Where things stand with CM Punk's WWE return

CM Punk had backstage issues with Jack Perry, which went physical during AEW All In London. After which AEW President Tony Khan suspended both and framed an investigation committee to inquire into the issue. After the reports were submitted, Tony Khan with the advice of AEW officials, released CM Punk from his contract due to disciplinary issues. Since then there have been rumors and reports around the wrestling industry that Punk will make his return to WWE.

The close circle from Punk’s side reported that Punk already had a pursuit to return to WWE, when he was suspended by AEW in 2022. There was a scrap plan of Punk returning to WWE for Royal Rumble and headlining WrestleMania Day 1 facing Kevin Owens, but it didn’t happen. Punk was also reported to be backstage during Raw and was said to leave the arena after talks in the past.

In mid-September it was reported that CM Punk is in talks with WWE and the company has also teased with CM Punk’s reference time to time, such as stating wrestlers as “Best in the World”, “Manipulator”, “Puppet” his past promo “The Greatest thing that Devil..”. Even on the latest episode of Raw, Shinsuke Nakamura also used his finisher “GTS” during the brawl with Ricochet. At this stage a report has been released, which puts Punk’s return in a complex situation.

CM Punk’s current status

Fightful Select reported that CM Punk & WWE are not currently in talks and the Stamford based company has not shown any interest in reaching out to Punk’s camp. There has been no negotiations currently between them and the rumors around it are apparently incorrect.

On the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer gave an update that WWE declined CM Punk’s return after he initiated the talks. But he said that the status might change anytime as the decision is “no forever” but for now. He also stated that the decision was purely made by Vince after the discussion between Nick Khan & Triple H as the “negatives outweighed the positives”.

Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio says,

“They turned him down. He wanted to go there, and the decision was a no. It can always change, and it was brought up to me, there’s no such thing as ‘no forever’ when it comes to WWE, but it’s no for now. That was the decision that was made. It’s Vince’s decision. Vince, Nick Khan, Paul Levesque, and obviously they decided that the negatives outweighed the positives.”

Do you think, we could see CM Punk in WWE anyway sooner? What's your thoughts on this? Do you think this is a wise move? or is he misunderstood?