MMAFighting reported Friday that CM Punk will no longer walk UFC Middleweight Chael Sonnen to the ring on the upcoming FOX special, as had been widely advertised in recent weeks.
Though Punk and Sonnen had reportedly come up with the plan independent of their respective companies, sources said that the WWE Champion did indeed get WWE’s blessing to miss a scheduled house show in order to appear on the broadcast, which hails from his hometown of Chicago.
Whether WWE did not fully understand why Punk requested the night off or whether it changed its mind, WWE, via Chairman Vince McMahon, reportedly nixed the idea.
Vince’s rationale for pulling Punk from the show would be fascinating to learn, given his public insistence that WWE and UFC are not competitors. And while many do not believe he has that feeling in private, it is not like his appearance would have been a big part of the UFC show; he might not have even been acknowledged on the broadcast. And, even if he was, he would give national television exposure to WWE’s championship and champion.
