The next time that CM Punk came close to a wrestling arena it was bound to be big news, but no one could have predicted where that appearance would come.
Photos have appeared online of Punk in the stands for NJPW Battle in the Valley in San Jose. It was also reported by Fightful Select that Punk was at the show. The report from Fightful stated that they had not heard that he would be involved in any way.
Battle in the Valley will see the in-ring NJPW debut of Mercedes Mone as she bids to win the IWGP Women’s Championship.
CM PUNK!!! #njbitvpic.twitter.com/eI55c7WNsK
— Poppin’ Sugar Rubis ♦️ (@madrigrober) February 19, 2023
What Next For CM Punk?
Despite remaining under contract with AEW, CM Punk hasn’t appeared for the company since being involved in the backstage brawl that followed All Out. The fight had been set up by comments made by Punk at the post-show media scrum where he took aim at the Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, Colt Cabana, and Hangman Adam Page.
All involved were suspended pending an investigation and Ace Steel ended up leaving the company altogether.
The Elite eventually returned to television leaving just Punk absent at least in part due to triceps surgery. However, it was recently reported that Punk would soon be “available” to return should AEW want to use him. But fans’ hopes were quickly dashed by a further report which stated that no fences have been mended between Punk and The Elite.
However, reports that Ace Steel was at the Royal Rumble in an attempt to broker a deal between Punk and WWE appear to be wide of the mark.