Even though many wrestling insiders feel it is conventional wisdom that WWE is banking on continuing with CM Punk after Money in the Bank, no WWE source has been able to confirm he is staying past the pay-per-view.
Rather, according to F4WOnline.com, the word within WWE creative still very much says that Punk will be unavailable for storylines after the July 17 date comes and goes.
What sources do believe is that Punk and WWE remain in negotiations about a contract renewal. Nothing is considered dead (nor is the renewal viewed as a lock), but the F4W story notes something of an impasse regarding the wrestler’s demands, which are said to be far higher than would be expected for someone in his role.
It had also long been believed that Punk wanted a hiatus regardless, so even if progress happened on the negotiations front, it would not be a guarantee that the wrestler will not take some time off this summer. Rumors say Punk possibly began considering taking time off as early as when Chris Jericho last stepped away from the company.
Still, given how highly his angle played on Monday’s RAW and will play on the coming week’s RAW, there are those skeptical of the idea that he will be leaving after working the storyline for only a few weeks. Some are convinced the idea that creative was told not to book Punk after MITB was a swerve to keep the media and online wrestling fans off the trail.
And, regardless of whether he stays or goes in the short-term, most are still confident he will not be wrestling his final WWE match on July 17.