CM Punk 'quits the WWE' just weeks before Wrestlemania 30
CM Punk, one of the WWE’s biggest stars, appears to have retired from the company, reportedly telling bosses he is ‘going home’, being removed from future wrestling events and thanking fans for their ‘support’ on Twitter.
Latest on CM Punk and WWE
WWE stopped following CM Punk on Twitter this afternoon. Considering they follow a number of discarded characters (Dr. Shelby) and WWE NXT talents who have since been released, that should tell you all you need to know.
CM Punk has been the number one trend on Twitter for most of the day worldwide, so that should tell you what a big story the situation has become. WWE has yet to publicly acknowledge it.
In regard to the TMZ.com report that Batista was the reason Punk walked out, we are told by WWE sources that it was nothing to do with Batista personally and it wasn’t him that caused the decision. It was more a collection of issues including burnout, injuries, a difference in what the company saw as a big push for Punk and what he felt was one (specifically workingTriple H at Wrestlemania), and just an overall frustration with how he was perceived overall. It was not a case of Batista came in, so Punk walked out we are told.
TNA Takes Advantage Of CM Punk Story, Punk In TNA Video
TNA is taking advantage of the CM Punk story by airing Punk’s early years in the company on their YouTube channel for free this week. They are offering over four hours of footage featuring his TNA matches from 2003-2004, a three-part series featuring over a dozen matches vs. Raven, Shane Douglas, Abyss, Terry Funk, Sandman, Sabu and more.
CM Punk’s Next Move?
The FOX Sports website featured an interview with Rener Gracie, who trains CM Punk in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu about Punk exiting WWE and potentially going into the Mixed Martial Arts world at this link. “With the little time he’s had with me spread out over so many years, he’s made remarkable progress,” Gracie told FOX Sports. “There’s no telling how successful he would be if he devoted himself full time to the training.” Gracie described Punk as a sponge when it came to learning the MMA artform and said he “would have no limit. He has the intangibles.”
Meanwhile, Colt Cabana posted the following tongue in cheek comment on Twitter, obviously in response to all the questions he’s received
TNA President Dixie Carter re-Tweeted Bully Ray’s challenge for CM Punk to face him in TNA. I don’t think that’s going to happen.
Fans Demand CM Punk At NXT Taping, Signs Confiscated & More News
The WWE NXT taping taking place right now in Winter Park, Florida is becoming a bit of a headache for WWE. For those who don’t know, Full Sail Live is a really small, intimate (and truth be told, awesome) venue to see wrestling in. Well, that usually means that sound carries and you can see and hear everything in the venue. Well, we’ve gotten word that there have been a ton of CM Punk chants, which the company has to be thrilled with.
We have also gotten reports from our old pal JP that CM Punk signs are being confiscated from security at the taping and that at one point, they counted down to the opening of a TV episode asking fans to chant “NXT” and well, there was a sizeable Punk chant from some of the fans instead.
If the Punk situation doesn’t get sorted out, the NXT stuff really makes me wonder what’s going to happen when WWE runs Raw in Chicago on 3/3.
Further Update on what happened at the NXT Taping
WWE is taping several weeks of NXT television tonight in Winter Park, FL at their Full Sail University location. According to PWInsider.com, loud CM Punk chants started before the taping began, and carried into the event itself. According to a Wrestlezone reader who sent in a tip, the show was actually delayed until the chants for Punk calmed down; at least enough to drown out with music and commentary.
Additionally, those working the event have been confiscating CM Punks signs from fans in the crowd. This has to be one of the first times WWE has ever taken signs for an employee that is still technically under contract with the company.
CM Punk pulled from WrestleMania Axxess lineup
WWE has removed C.M. Punk from the WrestleMania Axxess lineup. Fans who purchased tickets for his April 5 VIP autograph session were emailed and informed that Ric Flair would be replacing Punk. Fans who purchased tickets to meet Punk now have the option of taking a refund, exchanging their ticket for one of the other VIP sessions, or attending the session with Flair.
