News of CM Punk’s AEW release has shocked fans around the world and it turns out the WWE locker room is no different.
On September 2nd 2023 the wrestling world entered a state of shock as news broke that AEW had dismissed CM Punk “with cause” following an investigation into an alleged physical confrontation with Jack Perry during All In.
It has since been revealed that the decision has been met by a mixed reaction backstage in AEW with some of the locker room “really down” about the news and others “happy” to see the back of CM Punk.
According to a new report from Fightful Select CM Punk’s AEW release was “discussed heavily” backstage in WWE ahead of tonight’s Payback PLE.
Although the report does not detail any of the discussions being held backstage, it is most likely simply locker room gossip at this moment in time, despite claims made by former WWE Superstar Justin Credible that WWE should look to have CM Punk return during tonight’s Payback PLE.
Seth Rollins recently spoke with Nick Hausman regarding CM Punk and issued a “stay away” warning to the former WWE Champion during a WWE 2K23 media scrum.
Rollins even went as far as to brand Punk a “cancer” which would certainly make any reunion between the two former rivals heated to say the least.
“Oh Philly, Phil, stay away. Stay away you cancer.
Get away from me forever. Yeah I don’t like Phil, he’s a jerk.
Oh did we just figure that out? Did we just figure that out? Everybody in the room is like ‘oh no did he say that?’ He’s a jerk, come on.
They figured it out over there, we knew it over here. I don’t want him back. [waves hand] Go do something else. Bye, bye. See you later.”
When Was CM Punk’s Last WWE Match?
CM Punk’s final WWE match was the 2014 Royal Rumble.
Punk would make his final WWE appearance in-ring entering the 2014 Royal Rumble at number one lasting all the way to the final four only to be eliminated by WWE Hall of Famer Kane who Punk had eliminated earlier in the match.
‘The Second City Saint’ made his final WWE match matter by lasting an incredible 49:12 in the Royal Rumble racking up 3 eliminations in the process – Kane, Damien Sandow and Miro.
During the September 2nd episode of AEW Collision Tony Khan would reveal that CM Punk made him “fear for his life.”