CM Punk would be welcomed with open arms by Impact Wrestling if he enquired about joining the promotion.
Just as the rumours subsided around a possible WWE return at Survivor Series, CM Punk was spotted backstage at an Impact taping the day after Bound For Glory. While present backstage at the tapings, the former AEW star reportedly spent a significant amount of time with talent and briefly caught up with Ace Steel, who is now a producer for the promotion.
Impact President Scott D’Amore addressed the reports that Punk was at an Impact event while speaking to Who Do You Call It? D’Amore confirmed that Punk was there and how positive the overall experience was:
“He was there the next day, at our TV, which is not unheard of. He was in Chicago at an event of ours earlier this year. We have a pretty open door policy. If you want to come by and visit at TNA Wrestling, you’re more than welcome. There is one simple rule. Don’t be an A-hole.
Be respectful and you’ll be respected. Punk, when he showed up earlier this year, was a pleasure to have in the locker room. When he asked if he could come the day after Bound For Glory, come by the TV and say hello and watch some of the show, we said, ‘Of course.’ He came back and again was a pleasure to have.
He chatted with some of the talent. I got to sit back and watch him and Josh Alexander have a nice long chat. What a great opportunity to have somebody like CM Punk in there. Even if it’s just a conversation and it’s not all about wrestling, there is no way you don’t learn something out of a conversation like that. He is welcome at events of ours.
CM Punk Not Judged On What Has Been Reported
Punk hit the headlines on multiple occasions following his June 2023 return, with reports alleging that Punk’s behaviour was causing unrest backstage in AEW. Although some believe that this may be a reason why WWE turned down CM Punk, this would not be the case at Impact.
D’Amore continued, stating that the reports are not concrete and at Impact what matters is how the person behaves in the present, not what has been said in the past:
“You asked me if I would like Will Ospreay to be the face of the brand, sure. Would we be open to having CM Punk join IMPACT Wrestling? Of course. Why wouldn’t we? You look at the business he drove for WWE and you look at what he did in AEW, he lifted AEW and ticket sales went up, viewers went up, pay-per-view buys went up. If it’s the right fit and it works for him and for us, business wise, and if it’s a good fit relationship-wise, the one thing that is unwavering is, you come into our locker room, it has to be somebody who is going to come in, fit in, be respectful.
Punk has been that anytime he has come around us. We don’t judge based off what you hear, we judge based on what you do around us, and he’s been nothing but a pleasure to be around. Is it a possibility? Never write it off as being something to happen. I get a kick out of all the stories I read. ‘Oh, we made an offer? We did this?’ Somebody should tell me some of this stuff. We remain open to any possibilities, whether it’s joint venturing, doing collaborations with other companies, talent coming in, whatever it is. If it’s good for business and it makes sense and the fans are into it, we’re open.”
H/t to Fightful.