CM Punk, the renowned wrestler, has made headlines with his return to WWE, marking a significant shift in his professional wrestling career. In a series of appearances on The MMA Hour, Punk shared insights into the journey back to WWE, including discussions with key WWE executives like Nick Khan and resolving past issues. Punk revealed that he had no non-compete clause following his departure from AEW, which allowed for a swift transition back to WWE. He also mentioned a triceps injury that occurred early in the Royal Rumble, affecting his performance. Punk highlighted the warm reception from WWE personnel and the resolution of past conflicts, notably with Triple H, with whom he had a lengthy conversation on Thanksgiving, just before the Survivor Series. Additionally, Punk's visit to WWE RAW last May, suggested by Bayley, stirred controversy among AEW circles, with some feeling 'betrayed' by his actions. Despite the drama, Punk's return to WWE has been described as a dream come true, with him stating that the company feels different from his previous tenure 10 years ago. Vince McMahon's decision to remove Punk from the arena last April when he visited RAW was also a pivotal moment.
CM Punk says WWE doesn't feel like the same WWE from 10-years ago. (MMA Hour) https://t.co/0meadbkTJm
CM Punk says that WWE now doesn't feel the same as it did 10 years ago when he left the company #WrestleMania #TheMMAHour
CM Punk says "the word betrayed was used" on the AEW side after Punk went backstage at a WWE event. ▶️ https://t.co/blBMtV599e #TheMMAHour https://t.co/Ib96w6oVLW
CM Punk says "the word betrayed was used" on the AEW side after Punk went backstage at a WWE event. https://t.co/fS3lAAxQoZ
CM Punk says he signed his WWE Contract just before walking into Gorllia at Survivor Series #TheMMAHour https://t.co/JfFvixqiEW
CM Punk said he couldn't hear his music when he returned to the WWE. Says the Allstate was as loud as Chicago Stadium during a Blackhawks game in 1989 #WrestleMania #TheMMAHour
CM Punk tells Ariel Helwani that as of the time there seemed to be references about him on WWE TV, he had not been contacted by WWE. He was wondering "should I be tanning?" Hey! @FightfulSelect scoop confirmed!
CM Punk says that he was hoping WWE would have him return in Chicago but that he wasn't desperate for a job #WrestleMania #TheMMAHour
CM Punk says it’s been a dream so far [his second WWE run] (MMA Hour) https://t.co/SvrmD407zv
CM Punk tells Ariel Helwani that he signed his WWE contract and walked right into Gorilla position before WWE Survivor Series. He says "I'd be surprised if you needed more than two hands" to count the people who knew he was doing it. @FightfulSelect scoop confirmed! He said…
CM Punk says on his side that his wife Nick Khan Triple H & his Lawyer were the only people who knew about his WWE return #WrestleMania #TheMMAHour
Punk states people at AEW were upset he visited friends at Raw in Chicago, the word "betrayed" was used
CM Punk talks about his call with Triple H before returning to WWE. "It all got done very, very fast. My lawyer was not stoked to be working OT on Thanksgiving." ▶️ https://t.co/blBMtV599e #TheMMAHour https://t.co/ZUitJ4tcz3
CM Punk tells Ariel Helwani that he signed his WWE contract and walked right into Gorilla position before WWE Survivor Series. He says "I'd be surprised if you needed more than two hands" to count the people who knew he was doing it. @FightfulSelect scoop confirmed!
CM Punk says he signed his WWE Contract and then went right to Gorilla at the Survivor Series in Chicago #WrestleMania #TheMMAHour
CM Punk says people in AEW felt “betrayed” when he visited #WWERAW backstage in May of last year. (MMA Hour) https://t.co/mb2jIC6QvD
CM Punk says Bayley invited him to go see the show when he visited RAW last May and he was just visiting friends He says people from AEW were mad he was there and the word “betrayed” was used. #TheMMAHour https://t.co/IO20ikQl9c
CM Punk says people in AEW were mad when he showed up at RAW last April. (MMA Hour) https://t.co/9m4rgvyupj
Punk and Levesque spoke on FaceTime for a lengthy chat on Thanksgiving - two days before Survivor Series and "buried the hatchet" Confirmed he was told to leave the building last April when visiting at Raw in Chicago - said it was a Vince McMahon call for him to leave
CM Punk says the word "betrayed" was used when he visited WWE Raw when under AEW contract, but didn't want to get too far into it with Ariel Helwani
CM Punk says people in AEW were mad when he showed up at RAW last May. (MMA Hour) https://t.co/IL7Rvcbvcn
CM Punk says that AEW people were betrayed that he went and talked to WWE Friends last May #WrestleMania #TheMMAHour
CM Punk says everyone was nice and kind when he visited RAW last April. He name dropped Miz, Lashley & Corbin. (MMA Hour) https://t.co/mdSpGTzoaU
CM Punk says it was Bayley’s idea for him to visit WWE RAW last April. (MMA Hour) https://t.co/MCt05nY6fn
CM Punk says he flew back from a @CFFCMMA in Tampa and started chatting with Jason Jordan and met a bunch of the WWE Crew including Liv Morgan when helped Punk find his Airpods #WrestleMania #TheMMAHour
CM Punk says it was Bayley’s idea for him to visit WWE RAW last May. (MMA Hour) https://t.co/J2wuVuZqiI
CM Punk says he got the call from Nick Khan the Monday before Survivor Series. https://t.co/5xL7wsXsRl
CM Punk is still doing commentary for CFFC, he tells Ariel Helwani. Their next show is April 12.
