The Return of CM Punk on The Horizon | Karrion Kross | Darby Allin vs. 'All Ego' Ethan Page (AEW Dynamite '21)

Tales of The Wrestling Tapes | Wrestling Reviews Podcast

Tales of The Wrestling Tapes hosted by Eric! It's become an urban myth in the world of wrestling but Fightful Select reports that CM Punk is in talks about a Potential In-Ring as an All Elite Wrestler while we dissect the NXT/Karrion Kross vs. WWE Debacle and review Darby Allin vs. 'All Ego' Ethan Page from Fyter Fest!

One of the biggest stars of wrestling in this century could be headed back to wrestling, if all goes well. CM Punk has been in ongoing talks for a return, sources tell Fightful.

Fightful Select learned last week that CM Punk has been in talks to make a return to pro wrestling as an in-ring performer, with sources indicating that AEW is the most likely landing point. We have no confirmation of a contract officially being signed, a timetable, a set return date, or any creative plans, only that Punk and a company official have had ongoing conversations about an in-ring return.

As with any negotiations, nothing is ever fully confirmed until the deal is actually done and the subject appears on screen.

We have heard of other companies having interest in Punk coming in to work after fans returned, but have not heard of any specific offers or overtures made towards him.

Fightful has not officially confirmed this report with CM Punk himself or All Elite Wrestling officials. We have been told in recent days that higher ups in WWE believe that Punk is headed to AEW.

Punk last wrestled in January 2014 for WWE, and was released later that year. In the years that followed, he pursued a career in mixed martial arts in the UFC, where he officially has an 0-1 record with 1 no contest. In addition to MMA, Punk has worked in commentary roles within the sport, and made his way into acting. He also appeared on WWE Backstage for approximately six months. Aside from his appearances on Backstage, he's only made two appearances in wrestling since leaving WWE -- both in very anonymous masked roles on the independent circuit.

Source: Fightful Select.

Following his return to the WWE fold as an analyst on WWE Backstage, many wondered if CM Punk would step back inside the squared circle. Punk even said he would return to the ring for matches against John Cena, Daniel Bryan, Rey Mysterio and Will Ospreay.

WWE Backstage has since been cancelled, but Renee Paquette asked The Voice Of The Voiceless what it would take for him to return to the ring on the latest episode of Oral Sessions.

Punk said: "Without wanting to insult anybody on either side of the fence, any WWE talent or AEW talent, it would take above all an interesting scenario. A story that would be fun to tell. Also, just the stupidest amount of money. But they could save themselves a whole lot of money if they just presented... a fun storyline. Now, what that is, I don't know. I'm a pretty picky guy, especially at this point.

"I think there's more interesting people on the AEW side of things for me to wrestle, but that's just because I've never wrestled them before - Young Bucks, Kenny Omega. Talking about your husband, I look at that and I go, 'Well I wrestled him already.' So, it's just less interesting than something new.

"On the WWE side of things, I don't know that there's anybody there currently that I haven't wrestled that I would be interested in wrestling."

He later added: "I feel like a s**tbag even saying that s**t ton of money thing, but... on the WWE side of things, let's be honest, there's baggage, right? There's stuff that's gotta be worked through. So I don't know how you get there. I don't. I really don't."

The former WWE Champion also noted a match in New Japan Pro-Wrestling would still interest him, namely against Kazuchika Okada. He did admit he hadn't seen a lot of The Rainmaker's matches, though.

Source: CM Punk Still Open To Wrestling Return | Cultaholic