WWE Rumors on CM Punk’s Contract, Pat McAfee’s Uncooked Standing, Bobby Lashley, MVP

Bleacher Report catches you up on the newest information from the WWE Universe.

WWE Reportedly Approached Punk About New Contract

Based mostly on the success and recognition CM Punk has achieved within the eight months since returning to WWE, and firm is reportedly already seeking to restructure his contract.

In accordance with PWInsider.com (h/t Nikunj Walia of Ringside Information), WWE just lately approached Punk about negotiating a brand new deal, and it was described by a number of sources as a “greater” contract.

Punk reportedly signed a three-year pact with WWE when he returned to the promotion again in November, that means he’s underneath contract by means of November 2026. PWInsider.com added that prior experiences about Punk having solely signed a brief deal had been incorrect.

In January 2014, Punk left WWE on unhealthy phrases, and he remained out of professional wrestling till 2021 when he debut with AEW. After the partnership between Punk and AEW dissolved final yr, WWE signed him and had him return at Survivor Sequence in his hometown of Chicago.

Regardless of having been again for eight months, Punk has solely competed in a single televised match, that being the 2024 males’s Royal Rumble match again in January.

Punk suffered a torn triceps throughout the match and couldn’t compete at WrestleMania 40, however he has remained a key determine on WWE programming and has been concerned in arguably probably the most compelling rivalry in wrestling with Drew McIntyre regardless of being out injured.

After saying just lately that he has been cleared to compete, Punk’s match in opposition to McIntyre was made official for SummerSlam with one other Punk rival in Seth Rollins serving because the particular visitor referee.

Punk has lengthy been seen as one thing of a risky persona, which is maybe a part of the rationale why is first stint with WWE ended, in addition to his time with AEW.

Nonetheless, Punk seems to be pleased in his present position in WWE, and there was no indication of any points in anyway between the 2 sides.

In actual fact, WrestleVotes reported that WWE is “extraordinarily pleased with Punk’s perspective, dedication, drawing energy and large merchandise gross sales,” so it comes as little shock that they reportedly need him to stay round for the lengthy haul.

McAfee to Reportedly Take Time Off from Uncooked Throughout Faculty Soccer Season

With Pat McAfee set to return to ESPN Faculty GameDay for the 2024 faculty soccer season, his ESPN saying schedule will reportedly be impacted.

In accordance with Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Publication (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside Information), it’s “anticipated” that McAfee will probably be pulled from the Uncooked announce group whereas he fulfills his Faculty GameDay obligations this fall.

McAfee beforehand served as the colour commentator alongside Michael Cole on SmackDown, however when he was added to ESPN Faculty GameDay in 2022, he took a step again from these duties.

Nonetheless, following the top of the 2023 faculty soccer season, McAfee returned to function the full-time colour commentator on Uncooked, as soon as once more alongside Cole.

Till just lately, it was not clear if McAfee can be a part of ESPN Faculty GameDay for the 2024 season, however it was cleared up this week.

Throughout Wednesday’s episode of the Pat McAfee Present, the previous West Virginia College and Indianapolis Colts punter stated he can be again on the Faculty GameDay panel throughout the upcoming season:

McAfee doing Faculty GameDay and his WWE duties would maybe be extra doable this time round since two days separate the weekly faculty soccer schedule and Monday Night time Uncooked, whereas SmackDown airs in the future earlier than the CFB slate.

Even so, it seems like McAfee will probably be taking a WWE hiatus, which might open the door for both Corey Graves or Wade Barrett to maneuver from SmackDown to Uncooked as soon as Joe Tessitore formally joins WWE as SmackDown’s play-by-play announcer.

Conflicting Reviews Relating to WWE’s Dealing with of Lashley, MVP Contracts

Amid experiences that Bobby Lashley and MVP are set to depart WWE quickly, some conflicting accounts of the occasions main as much as it have surfaced.

In accordance with Meltzer (h/t Walia), one supply stated WWE declined to supply new contracts to Lashley and MVP, whereas one other claimed Lashley was provided a brand new deal, nevertheless, he turned it down, and the expectation is that he’ll go away when his present deal expires.

WWE head of artistic Triple H did little to dispel the rumor that Lashley and MVP are on their method out of the corporate when requested about their standing this week.

Whereas talking to the Day by day Mail (h/t Mukherjee), Triple H stated: “You recognize, identical to any sport, any enterprise, we signal expertise, skills’ contracts run out, we launch expertise, it is simply a part of the method. So it is an ongoing factor.”

Meltzer (h/t Bryan Rose of F4WOnline) beforehand reported that Lashley and MVP had been set to see their WWE contracts expire “comparatively quickly,” and there was speak of them making an attempt to resurrect their fashionable Harm Enterprise steady in AEW.

The quartet of Lashley, MVP, Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander dominated WWE programming all through the COVID-19 pandemic, however the group broke up in early 2022.

There have been calls from followers for WWE to convey the Harm Enterprise again, however it hasn’t occurred, and plainly may lead on to a two-time WWE champion in Lashley leaving the corporate.

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