While it doesn’t exactly seem likely CM Punk is headed to WWE at this point, that didn’t stop fans from expressing themselves during tonight’s WWE Raw. The classic CM Punk chants have returned to the promotion, with the crowd belting out the former AEW star’s name during Shinsuke Nakamura’s match against Akira Tozawa tonight, heard on TV as well as by those in attendance. The chants also occurred during WWE Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia this past Saturday.
Nakamura has been making Punk-oriented teases in recent weeks, including hitting Punk’s finisher, the GTS, multiple times during matches. Despite that, most signs point away from Punk and WWE being in negotiations for a return – at least for the time being. It has been reported that Punk is prepared for a return to the ring and is open to working for WWE if given the opportunity. Though rumors have persisted that the two parties are in active talks, those rumors have been squashed from all sides.
Punk is currently without a contract in wrestling, as the former world champion was fired from AEW after an alleged backstage conflict between himself and Jack Perry. His termination marked the end of a two-year run that included multiple world title reigns and injuries, as well as plenty of talk about his interactions backstage, from handing out Starbucks gift cards to the infamous brawl that followed AEW All Out in 2022. Punk has a complicated history with WWE as well, and it’s unclear if the two sides will resolve things to bring the “Straight Edge Superstar” back to wrestling.