The world of pro wrestling news has seemingly run on CM Punk fuel the past few weeks, as rumors regarding his return to AEW have swirled, along with his potential involvement in AEW’s new Saturday night Collision program. Punk’s return to the All Elite fold has not come without its controversy, of course, as it appears that issues still remain between The Second City Saint and The Elite following their backstage altercation at AEW All Out.
In a recent interview with Forbes, WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin gave his thoughts on Punk amid the speculation he could be headed back to the ring.
“Man, I just sent Punk a message last night,” Austin began. “I didn’t know he had torn his triceps. I haven’t been following anything. I don’t know what’s going on with that. Me and Phil trade messages every here and there. We rarely talk, probably once or twice a year. I love the guy, and I don’t even know if I mentored him because Punk’s probably a lot smarter than I am.
“Great promo guy, great worker, he’s got his own thing going and we’re just friends. So I think I remember there’s a picture of myself and him from Chicago, my favorite town to work in, my favorite building. And I guess he had come down to where we were all hanging out. Maybe he looked up to me back in the day, but I don’t know if I so much mentored him because I think he paid his own dues. He learned it the way he did and he got over on his own merits.
“The fact that maybe I could have been somewhat of an influence would be flattering if that were the case. But he’s made his own career. But I don’t even know what’s going on with the current situation or what they’re doing because right now I rarely watch any of the product. I watch all the pay-per-views and major pay-per-views, but he’s certainly carved out a hellacious career in his own right by his own right.”