CM Punk is not leaving WWE for AEW, and there is no real sign he wants to, according to Dave Meltzer. Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer addressed the wave of online speculation tying Punk’s absence to a possible jump back to All Elite Wrestling and shut it down directly.
“Look, he’s not leaving and he’s not going back,” Meltzer said. “I don’t want to say never because you never say never. It’s not happening now.”
Meltzer’s point was that the chatter is being driven by engagement, not reporting. He singled out a corner of wrestling media for fueling Punk departure rumors because the topic generates clicks, even with no credible evidence of a falling out or an exit.
The “never say never” line came with historical context. Meltzer pointed to Steve Austin and Bruiser Brody as examples of talent whose relationships with promotions looked permanently broken at the time, only for business to bring everyone back to the table.
“No bridge is burned forever, and people will forget and people will, let’s just work it out,” Meltzer said.
The Money Player Standard
Meltzer’s core argument is that Punk operates under a different set of rules than the rest of the roster because of what he draws. He described Punk as a “money player” whose presence moves viewership, which makes WWE walking away from him highly unlikely short of a genuinely untenable situation.
“He’s a money player and it can’t be denied,” Meltzer said. “That’s what got him back was that he’s a money player and he draws money, and that’s why he’ll be back.”
He also acknowledged that personal grudges exist inside the company, but framed them as a normal part of the workplace. People who may not like Punk still work with him because that is the job, the same way it functions in any business.
What WWE Actually Has Planned
The reported direction lines up with Meltzer’s read. Punk has been off WWE television since losing the World Heavyweight Championship to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42, with his most recent appearance coming on the April 20 edition of Raw, where he teased a program with Cody Rhodes.
In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Meltzer reported that Punk was taken off TV because WWE had no creative ready for him, not because of any backstage blowup, and that he is expected back once his next angle is set to begin.
The current plan, per that report, is for Punk to return on SmackDown as part of a roster balancing act, with Raw already stacked with Reigns, Seth Rollins, The Usos, Jacob Fatu, Oba Femi, Logan Paul and Bron Breakker. On SmackDown, Punk would slot in near Cody Rhodes, Gunther and Rhea Ripley, with Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre also expected to factor into the top of the brand.
WWE has advertised Punk for the July 6 episode of Raw in the Chicago area. Meltzer noted that while that is a Raw date rather than a SmackDown one, the hometown setting makes it a logical spot for his return regardless of which brand he ultimately lands on.