Nick Khan on potential CM Punk WWE return: ‘We only have respect for Phil’
While speaking with ESPN about the WWE-Endeavor deal, Nick Khan was asked if WWE would be interested in CM Punk (Phil Brooks) making a return to the company.
Khan didn’t offer much of an answer either way. Khan said they have respect for Punk and wish him nothing but the best.
“Listen, we only have respect for Phil,” Khan responded. “We appreciate his run here. We appreciate what he did and tried to do with the UFC. Not many people can actually get in there and do what he did. So, when we have respect for Phil, we wish him nothing but the best.”
Punk’s AEW contract was terminated with cause following a physical backstage incident that took place at All In. His termination was announced on September 2 after an internal investigation into the incident.
WWE’s Zelina Vega, Finn Balor, and Drew McIntyre have also been asked about Punk during recent media interviews. Vega said she would “absolutely” like to see Punk back in WWE, while Balor and McIntyre didn’t disclose much about their thoughts.
The Ringer Wrestling Show asked Balor if he would like to work a program with Punk if Punk returned to WWE. Balor said: “I’d be interested in wrestling a broomstick if someone’s going to pay me money. So, show me the money. Money talks.”
McIntyre told Sportskeeda WrestleBinge: “I don’t make those decisions. I watch what I say in interviews. But he’s certainly controversial and he gets people talking. I’ll leave it at that.”
Punk last wrestled for WWE when he walked out of the company in 2014.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.