While WWE insiders have repeatedly denied reports that CM Punk's return to the company is imminent, the latest rumour to do the rounds online suggests Phil Brooks is now one step closer to signing with the sports entertainment giant.
According to the @BoozerRasslin insider account, "Punk was recently scheduled for a call with few board members. Backstage feeling is [it's] happening. Doesn’t mean [it's] done. I am waiting for the follow-up on the call. It should be the last step before things go down. Now pace yourselves."
"Those few weeks will be ruckus. Lots of teases on TV and social. They will milk it like crazy. So enjoy it until I get a solid answer."
Survivor Series takes place in Chicago later this month and that would be the perfect place for Punk to show up. Other insiders have refuted this claim, going so far as to say fans should completely forget about seeing the Best in the World at the upcoming PLE. These conflicting reports could be exactly what WWE wants as it's only serving to increase excitement and speculation online.
Punk also seems to be having fun with the rumours, dropping hints on social media and even getting his Cage Fury Fighting Championship colleagues in on the joke (one recently referred to "total nonstop action" while talking to Punk, while the other had a WWE logo on his jacket).
For what it's worth, most within WWE seem open to Punk making his return, including SmackDown commentator Corey Graves.
"Punk was always great to me when I was coming up. We were really, really, really close," he recently told Kurt Angle. "Remember I told the story at the beginning of the show about how I missed my son being born? Punk was in Pittsburgh at the time and was actually the first guy who held my son after he was born. We were tight."
"Fast forward a few years, I don't really know what happened. We sort of fell out for one reason or another. I said some disparaging things in a very public, unprofessional manner. We haven't spoken since prior to then."
"If it's right for business, who am I to say no? I'm a pro at the end of the day," Graves added. "I would happily do whatever is needed. I would shake the man's hand and move on and see what life holds."
We'll see what happens, but if Punk's music doesn't hit at Survivor Series, a lot of fans in Chicago are going to be very disappointed...