Vince McMahon Comments on CM Punk’s Absence From WWE Events

During a conference call with WWE shareholders on Feb. 20, World Wrestling Entertainment broke its silence on CM Punk’s current status with the company. WWE CEO Vince McMahon himself commented on Punk’s absence from recent and future WWE events, saying that Punk is merely on leave, confirming that Punk has not been released from the company just yet. 

When asked about Punk’s status by a WWE investor, McMahon did claim that Punk is one of the company’s top performers. He then explained his absence by saying,

“He’s taking a sabbatical, let’s just put it that way.”

While no one knows for sure if Punk’s “sabbatical” was encouraged by WWE officials or initiated solely by Punk walking out on the company, McMahon’s words prove that there is some hope that Punk will again appear on WWE programming in the near future. As previously reported, Punk claimed he was “going home” just before “Monday Night Raw” aired on Jan. 27 and has not performed or appeared for the company since.

Punk has also remained silent on Twitter about his current status. The most recent activity seen of the “Second City Saint” was fan captured images of Punk arriving and picking up his girlfriend, WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee, from a Chicago Airport on Feb. 12.

Since news broke of Punk’s departure and removal from all upcoming WWE Live Events, multiple stories have emerged about why Punk had “taken his ball and gone home.” Punk himself had disclosed a number of growing frustrations that he has with WWE management and Creative on Jan. 24 at a Wizard World Comic-Con event. Other stories claim he suffered a concussion on Jan. 26 at the “Royal Rumble” PPV, was unhappy with his current run, disliked being placed in a match with HHH at WrestleMania XXX, and more.

Punk could have seriously felt ALL of these things and decided to leave, and McMahon could just be saving face by saying he is on “sabbatical.” Perhaps McMahon himself is trying to bring Punk back in and won’t let him go until things between the two parties can be worked out, but until Punk and/or the company as a whole reveals his future, all stories about why, when, where, or how are merely speculation.