CM Punk being quietly pulled from WWE’s upcoming European tour advertising immediately sparked speculation online — but a new backstage update claims the company sees the situation as nothing major.
Punk was recently removed from promotional material for WWE’s European Summer Tour along with several upcoming June episodes of WWE Raw despite previously being advertised for the full overseas run. The sudden change became even more noticeable because Punk has already been absent from WWE television since the April 20 episode of RAW.
Now, according to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE sources are insisting there’s no deeper issue behind the scenes connected to Punk’s disappearance from the advertising.
“Punk has been removed from the advertising from the European tour and several other Raw dates in June. We were told there is nothing more to this than a schedule change.”
Punk had originally been promoted for the European tour beginning May 28 in Liverpool and continuing through the June 22 edition of RAW in London before quietly disappearing from the listings.
The situation fueled even more discussion after Punk was also absent from this week’s RAW and WWE Backlash despite heavy fan speculation linking him to Danhausen’s teased mystery partner storyline.
At this point, though, WWE sources are pushing the idea that the situation is simply tied to scheduling adjustments and not anything more serious. As things currently stand, Punk’s next officially advertised WWE appearance remains the July 6 edition of RAW in Chicago.
Do you think CM Punk’s WWE absence really is just a simple schedule change, or do you believe something bigger is happening behind the scenes? Leave your thoughts and feedback in the comments below.
