Where did CM Punk meet Vince McMahon after his WWE return in 2023? Exploring the location

Despite their frosty relationship, CM Punk and Vince McMahon were able to put their differences aside during Punk’s shocking return to the Stamford-based company in November 2023. This marked nearly nine years since the controversial departure of The Voice of the Voiceless in 2014. After his return, the Second City Saint revealed that he and the former WWE Chairman did encounter each other.

It was believed that current WWE President Nick Khan was responsible for Punk’s return, not Vince McMahon. The two had not communicated since the former two-time WWE Champion left, until his iconic comeback at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames in Chicago last year.

During his appearance on The MMA Hour, CM Punk addressed various topics regarding his comeback and also delved into his thoughts on McMahon. One particularly interesting detail he shared was the 78-year-old’s aversion to cell phones in the gym.

“I was on the phone on a treadmill warming up, and Vince’s trainers are like ‘Hey, you gotta get off the phone, Vince doesn’t like when people are on the phone in the gym.’ I was on the phone to Nick (Khan) and I was just kinda like ‘Okay… alright.’”

The gym at WWE’s headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut was where Punk was training. It is accessible 24 hours a day to all WWE employees and superstars. Online pictures have shown McMahon also using this gym for his workouts. This ultimately led to the first meeting in nine years between him and The Best in the World.

“I saw him walking down into the gym. He came in for his daily workout. He gave me a big hug, he said ‘Welcome home, good to see you, let’s connect after I workout.’ I was like ‘Alright’… Haven’t seen him since.”

In January 2024, Vince McMahon stepped down from his position as Executive Chairman of TKO Group Holdings. This decision was prompted by the ongoing investigation into sexual assault allegations, which ultimately led to the former WWE Chairman’s departure from the professional wrestling industry.

Vince McMahon’s Lack of Trust Prevented CM Punk’s Return in 2020

The majority of pro wrestling fans will never forget CM Punk’s comeback to WWE at Survivor Series last year. According to reports, his exit from the company nine years prior was considered one of the most tumultuous incidents in its history.

The wrestler known as the Second City Saint dedicated years to criticizing Vince McMahon and his company. He openly ridiculed top performers like Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, even while serving as a guest analyst on Fox’s WWE Backstage.

Despite this, there was still intense speculation that Punk could potentially make a return to WWE, a trend that had been ongoing since 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic caused a global lockdown.

According to Ringside News, there were discussions of CM Punk making a comeback to the company at WrestleMania 36. He was rumored to have been considered for a special appearance at the highly-anticipated event, known as The Showcase of The Immortals.

Despite reports that Vince McMahon had quickly rejected the proposal, it seems that he believed Punk was untrustworthy and had significant problems. This ultimately prevented the Chicago native from making an earlier return before 2024.

After rumors of a potential ‘Mania appearance, CM Punk joined AEW in the pro wrestling industry a year later. He remained with Tony Khan’s company for two years before being dismissed due to controversies behind the scenes.