CM Punk is still reportedly a member of the AEW roster, at least for the time being.
Punk has been absent from the company since the AEW All Out pay-per-view, where he defeated Jon Moxley to win the AEW World Championship. At the post-show press conference, Punk made heated remarks about the company’s Executive Vice Presidents, Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks, which reportedly led to a backstage brawl between the two sides. Everyone involved was subsequently suspended. The Elite returned to AEW programming at the Full Gear pay-per-view, but Punk has remained absent. He is also reportedly recovering from surgery after he got hurt at All Out.
In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that Punk is still under contract with AEW and being paid. However, sources close to the former world champion indicated that the hold-up in his release is on AEW’s side of the equation, as Punk is “ready and willing to move on to his next project.”
Meltzer also addressed the way Omega and The Young Bucks seemingly mocked Punk during their match on the November 23 episode of AEW Dynamite, which was held in Chicago. Omega memorably did Punk’s “Go To Sleep” taunt, bit PAC, and hit the Go To Sleep finisher, among other references. This fueled speculation that AEW was teasing Punk’s return, or at least a potential storyline with The Elite down the road, but Meltzer wrote that sources said there’s “no chance” of that happening.
Additionally, per Sportskeeda, Punk is expected to remain in the AEW Fight Forever video game.
WrestleZone will provide more information as it becomes available.
RELATED: Report: Top AEW Stars Say They No Longer Want To Work With CM Punk
