Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer is reporting that AEW is in talks with CM Punk about a buy-out of the remaining years of his contract, suggesting that the company has no intention of bringing Punk back despite his popularity among the AEW fan base.

But a stumbling block preventing the two sides from reaching an agreement seems to be the no-compete clause and its duration. Punk is currently out injured and has months before he’s able to do anything physical.

WWE was not interested in bringing CM Punk back when FOX got him on the WWE Backstage show but the former two-time AEW champion has shown that he is still a draw, and WWE getting CM Punk would be a major move despite all the cons that come with such a decision.

With the no-compete being an issue, one would think that there is at least something planned from Punk’s side as otherwise he would not be bothered about it.

Punk was last seen in AEW at the All Out pay-per-view in Chicago where he regained the AEW World title from Jon Moxley and later gave an explosive post-show interview which led to a backstage brawl. Punk was stripped off his title the following Wednesday by AEW President Tony Khan.