CM Punk quit the WWE in January and hasn't been seen since, but the company has just now removed him from its official active roster in preparation for his contract officially expiring this week.
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The WWE moved Punk from its main roster to its alumni roster on WWE.com, which officially indicated that the "Best in the World" is done with the company. The Straightedge Superstar took to Twitter to thank the fans for supporting him throughout his career as his deal is officially running out.
"Nope, thank YOU. Thanks for all the help and support through the years. Health and happiness above all. Don't ever take any sh-- from anybody," Punk tweeted.
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Punk walked out on the WWE in January on the day after the Royal Rumble due to being burned out with the rigorous travel schedule and frustrated with the company's direction for him.
Punk, 35, left at a time when the plans for WrestleMania XXX called for Batista to take on Randy Orton for the WWE Championship, Punk to battle Triple H and Daniel Bryan to go one-on-one with Sheamus.
Punk was vocally frustrated that a part-timer in Batista returned to the company and was getting a chance to win the Royal Rumble and go on to headline WrestleMania. Punk believed that he or Bryan should main event the biggest show of the year, and his pent up frustration and fatigue led to him walking out on the company.
His final night in the organization was at the Royal Rumble, where he entered as the No. 1 entrant and made it to the final four before being eliminated by Kane in what would prove to be his last appearance in a WWE ring to date.
Punk's departure mixed with negative fan reaction toward Batista led to the WWE flipping the script for WrestleMania by having Bryan face Triple H in lieu of the departed Punk, with the added stipulation that the winner advanced to the main event. Bryan beat Triple H then went on to defeat Orton and Batista for the title to close out the show.
The company didn't take any action against Punk despite the fact that he was still under contract, and the organization reportedly tried to get him to return initially but he wouldn't budge. After Punk missed the March 3 Monday Night RAW in his hometown of Chicago and WrestleMania XXX April 6, it appeared as though he wasn't coming back.
The WWE has kept mostly quiet about Punk's departure, but has addressed his absence from time to time when they had to, especially at the Chicago RAW where "CM Punk" chants were deafening.
Punk has since been enjoying his free time, appearing at Chicago Blackhawks and Cubs sporting events and making a few television appearances, including under his real name Phil Brooks on AMC's Talking Dead. Punk, who also missed Money in the Bank in June in his home state of Illinois, will appear at an AXS TV award show later this month.
After his departure from the company, Punk got engaged to WWE Diva AJ Lee, who took time off from the WWE after WrestleMania XXX to move in with him in Chicago after she dropped the Divas Championship to Paige on the April 7 RAW.
Punk and Lee tied the knot in mid-June and there was speculation that Lee may not return due to the fact that Punk departed the company and pregnancy rumors also started to arise. All of that speculation was quashed when Lee returned on the June 30 RAW and won the Divas Championship back from Paige.
That, of course, led to speculation that her husband Punk wasn't far from returning now that Lee is back, but that doesn't appear to be the case.
It seems as though Punk's chapter in the WWE is closed now that his contract is set to expire. Among his many accomplishments in the WWE, Punk is the first man to win back-to-back Money in the Bank Ladder Matches, a two-time WWE Champion and a three-time World Heavyweight Champion.
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