Former WWE star Sean Waltman says he expects to see CM Punk at All Elite Wrestling's inaugural TNT TV show.
Punk has been the subject of AEW speculation ever since the promotion started and things really could go either way. He recently revealed receiving an offer via text message from the new company, something Cody Rhodes claims is a misquote as it pertains to its reporting. And the AEW man also says he thinks the ex straight edge superstar will return to WWE.
However, Waltman reckons Punk will have signed a contract with Tony Khan's promotion by the time it debuts on TNT in October.
“Well, that’s a hell of a score for Starrcast and I was surprised he wasn’t there for the first one,” Waltman said on the latest installment of his X-PAC 1-2-360 podcast (h/t Sescoops.com). “I would be surprised if he doesn’t show up in AEW. I have said this (before). I have been saying this since they announced AEW. I wouldn’t be surprised if he shows up on the very first (TV) show.”
Cody Rhodes Believes CM Punk Will Return To WWE
Punk seems content to let this play out long as he possibly can but he claims he's very doubtful over getting back into professional wrestling this year - in fact, he expects 2020 to end before that happens.
If he is to join a company, though, AEW seems like it would be the choice, given the way things went with WWE. The 40-year-old left Vince McMahon's company in January of 2014 but the company officially "fired" him some months down the road. He was said to have been disgruntled over never being handed the opportunity to feature as a WrestleMania headliner, while complaints over various injuries and a near-fatal injection played a role too.
Until a decision is made, fans will have to settle for a Starrcast III appearance. Punk is still contracted to UFC, although Dana White says he's run out of opportunities to prove his worth and is pretty much done. A return to WWE just doesn't seem all that probable and it's probably just Cody playing mind games. A stint at AEW is way more likely.