CM Punk Details How Vince McMahon Ruined Past WWE Return
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
CM Punk has revealed new details about a secret meeting he had with Vince McMahon and Triple H to discuss a potential WWE return, years before he actually came back at Survivor Series 2023.
In a new interview, Punk detailed a "handshake agreement" that was made, and how it all fell apart.
Speaking with Robbie Fox on the My Mom's Basement podcast, the former WWE Champion shared the story of the clandestine meeting. He said it took place in 2018 or 2019, long before his eventual return to the company.
CM Punk's Secret WWE Meeting
Punk explained that after his agents had been in contact with WWE, Vince McMahon began calling him personally to "eliminate the middleman." This led to a face-to-face meeting in Atlantic City with both Vince McMahon and Triple H.
"We had a meeting and we had a handshake agreement and then he ghosted me," Punk revealed (H/T to Fightful). "So, that's why it didn't happen. Unbelievable."
He added that this story corrects the internet perception that he tried to return to WWE and was rejected, which then led him to take the analyst job on FOX's WWE Backstage show. He clarified that the failed return plan is what led to the FOX opportunity, not the other way around.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 27: CM Punk speaks during WWE Monday Night RAW at State Farm Arena on January 27, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 27: CM Punk speaks during WWE Monday Night RAW at State Farm Arena on January 27, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
WWE/Getty Images
The Infamous 2014 WWE Exit
The fact that a meeting even took place was significant given the circumstances of Punk's departure from WWE in 2014. He famously walked out of the company following the Royal Rumble that year, citing creative burnout and serious health concerns that he felt were being ignored.
His grievances were aired in a legendary podcast interview that created a deep and bitter rift between him and the company, which included lawsuits and public animosity that lasted for years.
More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation
The fallout from his exit made a potential return seem impossible for nearly a decade, which is why this secret meeting was such a monumental step.
Mending Fences With Triple H
The meeting was also a pivotal moment in Punk's historically contentious relationship with Triple H. During his first run, Punk was very public about his belief that Triple H never saw him as a top star and actively worked against his creative direction.
Punk revealed that this secret meeting was the first time he and Triple H began to repair their broken relationship. "That would have been probably the first time that me and Triple H probably started chipping it away at any problems or drama that we had in the past," he said. "That was the first instance."
While that return plan ultimately fell through after McMahon "ghosted" him, the initial conversation was a crucial first step. It laid the groundwork for the working relationship with Triple H that would eventually facilitate his shocking and successful return at Survivor Series 2023.
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