WWE Tried To Re-Sign CM Punk

WWE tried to re-sign CM Punk in December 2020, The Second City Saviour has revealed.

Punk and WWE had an acrimonious split in 2014, during which WWE fired the former world champion on his wedding day, and both parties remained embittered for several years.

Punk re-entered the WWE fold in late 2019, though, as an analyst on FOX's WWE Backstage and the 42-year-old has credited the show with warming him up to an eventual in-ring return.

Punk would keep his options open over the next year following WWE Backstage's cancellation and he admitted in December 2020 that he would be open to a WWE return, but there was a lot of baggage they would have to work through.

Around this time, WWE actually approached The Straight Edge Superstar through intermediaries about returning to the company, Punk revealed to ESPN. The 42-year-old did listen to their overtures but talks never got off the ground.

"I remember one of the first things I ever said to them was, 'Above all, don't play games.' And they played games. Some things never change. ... When you enter a conversation with people you have a past with and you know who they are, how seriously can you take it? I know exactly who they are and they just continue to prove it. I'm trying to be as diplomatic as I possibly can," Punk said about the talks.

At the same time, Punk was locked in informal talks with AEW's Tony Khan and The Straight Edge Superstar would eventually agree to return to wrestling in the promotion. He made his debut on the August 20 edition of Rampage and the 42-year-old will face Darby Allin in his first match in seven years at All Out on September 5.