CM Punk was reportedly backstage ahead of the April 24 episode of WWE RAW.
Mike Johnson of PWInsider reports that Punk, who is under contract with AEW, was backstage at Monday’s episode of WWE Raw, which was held at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois. Per Johnson, sources stated that Punk spoke with The Miz and “cleared the air”. The report also noted that the talent who saw Punk greeted him warmly, as most of them hadn’t seen him since he left the company in 2014. There was also word that he briefly spoke with Triple H.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select subsequently reported that sources indeed saw Punk speaking with talent. He was reportedly asked to leave by WWE’s head of security, Jim Kelly, though that aspect of the situation has not been confirmed. Per Sapp, “numerous wrestlers: in WWE believed Punk’s presence was a publicity stunt for a return to AEW.
Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer tweeted that Punk was asked to leave by security, and Johnson wrote that Punk’s exit from the building was a Vince McMahon call, likely because Punk is under contract with another company. Punk reportedly left WWE RAW without incident, and some AEW talent were said to be in disbelief when they heard about Punk being at RAW.
Sapp also wrote that in asking WWE about the situation in an official capacity, they were told that they don’t have that information yet.
WrestleZone will provide more information as it becomes available.