‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin has said that he thinks CM Punk’s rumoured exit from the WWE is real, but has predicted that he may well return.
Speaking as a guest on The Arsenio Hall Show, the Attitude Era legend expressed hopes that WWE boss Vince McMahon may be able to win round The Second City Saint.
“Word on the street was it was real,” Austin told Hall of Punk’s rumoured Monday-night walk-out.
“But see, I was back in a place when I walked away from the company [in 2002]. I didn’t like what they had to tell me, so I took my ball and went home as they spun it – and lost out on a lot of money.”
He continued: “I just think he got backed into a corner, got a little frustrated and he took his ball and went home.
“I think one of two things will happen. I think Vince will fly down to Chicago or wherever he is and work some Jedi mind tricks and convince him to come back.
“Or maybe he will think through the process, and he’s got a lot of years left in the tank – and never leave money on the table when you can go ahead and make that money.
“Because it don’t matter what happens, they keep sending those little gimmicks in the mail and they’re called bills and you must pay your bills!”
Austin concluded: “I do my show for the working man, and I consider Punk a very good friend. I know he probably really is going through a lot of stress and I wish him well.
“I think it is a real deal, but I would like to think he will come back. But he’s a pretty hard-headed young man so we’ll see what happens.
“Bad timing! Because you’ve got WrestleMania XXX going down in the Superdome, so that’s going to be a good payday and a good ride to make.”
WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley has said on Twitter of Punk that “be it on PPV, TV or house shows, he ALWAYS gave 100%”.
He added: “A @WWE without @CMPunk is definitely not #BestForBusiness. But I understand his frustration.”
Source: Digital Spy
“[katogoaward]”