WWE, AEW rumor roundup: CM Punk interest, Sasha Banks contract

This week’s WWE and AEW rumor roundup looks at the latest surrounding CM Punk, a report on Sasha Banks’s contract situation, and a huge return for SmackDown’s premier on FOX.

With AEW on television starting this Wednesday night, WWE SmackDown moving to FOX, and a boom of wrestling at promotions like Impact and NJPW, there isn’t a better time to be a professional wrestling fan. And that’s especially true if AEW and SmackDown shine in the spotlight this week.

Here are the latest AEW and WWE rumors.

CM Punk to be in studio for WWE?

Dave Meltzer said on a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, as relayed by Cageside Seats’s Sean Rueter, that AEW felt disrespected by comments CM Punk made in an interview with ESPN reporter Marc Raimondi. Punk told Raimondi that AEW hadn’t offered him anything concrete, but merely communicated their contract offers in text.

If so, AEW come off as potentially unwise from a business perspective for not wanting to benefit from Punk, who could stand to make the next promotion he works with a lot of money.

At the same time, AEW have made it clear that they don’t want to prioritize wrestlers from the past, and Punk is a grizzled veteran, despite a comeback being a fresh story. And for his part, Cody Rhodes did clarify in an interview with Collider Live that AEW made genuine inroads with Punk beyond texts. As always, every situation is complex.

Punk left wrestling because the sport had made him miserable, which must have been a devastating realization for someone who loved wrestling to the point where he became a larger-than-life figure within it.

It seems more and more likely that Punk could be making a comeback, which is well within his right to do. And if he does make a comeback into wrestling, it may not be as a wrestler.

Punk auditioned for a studio role on the new Renee Young and Booker T-led “WWE Backstage”, as reported by PWInsider.com’s Mike Johnson.

The exciting show is set to premier on FOX at 11 p.m. ET as part of SmackDown’s new TV deal with the network, and Punk would undoubtedly make it more exciting. We’ve heard him on commentary before, so he could be a natural fit.

It’s crazy to think that in 2019, we are seriously talking about CM Punk returning to wrestling…as a commentator for a WWE show and not a wrestler in AEW. But it could be a great transition for Punk. And hey, perhaps he’s rekindled his love for wrestling after all.

The question is, as he signed on with WWE/FOX for this role? If not, would he have interest in another role with WWE ahead of other rumors that he’s looking for a Goldberg-type deal?

Wrestling is wild, huh?

I wouldn’t put much stock into the CM Punk rumors that involve WWE but not FOX, though, since Sportskeeda’s Tom Colohue reported that there is “no interest” from WWE in hiring Punk. So if there is interest, then I would assume that it is interest from FOX in hiring Punk for a studio role that relates to WWE.

The Usos returning for FOX?

The Usos are one of the best tag teams in wrestling, whether we’re evaluating them on their mic skills or in-ring work. Jimmy and Jey haven’t wrestled since July 29, when they participated in a Triple Threat match for the Raw Tag Team Championships.

But it sounds like they’ll be back this Friday for SmackDown’s premier on FOX, as WrestlingInc.com’s Raj Giri reports the exclusive news of their return.

Fans love watching The Usos go to work in the ring, so their return could be one of many huge splashes on a SmackDown episode that also includes a WWE Title match between Kofi Kingston and Brock Lesnar.