Long before CM Punk became a global superstar, he had a short yet significant stint in TNA wrestling. While The Best in the World was nowhere near the lustrous worker that he would later embody during his WWE and AEW runs back in the early 2000s, Punk did give his all. Nevertheless, now the Chicago-based star has reached a different stratosphere in terms of stature in his latter years. The possibility of etching a more grandeur and deeper legacy may remain in the hearts of CM Punk. At least, the latest jibe from Punk’s arch nemesis, Drew Mclntyre, indicated toward that.

Sean Ross Sapp from Fightful Select recently re-addressed that, painting a potential alternative future for the abandoned AEW superstar.

Will the next stop for CM Punk be TNA?

CM Punk has been an ever-controversial name in the landscape of pro wrestling. After an abrupt end of his AEW career, the 45-year-old made a monumental return to WWE during Survivor Series. While it came off as a much-awaited moment for fans and veterans who had been envisioning it for a long, stars like Seth Rollins, and Drew McIntyre didn’t shy away to show utmost disdain.

The Scotsman showcased the ultimate manifestation of his hatred by accidentally tearing Punk’s right tricep with a future DDT shock during the Royal Rumble 2023. Despite both of them being shelved for several months, they never stopped trading barbs on TV and social media. As part of those digs, Mclntyre once made a TNA prediction for The Voice of the Voiceless.

Recounting this, Sean Ross Sapp from Fightful remarked, ”Drew McIntyre said you know it’s probably a good thing that CM Punk is barely wrestled because if he was around he would have done something stupid, got fired and he’s got no other place to go. No love for TNA, TNA would absolutely bring him in 100 percent.”

But why did Punk leave Impact Wrestling in the first place? Let’s go back to the 2000s.

In what circumstances did Punk leave TNA?

Punk wasn’t at his best during his brief TNA run. In a nine-month timeline, the WWE star barely made any big impact in the Nashville-based promotion. He could only manage to get one singles match against Shane Douglas in a Clockwork Orange House of Fun Match. His tag-team pairing with Julio DiNero was also noticeably unnoticed.

This underwhelming run finally came to an end in February 2004 when he invited some controversies by getting engulfed into a physical scuffle with Teddy Hart outside a restaurant. Eventually, he stopped showing up for their shows. Later on, it became evident that the company officials were firmly reluctant to continue working with Punk. Shortly after, CM Punk was let go when TNA ended their working relationship with ROH.

So, there’s no guilt in deeming the Chicago-based star’s TNA run totally forgettable. But that doesn’t mean he can’t go back to the promotion and change the narrative outright in the future. What’s your take on CM Punk’s TNA prediction revealed in the latest Drew Mclntyre jibe? Let us know in the comments.