Triple H on Rumors CM Punk Might Return to WWE Some Day: 'Never Say Never'

Triple H left the door open for CM Punk returning to WWE in some form but acknowledged nothing is imminent between the promotion and the former champion. 

Punk confirmed on Collider Live he had auditioned for WWE Backstage, a studio show that will air on FS1. He added he has interacted with representatives of Fox rather than WWE throughout the process.

Triple H addressed the matter on the SI Media Podcast, using a phrase familiar to fans whenever an exiled wrestler is concerned:

"Look, I've read about that as well and to be clear, Fox is doing this show and it's their show and it's something that they're doing to talk about the WWE Universe and everything going on it. They have a long list of people that they've been interviewing, but as far for us, one of the things this company has shown over and over again is 'never say never.'"

The King of Kings did dampen the enthusiasm somewhat by saying the matter if "probably a long way from coming true."

Punk hasn't set foot inside a WWE ring since the 2014 Royal Rumble. Later that year, he aired his grievances with the company in an appearance on Colt Cabana's Art of Wrestling podcast.

Hearing Triple H speak diplomatically about Punk and at least entertain the idea of him coming back is notable. More than the fact Triple H is a powerful executive in WWE, Punk made no secret of the animosity between him and The Game during his interview with Cabana (h/t Cageside Seats' Gene Mrosko) (warning: contains profanity):

"I said a lot of s--t in there. I told them again and Hunter, he was gritting his teeth and I knew... he never liked me. It's one of those situations where you always hear those stories in the dirt sheets about 'Hunter says this about Punk' and all this negative stuff but me and him in a room together? Never any good vibes. Always negative, the way he would always look sideways at me, the way he always treated me."

Although fans would obviously love to see Punk wrestling again, him coming back to work as an on-air studio analyst is the most plausible outcome.

At no point has Punk expressed a desire to get in the squared circle. Joining the crew for WWE Backstage would allow for him to be in the wrestling business without actually wrestling. And his interactions with WWE officials would probably be kept to a minimum.

Having said that, nobody will be surprised if Punk shows up Friday for SmackDown's premiere on Fox.