Daniel Bryan spoke with Sports Illustrated to promote his return to SmackDown last night, and as these conversations often do, it turned to the possibility of a return by CM Punk.
Here's how Bryan shut that down right quick, telling SI that he doesn't have any inside info:
“I haven’t talked to Punk since I texted him when he came on the UFC show in a suit and said he was going to fight in the UFC. I just texted him and said, ‘Hey man, I just saw that and think it’s awesome. I hope you do great.’ Punk texted back, ‘Thanks.’ That’s the last I’ve heard from him. I’ve always respected and appreciated Punk, but we never really hung out. We came from the same route, but we didn’t necessarily hang out in the same circles. I’ve always had a great appreciation and respect for his hard work.”
Bryan's and Punk's paths first crossed when they were in Ring of Honor at the same time from 2002 to 2006, then again when Bryan joined WWE. They faced off against each other many times, and even had teamed up for a feud with the Wyatts in the fall of 2013, culminating in a match at Survivor Series against Luke Harper and Erick Rowan, which they won. About two months later, after the 2014 Royal Rumble, Punk walked out of the company. Coincidentally, as Punk was leaving, Bryan's star was rising and the "Yes Movement" was hitting its stride.
Punk famously then turned his attention to MMA, where he lost his debut match at UFC 203 against Mickey Gall in 2:14 of the First Round.
You can read the entire interview with Bryan at this link.
