CM Punk Sparks WWE Rumors at CFFC MMA Event After AEW Departure

Highlights

• With CM Punk's departure from AEW, speculation is rife about his next move. Will he retire or join another promotion like WWE?
• Punk's cryptic comment about having "time on his hands for the next two months" hints at a potential return to wrestling.
• WWE's response to Punk's potential return was vague, indicating that they may not be overly interested, but the fans' desire could sway their decision.

With CM Punk officially gone from AEW, -- following backstage altercations involving The Elite and "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry -- speculation is running wild regarding his next move. Will he retire? Will he show up for another promotion? Is he jumping to WWE? Do they even want him? Typically, wrestlers have non-compete clauses in their contracts, restricting them from wrestling for another promotion for a set period after their release. That said, Punk's cryptic comment on Friday night may have provided a bit of a timeline for his next move.

Punk was part of the announce team for Cage Fury Fighting Championships at CFFC 125, and when his broadcast partner jokingly asked him if he had time on his hands, Punk said, "Yea, I got some time on my hands. For the next two months." It's an intriguing comment, to say the least. Survivor Series is scheduled for November 25, just over two months away, and it will take place in Punk's hometown of Chicago. If he were to make a move to WWE, the reactions he gets in Chicago would make Survivor Series the perfect platform for his return.

To be fair, it's not at all clear if he was talking about Survivor Series or another project he might be working on, but Punk sounds like he's got something cooking. And, if it's wrestling-related, it makes sense that he would point to a two-month window before he was allowed to work for another promotion.

RELATED: Why CM Punk Signing With WWE Isn't As Crazy As It Seems

Also of note, it's not clear WWE is all that interested. WWE President Nick Khan provided a rather vague response when asked about Punk following WWE's merger with UFC, creating TKO Group Holdings. He said, "Listen, we only have respect for Phil [Brooks aka CM Punk]. We appreciate his run here. We appreciate what he did and tried to do with the UFC. Not many people can actually get in there and do what he did. So, when we have respect for Phil, we wish him nothing but the best."

Punk Knows How To Stay Top Of Mind

If there's one thing CM Punk is really good at, it's staying in the stream of consciousness of wrestling fans. He was gone from WWE for years and the WWE Universe still chanted his name in Chicago and other cities where he has a huge following. It made his return to AEW in 2021 such a huge deal. Dropping a hint like that during an MMA show is typical Punk.

If there is an appetite for fans to see him back in WWE, one has to think the company would at least entertain the idea.