The last time we saw CM Punk in a WWE ring was January 2014 when he competed in the Royal Rumble match. Longtime unhappiness within the company, a series of nagging injuries, and his lack of interest in facing Triple H at WrestleMania all contributed to his decision to leave WWE, and he hasn't stepped into the squared circle since.
During a recent interview with Barstool Sports' Pardon My Take podcast (via Wrestling Inc.), Triple H was once again asked about Punk possibly returning to WWE and revealed that he actually spoke to the one-time Best in the World in the past couple of years.
"Last time I talked to [Punk]? A year-and-a-half...a year and three quarters ago?" The Game revealed. "A funny thing that people constantly will say, when his return is or...but in some way, I don't know whether he does or not, but that has to be what he wants. When people talk about, they go, 'Make the call!' What says if we make the call he wants to answer? What says if we make the call he doesn't go, like, 'Yeah, I'm not interested in doing that anymore.' Maybe he's just done with it."
"I think that those are conversations that only those people can directly answer. I think if he wants to do it, either we would get word and we would have those conversations or he would make a call, or you know, anything like that, but there has to be a desire there to do something like that. This business is too all in to just go like, 'Ehhh, alright. I'll do it.'"
It's likely Triple H spoke to Punk around the time he signed a deal with FOX to be a host on WWE Backstage (a decision which seemingly showed a willingness to return to the company). The former WWE Superstar didn't shy away from making his feelings about Triple H known during that Colt Cabana podcast, but it sounds like they may have buried the hatched...to some extent, anyway.
If and when Punk does return to WWE, then it will be huge, but it remains unclear whether there's any real interest there (and if it does happen, it should be in front of a live crowd).
As always, we'll keep you guys updated.