There are those who will say that CM Punk may have burned his bridges with WWE with recent comments. The jury, to be fair, is still out on that score. However, the former WWE & Ring of Honor champion, a long time fan of MMA, now gets to pursue the UFC title, hoping to join Brock Lesnar, the current WWE champ, as the only men to hold both the UFC & WWE titles.
Punk, aka Phil Brooks, signed with UFC over the weekend, and that bombshell had the same kind of resonating impact as when Lesnar signed with UFC several years ago. Lesnar's MMA career came to a crashing halt due to diverticulitis, and, the last anyone checked, Punk only had a few nagging injuries that should've healed in the 10 1/2 months he's been away from wrestling. After 7 1/2 years with the big club, Punk felt it was time to move on, though not in the way anyone had envisioned. It's easy to say he was burned out, and the fact that he has admitted he doesn't mind the fans chanting for him, though he'd prefer it wasn't when his wife, AJ Lee, or any of his close buds, is in the ring, suggests that the door to returning to the squared circle wasn't entirely closed.
It's well known that one of Punk's best friends is former UFC star Chael Sonnen. Could the fact that Punk/Brooks has signed be enough of a deal breaker that would convince Dana White to bring Sonnen back? We don't know, but it wouldn't surprise anyone if Sonnen returned to UFC as a cornerman for his pal's 1st fight in the octagon, returning the favor for Punk, who'd seconded Sonnen a few times in the past. If anything, the signing of Phil Brooks, aka CM Punk, will mute the rumor mill as it relates to Lesnar, who some think could return as well once his current deal with WWE ends.
Would the addition of Punk bring new viewers to UFC? Absolutely. WWE's ratings always take a mild dive during football season, and with a free TV card this weekend, the last thing Vince McMahon wants to see, after his public apology a week ago, is Fox announcers talking up Phil Brooks making his UFC debut in 2015. It's drawing interest from everywhere. Indie star Scorpio Sky, who has 3 MMA fights, albeit as an amateur, under his belt, is already issuing a challenge. And what about former TNA champ Bobby Lashley? This would be the deal that would get him into UFC for sure, if he's still interested. Sure, he's fought for Bellator, too, when TNA & Bellator shared the same network, but it's a matter of time before he jumps to UFC, especially once his TNA deal expires.
The only thing stopping that from happening is if either Dixie Carter gets Lashley to re-up, or he returns to WWE, a la Lesnar. If I'm Lashley, I'm checking my contracts and making sure Dana White is on speed dial. Lashley vs. Brooks (never mind the Punk handle) would be UFC's biggest fight if it ever happens. Trust me.
