Here are come notes from CM Punk’s Q&A from Comic-Con this past week.
– Punk appeared to be in a great mood and excited about the weekend. He was obviously really tired, and did talk about how he’s worn out. He joked about being ready to do nothing but sit on his couch.
– He said that he’s tired of traveling and never gets to see the places anyway since it’s just going from one show to the next, without ever getting to do any touristy stuff.
– He said that he’s been really sick, especially from September through November of last year. He was basically having weekly MRIs and blood work done, but they can’t figure out what’s wrong. He noted that he started eating meat again and is starting to feel a little better, but still wasn’t even close to 100%.
– He called Batista a friend, but didn’t feel that the time was right to come back because it was so unfair to take away the glory from the other wrestlers who work so hard every day.
– He was frustrated with the direction that the company was going and felt that the writers weren’t in touch with what the fans want.
– He doesn’t think that Sting should come to WWE because frankly, he doesn’t have anything left in the tank and would again take away from the younger wrestlers.
– He’s interested in the UFC if his body is up for it, but right now he didn’t think his body was in any shape for it. If he could get to feeling better, it might be an itch that he wants to scratch.
– He’s good money-wise, and hasn’t really spent much so he’s not worried about receiving a paycheck anymore.
The following are highlights from a recent Wrestling 101 interview with Kurt Angle:
On wanting a match with Triple H: “The one that I wanted and still want is Triple H because when I was wrestling him I wasn’t very good and I know he had to do a lot of carrying me around when I first started. I would love to do a program with Triple H someday because he is that good, to be where I’m right now and where he is right now I can’t imagine what the match would be like but maybe that is something that can happen down the road.”
On whether or not he will return to WWE: “Yeah, I never say no, I love TNA, I love Dixie Carter, I’ve had a lot of fun here but I never count out going back to WWE. It is always there, the opportunity is there, a lot of people don’t want to retire unless they go out at WrestleMania, it is tough when you have the ability to do that it is hard to just walk away. I’m not saying it is going to happen soon but there is going to come a time where I will have to make a decision and I have to do what is best for Kurt Angle, as much as I love TNA I have to do what’s best for me and that’s what I’m going to do.”
On the current state of TNA: “It is tough, our attendances weren’t great on the road. I know it cost the company a lot of money but we didn’t have terrible crowd numbers, it was pretty good, it just wasn’t good enough to cover the costs. When that happens you can only go in debt so much before you have to say, okay, we need to regroup.”
Casey Kulas of ESPN Cleveland ( @CaseyKulas ) noted on his Twitter that there he heard from sources at this past Monday’s RAW in Cleveland that there was a heated exchange backstage between CM Punk and WWE staff. According to Kulas, the clash had to do with Punk being diagnosed with a concussion. Punk was reportedly heard saying, “I passed all your damn concussion tests” and “I’m not going out and telling fans that BS.” Again, there are lots of stories going around as to why Punk left, so take this as a rumor for now.
Rather than you sorting through 50 different CM Punk posts on other sites, I thought you might like to get all the info in one nice and neat post here.
As you may have already heard, CM Punk has apparently QUIT the WWE effective immediately as of Monday evening, just prior to WWE Raw. Since that time, WWE has removed Punk from all upcoming live event, TV Taping, and Elimination Chamber ads, as well as “Unfollowed” Punk’s Twitter account.
The last Tweet posted by Punk on Monday evening read, “Thanks for all the support. Keep being you guys, it’s pretty cool.”. People are now speculating that this was his farewell comment to the fans.
Punk’s contract is slated to be up in July and WWE officials are now reporting that they had figured at that time Punk would not be renewing due to lingering injuries and dissatisfaction in the product.
Apparently, shortly before Raw, CM Punk went up to Vince McMahon & Officials during a meeting and simply explained that he was done and going home. Punk then took his bags and left the arena without looking back. It’s said that WWE did not see this coming and thus were forced to change portions of Raw.
It’s uncertain what the final straw was for Punk, but he’s been fairly vocal about wanting a top spot. With John Cena in the promotion, that was never going to happen, but apparently Punk became disengaged with how his character has been handled since last year’s WrestleMania, and had also not been happy with the bump down the card to make room for Batista’s return. It’s been reported that when Punk was told of his role at WrestleMania XXX on Monday night, that pretty much did it. Punk also felt that Batista wasn’t in the proper shape to be headlining Mania for the WWE Title. Punk has always been vocal about “part-time wrestlers” coming in and getting spots that people who work hard for it deserve.
There’s been rumors that Punk was either scheduled to do a job to Antonio Cesaro in a Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match after interference from Kane, or cut a promo about Kane eliminating him at the Rumble. Either way, it doesn’t sound like Punk was happy with the direction, and I don’t blame him. Regardless, Punk was scheduled to work the show, so the reason parts were rewritten so close to air time was due to Punk leaving the company.
As of right now, with Punk gone from the company, it appears Daniel Bryan will slide into his spot to battle Triple H at WrestleMania.
It’s always been reported that Punk’s been smart with his money, saved it, and doesn’t NEED to continue working to live a well-off life. With a WrestleMania payday so close, it’s obvious it’s more than just about money to CM.
When recently questioned about his thoughts on his current state in WWE, Punk made the comment, “I show up. Someone tells me what to do and I just go out do it and leave.” He also implied his recent work was not good and that he was down to using two moves a match. Punk reportedly came off despondent and unhappy with WWE.
I’ve included some notes from TMZ, who picks up the piece, below. Also included is a fan’s comments about a recent Punk interview at a comic convention.
