WWE Superstar CM Punk recently discussed the plans he considered after being terminated from AEW. Punk returned to professional wrestling in AEW in 2021, after a seven-year hiatus following his contentious departure from WWE.
Punk’s debut in AEW significantly boosted ratings and financial gains for the promotion. He quickly engaged in high-profile feuds with stars like Darby Allin, Eddie Kingston, and MJF. However, tensions surfaced in 2022 during his feud with Hangman Page, who went off-script during their storyline. This ignited a conflict between Punk and The Elite, leading to a backstage brawl with The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega. This resulted in suspensions for everyone involved.
After nine months of absence, Punk returned but soon found himself in another controversy, this time with AEW star Jack Perry, regarding the use of glass in a match. Punk reportedly stopped Perry from using real glass for safety. However, Perry held a grudge at the AEW All In event in London in 2023.
He made headlines by slamming HOOK onto a car windshield, emphasizing it was real glass and dismissing concerns with a “cry me a river” remark aimed at the camera. This prompted Punk to confront Perry backstage before his match against Samoa Joe, leading to a physical altercation.
This led to Punk’s departure from AEW and his return to WWE last November after almost a decade away. Recently, Punk revealed surprising details about his mindset and plans following his termination from All Elite Wrestling.
WWE Superstar CM Punk recently appeared on the No-Contest Wrestling show hosted by O’Shea Jackson Jr. and TJ Jefferson. During the show, he opened up about his mindset and his departure from AEW. Punk admitted he initially believed he was done with professional wrestling.
CM Punk considered leaving wrestling following AEW termination
He stated, “So when I left WWE in 2014, people can argue, very much in bad faith, that, like, ‘Oh, he didn’t love the business because he didn’t go work the Indies.’ What was I gonna do? Right? … It’s a little bit of that, and then there’s also the part of, like, who’s going to pay me? Oh yeah, go back and work for 60 bucks? Well, you know, I’m married now; I got a mortgage.” (jokingly)
He continued, “When I exited AEW, I definitely wasn’t like, “Oh, I’m going to…” I probably did think, “Okay, I was done.” And then, you know, because that happened in, I don’t know, August or September (2023), I was just kind of chilling. And then, you know, Nick Khan calls me in November, and he’s like, “When are you free and clear?” I was like, “Nick, I was fired.”
CM Punk’s decision not to quit professional wrestling ultimately led to his return to WWE after nearly a decade. He is currently embroiled in a heated rivalry with Drew McIntyre. Both stars are scheduled to face off this weekend at WWE Bad Blood in a Hell in a Cell match.
