Early this morning, Matt Jackson of the Young Bucks posted the following tweet:
@CMPunk Hey man check this out. pic.twitter.com/dPYuHGQ4dN
— The Young Bucks (@MattJackson13) August 9, 2017
And the wrestling world about lost their collective mind. And just when most fans had stopped salivating from the prospect, “The Villain” Marty Scurll, fellow Bullet Club member, stoked the flames a bit:
#villain pic.twitter.com/gl9ixnvnil
— Marty Scurll (@MartyScurll) August 9, 2017
Of most anticipated wrestling comebacks, CM Punk tops most fans’ lists. The Straight Edge Superstar is responsible for one of the most memorable moments in pro wrestling this decade, when he dropped his now famous “pipe bomb” in 2011, delivering a scathing worked-shoot promo calling out Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman (when neither were with the company, and both were no-no names), Triple H and Stephanie, and of course Vince McMahon himself in a promo that set the wrestling world ablaze like not seen in years.
His acrimonious split with WWE in early 2014 is the stuff of legend, and though it seems highly unlikely CM Punk will ever return to the company that made him a household name, wrestling fans will likely never stop fantasy booking a return of the Voice of the Voiceless, and pray they one day hear that static followed by Cult of Personality on their TV again.
Shortly after quitting WWE and ostensibly retiring as a pro wrestler, CM Punk tried his hand in the octagon as he trained to become a UFC fighter. He lost to newcomer Mickey Gall in just over two minutes to a rear naked choke in what can only technically be called a fight. UFC president Dana White, despite signing CM Punk to multiple fights, stated that maybe CM Punk “probably shouldn’t have his next fight in the UFC.”
Though WWE would reportedly welcome Punk back with welcome arms, he is a man of conviction and exceedingly stubborn, meaning even if he got the itch to compete in the squared circle again, it probably wouldn’t be for Vince McMahon.
That doesn’t mean the door is closed to CM Punk wrestling again forever, though. Though there aren’t any indications Punk is considering lacing up his boots and X’ing up his hands again, Ring of Honor has expressed interest (though, what company wouldn’t have interest?).
ROH would be a perfect fit for several reasons. To circle back to the opening of this article, Ring of Honor serves in many ways as the de facto United States home of New Japan Pro Wrestling talents such as, yes, Bullet Club. And though CM Punk became a household name in WWE, he cut his chops in Ring of Honor against the likes of Raven and Samoa Joe in the early 2000s. The original “pipe bomb” and “Summer of Punk” even happened in the promotion.
It stands to reason Punk would have a soft spot for the number 3 wrestling promotion in America. He’s also been friendly with the Young Bucks on Twitter (until he abruptly stopped using Twitter about three months ago), and Bullet Club is about the hottest thing in pro wrestling that don’t have Vince McMahon’s fingerprints on it, so joining the Biz Cliz in Ring of Honor makes about as much sense as anything else.
Of course, money talks. And so does displaying your craft on the largest stage possible. So if the self-proclaimed Best in the World does ever feel the need to showcase his pro wrasslin’ talents again, it’s entirely possible that a massive payday and a guaranteed Wrestlemania main event may be all it takes to mend those fences. Time–and oodles of cash–heal all wounds, especially in the world of professional wrestling. If Bret Hart, Bruno Sammartino, and the Ultimate Warrior can come home to Stamford, so can Punk.
But if that day never comes, seeing him tear up the second biggest promotion on the planet with the rest of Bullet Club would just be, well…too sweet.
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