CM Punk announced for Starrcast III - (2026)

CM Punk has been out of wrestling since leaving the WWE in 2014, but he may have just made his most significant step yet towards returning to the industry.

The Voice of the Voiceless will appear at Starrcast III in his hometown of Chicago between August 30 and September 1.

Of course, that’s the same weekend that All Elite Wrestling will run their second big show ‘All Out’ at the Sears Center in Chicago.

Speculation has run rampant since the inception of AEW that Punk may join them. President Tony Khan is known to be a long-time fan of Punk’s.

Couple that with a creative licence he craved for in WWE, being very well paid and working with several of his friends, if a return to wrestling was ever going to appeal to Punk, this would be it.

Speaking to Collider about the possibility of Punk joining AEW, Chris Jericho seemed to consider it a bonus at this stage.

CM Punk possibly joining AEW: “Do we need him? No. Would it be a huge pop to get him? Yes. I don’t know, man. I don’t know what his attitude or mindset is. I think our roster is jam-packed right now.”