-- CM Punk has obviously been in the news over the past couple of weeks, first by engaging in a physical confrontation with Jack Perry at All In and subsequently getting released days later prior to All Out. This comes following last year's incident at All In when Punk got into another backstage brawl with members of The Elite, which led to serious rumors at the time that he was leaving AEW.
-- Fightfulselect.com has published a report indicating that while Punk returning to WWE seemed like an impossibility, the "idea was on the table" from Punk's end last year when his relationship with AEW was headed south. While Punk was sidelined after undergoing surgery, he was away from AEW and on shaky ground despite regular contact with AEW President Tony Khan. At the time, with his AEW status unclear, Punk was reportedly open to the idea of leaving AEW for WWE and specifically, he wanted to make a surprise return at the 2023 Royal Rumble. It's unclear if there was any mutual interest from WWE's side nor is it known if AEW was even serious about giving Punk his release back then.
-- One of the rumors ideas that Punk apparently had made its way back to WWE talent and it would center around the idea that Punk would not only return at the Royal Rumble, but head onto WrestleMania to face the person who eliminated him in the 30-man Rumble and the word internally within WWE was that Kevin Owens was a name that was thrown around as a potential Punk opponent. The two would have presumably headlined Night One of WrestleMania.
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