Shawn Michaels Wants CM Punk’s “Star Power” In WWE NXT
Shawn Michaels opened up about why he’d love to have CM Punk in WWE NXT.
Ahead of the September 2nd episode of Collision, it was announced that AEW had decided to terminate CM Punk’s contract with cause after he was involved in a backstage altercation with Jack Perry at All In the previous week. Tony Khan took responsibility for the decision, saying it was made after unanimous advice from a disciplinary council as well as legal representation.
Naturally, fans have begun to wonder whether Punk might finally make a return to WWE in the wake of his being fired from AEW. Punk’s 2014 exit from the sports entertainment giant was contentious, and the company famously sent him termination papers on the day he married fellow WWE star AJ Lee.
While Punk’s exit from WWE was a heated one, however, he did speak with Triple H earlier this year when he visited WWE Raw in Chicago, and the decision as to whether or not he’ll be welcomed back is said to be in the hands of Triple H and Nick Khan.
“Who Doesn’t Take That Kind Of Star Power?” – Shawn Michaels On CM Punk
Speaking on a media call ahead of NXT No Mercy, Shawn Michaels was asked by Nick Hausman of Haus of Wrestling whether he’d welcome the Second City Savior to WWE’s third brand. Michaels was unequivocal, saying he’d love to work with Punk if given the option.
“I always enjoy working with Phil. Again, I didn’t get to do it much, but I don’t know. I’ll say this. I understood him. I think there were, whether you want to say there were similarities in us. Look, I can’t lie. He, once again, we were at TV, and he once pulled out of his wallet, right there on the spot, a little autograph that I guess I had apparently signed for him in a hotel that he still had. So, I’ve always liked him.
“And I understand he’s a different kind of cat and can sometimes be challenging to get along with people, but again, that’s probably why I like him because I suffer from the same thing. So, but still, look, obviously, that’s for people to decide, higher up on the food chain than I am.
“He’s a guy that does numbers and makes money. I think that would be a risk, reward ratio that I’m sure, from a company standpoint, they’d have to consider, but when it comes to, would we take him in NXT and have him on our television? Are you kidding me? Of course, I would. I just don’t think anybody would let me.”
Michaels had one more thing to say about Punk after being thanked for his time:
“Who doesn’t take that kind of star power?”