While CM Punk ultimately didn't return as rumors indicated he would at Monday's Chicago RAW episode, there was at least some discussion backstage within the creative team that if the WWE was able to get Punk to return, they would have done a Punk vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Batista vs. Randy Orton match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XXX on April 6 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
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According to Wrestlingheadlines.com, Punk, who hasn't been on WWE television since storming out on the company just hours prior to a live RAW telecast on Jan. 27 the night after the Royal Rumble, would have factored into the main event in New Orleans if he returned.
Vince McMahon wants to bring Punk back due to the fact that he generally likes him and the WWE makes a lot of money off of his character and merchandise, but those close to Punk believe that he's done with the company.
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According to the report, before confirmation came down that Punk would not be appearing on RAW this past week, there was hope that he'd at least make an appearance in front of his hometown fans to deliver a retirement speech or farewell to the fans since he hasn't been in the ring since the Royal Rumble and reportedly doesn't plan on coming back to in-ring action despite the fact that his contract doesn't expire until July.
The fatal fourway match was discussed for WrestleMania XXX, but Wrestlingheadlines.com reports that sources within the WWE says that a fourway match for the title "just was not the situation" as of now because of Punk's refusal to come back.
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Punk has been frustrated over the fact that he and Bryan are unable to headline the biggest show of the year while part-timers like Batista and The Rock return from long stints away from the company to be put into the main event.
It seems like the WWE was set to appease Punk by throwing him and Bryan into the planned Orton and Batista match, but with Punk staying away from the company it doesn't seem as though that's a possibility now.
Whether or not the WWE throws Bryan into the match remains to be seen, but at last word he was set to face Triple H in New Orleans, a match that was originally scheduled to be Punk vs. Triple H.
Bryan discussed Punk's absence on Detroit Sports 105.1 prior to this week's SmackDown tapings, and like most people who have given public comments on the situation, Bryan said he didn't know much.
"Honestly I don't know that much. I haven't heard from him since he left," Bryan told the radio station. "The company hasn't really released anything other than he's no longer with the company right now. It'll be interesting to see what happens."
While Bryan and Punk may have been thrown into the main event, in a move that would have likely pleased the WWE's disgruntled fan base, Punk's continued absence has led to the WWE being handcuffed with their plans for the biggest show of the year
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