CM Punk returned to WWE following the main event of Saturday’s Survivor Series premium live event. Punk departed from AEW following All In when he was released due to a backstage fight with Jack Perry.
The lead-up
This happened after there had been countless reports that WWE was not bringing him back and was not interested in doing that. There had also been Punk references on television.
Most of those reports were true as Triple H said at the post-event press conference that the deal came together quickly. Top talent was outright told that Punk wasn’t coming in for Survivor Series when they asked earlier in the week.
The deal
While speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted WWE President Nick Khan made the call to bring back Punk with the support of Triple H, but Vince McMahon didn’t have a say.
“He signed a multi-year deal. The deal came together about ten days ago. It was a secret from almost everyone. Paul Levesque [Triple H] said the TKO people found out by watching the TV, which I thought was ridiculous until I asked around and heard the exact same thing.”
Meltzer was told the TKO people are there to focus on the business and make money, not creative. This would’ve been similar to how the UFC would operate.
Meltzer continued, “It was a Nick Khan call in the end. Vince had nothing to do with it. Paul Levesque obviously had a lot to do with it, and those were the two guys who were the point guys.” Meltzer was told that if WWE felt like there was a demand for Punk to come back, they wouldn’t fight it.
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