CM Punk says it was Vince McMahon’s call to remove him from the arena last April when he visited RAW. (MMA Hour) https://t.co/VLdOriAHB4
CM Punk says that Vince McMahon threw him out of the building when he visited last May #WrestleMania #TheMMAHour
CM Punk confirms to Ariel Helwani @FightfulSelect's report that he visited friends in WWE back in May, but was "kicked out." He showed up unannounced
CM Punk says he and Triple H facetimed before his WWE return and they buried the hatchet and then talked business. #TheMMAHour https://t.co/GZQ1UGJY2N
Punk stated that he spoke on the phone with Nick Khan on the Monday before Survivor Series and initially was discussing a return at the Royal Rumble - Punk alerted him he didn't have any no-compete after his AEW release and things sped up
CM Punk says that he face timed Triple H about some serious stuff to the both of them and then talked business #WrestleMania #TheMMAHour
Specifically, Nick Khan spoke with him the Monday before the return. https://t.co/POjOmykGfY
CM Punk says Triple H FaceTimed him last year, and the two resolved all their issues, and buried the hatchet. (MMA Hour)
CM Punk confirms he never had a non-compete when he was fired by AEW #TheMMAHour https://t.co/2dUPlKadwK
CM Punk tells Ariel Helwani that he never had a non-compete, and Nick Khan said "I wish I knew that"
CM Punk: There's very much the hockey player in my head just like, 'Oh, you could have made Wrestlemania. You could have just taped it up.' They're protecting me against myself though. #TheMMAHour https://t.co/PmqZl9R5fA
CM Punk confirms @FightfulSelect's reporting that no audible was called during the Royal Rumble due to his injury, during an interview with Ariel Helwani
CM Punk says the call from Nick Khan came for him to start at Royal Rumble and WWE was shocked to find ou that Punk had no noncompete clause after leaving AEW #WrestleMania #TheMMAHour
CM Punk confirms he never had a no-compete following his AEW exit. (MMA Hour) https://t.co/iK9AFuRUsu
CM Punk says he thinks the ball with his WWE return started really rolling the week of Thanksgiving. He says he got a call from Nick Khan and the they initially asked about the Royal Rumble. #TheMMAHour https://t.co/nWfK157hkf
CM Punk also confirms to Ariel Helwani @FightfulSelect's reporting that the week of Thanksgiving is when WWE contacted him about a return to the company.
CM Punk says the ball rolling for him to comeback to WWE started around the Monday of Thanksgiving week #WrestleMania #TheMMAHour
CM Punk is in studio now on The MMA Hour https://t.co/2p23nbgLn7
CM Punk says his WWE return started to come together around Thanksgiving last year. (MMA Hour) https://t.co/TnW2g6iuQA
Had the chance to catch up @Michaelpage247 recently on making the jump to the UFC, moving up the rankings, and the WWE's Attitude Era influence: https://t.co/NdeTgs4nUy
CM Punk says the WWE doctors are looking out for him and protecting him from himself with his Tricep injury #WrestleMania #TheMMAHour
CM Punk tells Ariel Helwani his triceps injury happened pretty early in the Royal Rumble
CM Punk says he’s back where he belongs [in WWE] (MMA Hour) https://t.co/hY9IGgGLHd
CM Punk has arrived #TheMMAHour https://t.co/VpvU5E65i1
🚨 CM Punk is on MMA Hour right now 🚨 https://t.co/vtO5xKoTj7
CM Punk in-studio now. #TheMMAHour https://t.co/oVraAqcJxj https://t.co/KSOSFDHYnV
CM Punk joins us LIVE and IN STUDIO on #TheMMAHour ▶️ https://t.co/8hknXoxnZa https://t.co/8wOTRPsCR4
How much will CM Punk be able to say during Ariel Helwani ‘MMA Hour’ interview? https://t.co/bdBhY0n77Y https://t.co/gzoAzVD4wQ
Randy Orton tells CM Punk that he’s glad “he came home” 🥺🥺🥺 https://t.co/O7DcbetOPf
CM Punk will be on The MMA Hour at 2 p.m. ET
The MMA Hour with CM Punk and Rhea Ripley in studio, Nate Landwehr, Joaquin Buckley, and more at 1 p.m. ET https://t.co/oHAd6F5bHC
CM Punk always taking shots at Seth Rollins 😂😂😂 https://t.co/BfZQcBCabu
According to our WWE sources, CM Punk is expected at RAW next week in Brooklyn, NY No word on what he will be doing or whether or not he will be on the show, but he will be there. https://t.co/da2KkKTCfG
CM Punk will be in-studio for an interview on the MMA Hour next Monday https://t.co/NO4vqDJMLJ
CM Punk will be on the MMA Hour for a live in-person interview with Ariel Helwani this upcoming Monday April 1st. https://t.co/VI5Fj4Xrsa
CM Punk will be in studio on Monday. #TheMMAHour