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– TMZ has an article about CM Punk “quitting” WWE According to the tabloid site, Punk quit the company after he learned about his role at WrestleMania, and feels that he’s earned the right to main event the show. He was also upset about Batista winning the Royal Rumble, feeling that big Dave isn’t in good wrestling shape and shouldn’t be wrestling for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania.
TMZ also stated that Punk is serious about leaving and “has no plans to return.”
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— Pauley sent this in: I was at Punk’s Portland Comic Con and I didn’t feel the need to relay the information until he departed from WWE. There are two key parts of his Q&A that stand out in retrospect.
1. He was very upset about Batista getting the WrestleMania main event, which pretty much spoiled the Royal Rumble. He clarified he was friends with “Dave” and that “they” would not be happy, but he wanted to be honest and it was Daniel Bryan’s year. Actually, he said Bryan Danielson but corrected quickly.
2. He was very disinterested in the current product. Asked about promos he defeatedly made comments like “I show up. Someone tells me what to do and I just go out do it and leave.” He implied his recent work was not good and was down to only using two moves a match.
Punk was very nice, engaged, and happy with his fans but in regards to wrestling and WWE he was definitely despondent and unhappy.
At this time, WWE and Prince Devitt are currently still negotiating a potential deal. Negotiations have been ongoing for a few months, with WWE making an official offer to the Devitt, which has not been accepted.
Potential hold ups on Devitt’s side include the fact that he is booked as a top star in New Japan, and that he would have to relocate from his home in Ireland to the US.
Here is the latest in the rumored Jeff Jarrett promotion. At this time, word is that nothing will be officially discussed or launched in regards to the potential promotion until after WrestleMania season dies down.
Jarrett continues to keep quiet, but has been part of several meetings, while also researching available talent. While not confirmed, the belief is that Toby Keith is involved in the project in some form. There is no official word on who potential investors for the promotion are.
The Pennsylvania County grand jury will investigate the 1983 death of Nancy L. Argentino, the girlfriend of WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka.
District Attorney Jim Martin determined that after taking a “fresh look” at the cold case, there is enough evidence for the Lehigh County grand jury to review it. His decision to re-examine the case stemmed from a report in the Allentown, Pennsylvania-based newspaper The Morning Call seven months ago, which published a story concerning Argentino’s death. The article revealed an autopsy report and police interviews that were never released to the public.
The following press release concerning the case was issued.
SEVENTH INVESTIGATING GRAND JURY IN LEHIGH COUNTY TO REVIEW 1983 DEATH OF NEW YORK WOMAN
Lehigh County District Attorney James B. Martin has directed that evidence in the 1983 death of Nancy L. Argentino of New York be presented to the Seventh Investigating Grand Jury.
Argentino, 23, of Brooklyn, N.Y., died on May 11, 1983, in Allentown.
District Attorney Martin has issued the following statement regarding the death:
“Several months ago, I was contacted by the surviving sisters of Nancy L. Argentino, who died under unusual circumstances. I directed Chief Deputy District Attorney Charles F. Gallagher III to conduct a preliminary review of the investigative file and any and all evidence that was gathered over the past 30 years by the lead Detective, former Whitehall Township Detective and now Lehigh County Detective Gerald Procanyn, and others.
“Chief Deputy District Attorney Gallagher has recommended that the District Attorney’s Office utilize the power and resources of the current Investigating Grand Jury in this matter.
Accordingly, I directed that the circumstances surrounding the death of Nancy L. Argentino, and all evidence related thereto, be presented to the Seventh Investigating Grand Jury, which is currently empanelled.
“Grand Jury proceedings are a time-consuming process, and it will take months before the Grand Jury concludes its work on this case.
“Under the Investigating Grand Jury Act, 42 Pa.C.S.A. §4541 et seq., the proceedings of the Grand Jury are secret and may not be disclosed. Accordingly, I will have no further comment on this matter until the Investigating Grand Jury concludes its work.”
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The Morning Call reports that a Lehigh County grand jury will investigate the death of Nancy L. Argentino, who was the girlfriend of WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka. Argentino passed away over thirty years ago on May 10, 1983, at the age of 23 due to head trauma.
“I’m kind of in, like, total shock,” said Lorraine Salome of New York, Nancy’s older sister. “This is something that should have happened 30-some-odd years ago. But at least it’s happening now.”
At the time of her death, Snuka returned from a WWF taping to his hotel room and saw Argentino gasping for air with yellow fluid coming out of her mouth and nose. He called the front desk and Argentino was rushed to the hospital, where she died after doctors were unable to save her life. The case was never solved, and her autopsy report has been refused to be released by the Lehigh County district attorney’s office.
“I think it’s important to have a grand jury take a look at it and we’ll see what they think,” District Attorney Jim Martin said today.
Snuka wrote in his autobiography that the incident ruined his life, and said that if he was guilty of anything, it was cheating on his wife. He claimed to have never threatened or hit Argentino.
Snuka claims that Argentino fell backwards and hit her head on the road while going to the bathroom on the side of a highway, which resulted in a bad concussion. He told the same story to Sam Roberts earlier last year, which you can watch in the video above.
However, he told the responding officer that he had pushed her and she fell and hit her head while they were fooling around outside the hotel room door. Two emergency room employees told police that Snuka said that she fell and hit her head after he pushed her during an argument.
The Morning Call ran a story last summer after the 30th anniversary of the death and noted that in June of 1983, Snuka and Vince McMahon – who was said to be completely cooperative with police during the investigation – met with the assistant district attorney, the medical examiner and detectives. According to the assistant district attorney, McMahon did all the talking, but noted that he couldn’t remember any specifics of the meeting. Snuka wrote in his book that the only thing he remembered was that McMahon had a briefcase with him, and that he doesn’t “know what happened.” After that meeting, the article noted that there is no record of police interviewing Snuka ever again.
