tenure in the promotion. A.J. Lee’s husband won the match after channelling his old ROH attitude with the one-night-only reappearance of Miseria Cantare, his former theme on the indies. The two traded insults for weeks, with MJF accusing Punk of being old and out of touch and Punk saying that he doesn’t appreciate what he has.
Though both men went on to greater and more important things in Khan’s squared circle, with MJF orchestrating a holdout that led to an, according to him, incredibly lucrative return and his former rival Punk waging an all-out holy war against “Hangman” Adam Page before capturing the title, breaking his leg, losing the title, winning it again despite tearing his pec in the match, and all but ending his run in the promotion thanks to a fight now known as “The King
For instance, take this pearl Punk gave MJF, which has taken on a whole new meaning in light of Khan’s wish to have his soon-to-be ex-employee sign a non-compete provision.
Furthermore, Punk told MJR, “Listen, mate, if you believe the grass is so greener on the other side, be my guest, go ahead, leave. Headline Night 4 of a Buy-One-Get-One-Free Extravaganza, and then leave the sack quicker than before. I’ll still be here when you get back, and that a- will be waiting for you.
Take note, TK: although Punk said these things to MJF, they apply just as well the other way around.
Could Triple H entice Punk back into a WWE ring? Possible; what better way to criticise his most recent employer than by returning to his previous one if Punk hates AEW more than WWE at this point in the game? If Punk believes he can be the one to dethrone Roman Reigns, then jump ship and find out what’s going on, but it’s also possible that his run ends up being a publicity stunt and he becomes even more unhappy than before.
10 years ago today, CM Punk cut the Pipe Bomb promo. pic.twitter.com/O84jyja54M
— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) June 27, 2021
The article CM Punk’s WWE warning needs to be taken seriously by AEW first appeared on ClutchPoints.
