CM Punk is currently suspended from AEW and recovering from surgery following the backstage fight at AEW All Out with The Elite. Since then, Ace Steel has been fired, and it’s been reported that things look doubtful that CM Punk will return to AEW as AEW is in talks with Punk about a potential buyout. 

The only thing seemingly holding things up is the non-compete clause. Fightful Select reports that a contract buyout was mentioned very early in the process, but as of the Tuesday following the brawl, most around Punk told them that “realistically, he can’t expect to be back.” Numerous wrestlers in AEW said they aren’t interested in working in a locker room that he’s involved in again unless huge amends are made for how the night made All Elite Wrestling look. 

Following the talent meeting at Dynamite after the brawl, talent didn’t expect CM Punk back, and numerous operated on the assumption he wouldn’t be around again.

Those who spoke with Fightful from WWE stated they didn’t think Vince McMahon would have brought CM Punk in, especially after Brawl Out. FOX was the one who pushed WWE to have talks with him about returning before he signed with AEW. 

The line of thinking that was presented by those in WWE under the Triple H regime is that the right situation, right money and right creative can leave the door open for “anything within reason.” 

One person said, “Triple H wants to be a success and make compelling programming more than anything. CM Punk back in WWE is compelling programming, but I can’t see it being a full-time deal like what he has in AEW because of exactly what happened in AEW. That’s even if he has an interest. If he gets a buyout, he may not need to work again.”