"There's only one CM Punk" - Major wrestling promoter urges the former AEW World Champion to return to the industry
CM Punk has been away from pro wrestling for close to two months, and many are already urging him to return. Recently, a prominent wrestling promoter commented on his absence and urged Punk to end his stint in the wilderness.
The Second City Saint established his character in ROH, which was largely why he ended up making the jump to WWE. While he enjoyed success with the promotion, he was ultimately released and opted for retirement, which lasted 7 whole years. He finally joined AEW in 2021 and scaled heights until the termination of his contract in September 2023.
In a recent interview with Mat Men Pro Wrestling, NWA Owner Billy Corgan spoke about Punk's journey in the business:
"Unlike a lot of people in professional wrestling, and maybe because I know the person a bit, I think I know and understand the path he's taken in professional wrestling. As a fan, I wish that he had never retired. I wished he had always stayed wrestling and I wish he was wrestling right now. There's only one CM Punk." (01:14 onward).
Corgan even extended an invitation to Punk to join NWA if he was looking to have "some fun."
While CM Punk's current status in pro wrestling is unknown, his old friend Ace Steel has officially been signed by IMPACT Wrestling and currently holds a backstage position.
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Billy Corgan claims he met CM Punk years before he became a well-known wrestler
While he's best known for his runs with ROH and WWE, Punk has been wrestling since 1999. Earlier in the same interview, Corgan recalled first meeting the Second City Saint years before his career-defining run with ROH:
"I first met Punk, I think when he was 19 years old, wrestling at the Nashville Fairgrounds for TNA. I can't say we're tight, but we've always gotten along very well and we have a lot of mutual friends. And there's always been a warmth there between us, particularly as fellow Chicagoans." (00:54 onward).
It remains to be seen if CM Punk will ever return to pro wrestling. He's notably been linked with IMPACT Wrestling recently.
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit Mat Men Pro Wrestling and provide an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.