After he was unceremoniously fired by AEW following a backstage altercation with Jack Perry at All In, CM Punk's in-ring future has become a hot-button topic.
The Best in the World has yet to comment on his departure from the company and many believe Punk will sue his former employers for the manner in which he was dismissed (not to mention Tony Khan's laughable claims that Punk put his life in danger). Rumour has it, though, that he's keen to return to WWE.
Today, WWE and UFC were brought under the same umbrella by parent company Endeavor to become TKO Group Holdings. WWE President Nick Khan spoke with ESPN about the merger and was asked about the possibility of Punk returning.
"Listen, we only have respect for Phil," he said. "We appreciate his run here. We appreciate what he did and tried to do with the UFC. Not many people can actually get in there and do what he did. So, when we have respect for Phil, we wish him nothing but the best."
That sounds somewhat promising and we'd be shocked if WWE isn't mulling over the ratings boost a wrestler like Punk would give them at a time when ratings are key (the company is looking to secure new television rights deals for RAW, SmackDown, and NXT).
When this can happen and whether WWE is willing to take a risk on Punk is another matter. Helping matters is the fact the former AEW "Real" World Champion wouldn't face the same sort of unprofessionalism he did in Khan's company, so we're definitely not counting out a return.
Earlier today, Khan also sent out an email to WWE talent about what they should expect from TKO. You can read that in full below.
This morning, we announced that WWE and the UFC have officially come together to form TKO Group Holdings, creating a new premium sports and entertainment company. TKO will begin trading today on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "TKO."
A big thank you to all of you for the hard work and commitment that helped us achieve this milestone.
As we now begin this transition, we will be in touch with more details. In the interim, we will be communicating with each of you regarding new policies and procedures. HR will also be available to answer any and all questions you may have.
We know when companies undergo change it can feel like uncertain times. The special culture that WWE has cultivated over its long history is what has allowed our business to flourish and we will be preserving that as WWE and UFC both continue to grow together as part of TKO.
As always, we'll continue to focus on the work throughout this transition and make sure to communicate with all of you throughout the process. Thank you, Nick Khan.