The WWE has remained tight-lipped ever since CM Punk walked out on the company prior to the Jan. 27 edition of Monday Night RAW, but WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon couldn't stay silent any longer during a conference call with WWE investors on Thursday where he was forced to address what happened with Punk.

According to Wrestlingheadlines.com, McMahon was asked by an investor on the conference call about Punk's status, and Vince acknowledged that "The Best in the World' was one of the top performers and tried to describe Punk leaving as a temporary thing.

"He's taking a sabbatical, let's just put it that way," McMahon told the investor, according to Wrestlingheadlines.com.

Punk walked out hours prior to the Monday Night RAW live show on Jan. 27 for disputed reasons. The most likely reason is Punk's frustration with his place on the card and in storylines as well as him being burned out. One other suggested reason was that Punk hurt his head at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view the night before and opted to walk out, though Punk has stayed silent since leaving so it's unknown what the actual reason is.

Punk has been vocal about being upset over part-timers such as The Rock and Batista coming back to headline WrestleMania the last few years while superstars like himself and Daniel Bryan work and travel all-year-long and don't get a main event spot.

Punk was rumored to take on Triple H at this year's WrestleMania XXX event on April 6 in New Orleans while Batista and Randy Orton were set to close the show as the main event for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. According to reports, Punk was frustrated over not being able to realize his dream of main eventing the biggest show of the year.

Punk's contract was set to expire in July, and with his dream of main eventing WrestleMania dwindling, it could have led to him walking out on the company. McMahon reportedly really likes Punk and would like to do anything the company can to keep him, which is why his comments about Punk were reserved and the WWE has stayed silent on the topic.

It's unknown what Punk will eventually do between now and when his contract actually expires in July, but McMahon has finally admitted that Punk stormed out on the company while his comments suggest the WWE will be looking to get Punk back.