Update: CM Punk Could Return Sooner Than Previously Reported

As reported earlier, there has been strong speculation that CM Punk would be taking over three months off, as he was said to be returning around SummerSlam.

It now seems that The Second City Saint won't be leaving us for quite that long.

According to wrestlinginc.com, Punk is advertised to appear much sooner than August:

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There were reports that Punk may be off until around SummerSlam, however WWE is advertising Punk for several events this summer.

WWE has removed Punk from all Raw tapings before May 13th. He is currently scheduled to appear at the May 13th Raw taping, and most of the following Raw tapings throughout the summer. Also, while he is not listed for the Extreme Rules pay-per-view on May 19th, he is appearing on the vent screens on WWE.com for the Payback, Money in the Bank and SummerSlam pay-per-vewis.

Punk has also been removed from most Raw house shows. However, he is advertised for the Raw overseas tour in Japan and Australia in early July.

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Four months is a long time for a superstar to be off television, particularly considering WWE's current roster which is low on big star power.

If these advertisements are true and not outdated, it's good to know we won't be without The Best in the World for too long.

However, it's hard to argue that CM Punk hasn't earned himself a big break, and one has to wonder if a month is long enough for him to rest his body and mind.

Either way, time off is good. It allows his character to remain fresh while giving the performer valuable time to heal. 

Whether it's in one month or four, look forward to The Second City Saint returning in explosive fashion.

Follow Daniel on Twitter @dvanboom