We never expected CM Punk to step foot in a WWE ring following his shock exit in 2014. However, after things didn't work out for him in AEW (their fault, not his), it was only a matter of time before he returned to the company where he first made a name for himself.
Despite suffering a torn tricep during this January's Royal Rumble match, things have been going well for the Second City Saint since returning at Survivor Series: WarGames last November.
Now, ahead of his match with Drew McIntyre at SummerSlam (which will see Seth Rollins serve as Special Guest Referee), reports are swirling that Punk is looking to restructure his deal (he's currently got a 3-year deal with WWE).
"So there’s the story going around about CM Punk renegotiating his contract. It’s really overblown," Dave Meltzer said in response to the reports. "What happened when CM Punk came in, they had a short-term deal which is expiring now. Now there are rollovers in the deal, so there’s not a hurry that they have to sign him because the deal goes longer."
"But they knew all along that right around now would be when they would be renegotiating any deals. It was kind of known that that was going to happen now. Everyone is getting along fine," he continued. "There’s nothing wrong with it or anything like that. It’s a story, but it’s not a story that everybody thinks it is...they’re just hammering down the terms that everyone knew they were going to do at a certain point. Hopefully, [he] doesn’t get hurt again, obviously. But he’s in a good position."
Since then, other reliable sources have chimed in, with PWInsider.com explaining that Punk and WWE did indeed come to terms on a 3-year deal when he returned in Chicago. Apparently, "WWE are the ones who approached Punk about working out a new deal, and they are seeking to lock in what was described as a 'bigger' deal (two sources used that terminology) and stated it was something the company initiated, not Punk."
Why? "New world. Huge numbers. Merch and socials." WrestleVotes has also shared the following update:
In other words, WWE is very happy with Punk and, rumour has it, he's looking to spend the remainder of his wrestling career - and beyond - in the company...