After CM Punk's departure from AEW, speculation arose about his next step in the pro wrestling world. Reports from Fightful Select suggest that Punk was considering a return to WWE, specifically targeting an appearance at the 2023 Royal Rumble. at All Out.
The relationship between Punk and AEW has been described as "contentious", especially after the incident at Brawl Out. Despite this, Punk maintained regular communication with Tony Khan, president of AEW. It is important to highlight that the idea of Punk's return to WWE was primarily his own, with no concrete evidence indicating WWE's interest in the proposal or AEW's intention to release him at that time.
More details suggest that, had Punk participated in the Royal Rumble, he would have followed a storyline all the way to WrestleMania with the wrestler responsible for his elimination. Kevin Owens is a name that has been linked to this speculation.
Punk's relationship with WWE has been a topic of discussion since his departure in 2014. His transfer to AEW in August 2021 was significant, but tensions soon arose between him and other members of the AEW roster. This culminated in Punk's departure from AEW on September 2, the day before All Out in Chicago.
