Damaged Dreams Chapter 1: The Return
"...Pipe bomb criticizing upper management"
"I don't wear a white hat"
"CM Punk is WWE Champion"
"The BEST in the world"
"Controversial relationship with a WWE diva"
"Biggest Test of his eight month title reign"
"...Has walked out"
"...Citing burn-out and disagreements with Chief Executive Officer..."
"Stripped of his WWE Championship"
"Quitters like CM Punk"
"John Cena wins his eleventh title!"
"Known for her relationship with the former WWE champion"
"...Now calls himself "The Showoff"
"New WWE power couple"
"... Unlikely to ever step foot inside a ring again"
"Dolph was the best decision I've ever made"
"Tainted legacy, to be sure"
It had been 336 days since CM Punk had last stepped foot in a WWE ring. Now, as he found himself standing outside the Allstate Arena, he couldn't help but think about his wrestling career. 2 years in IWA: Mid South, 3 years in Ring of Honor, and 7 grueling years in WWE.
"You ready to do this?" came a voice from beside Punk. The source was the first person he told when he decided to return to the squared circle. His mentor, his confidante, and the only person who always had his back, Paul Heyman.
"Never been more ready," Punk responded in a matter-of-fact tone. It was time for Punk to return to the only place he could reliably call home. As for why he left in the first place? That was a complicated matter.
For a professional wrestler, CM Punk had done pretty well for himself. No one would begrudge him for leaving to take better care of his body. He had made his money. He had won championships. He reached what could be considered the pinnacle of the industry. But for the quiet, straightedge superstar, none of that mattered. He didn't walk out of WWE because of disagreements with management.
Not this time.
2012 belonged to a certain brunette, who always had the narcissistic ex-superstar's heart, not that he would ever admit it. Make no mistake about it; Punk's self-imposed sabbatical (as he liked to describe it) was the result of AJ Lee, his 'crazy' ex-girlfriend. Could he even call her an ex-girlfriend? They had a pretty unique relationship, one that started in a hallway and ended with a 3 count at Money in the Bank.
Money in the Bank. His last appearance in WWE and not so coincidentally, the last time he locked eyes with AJ Lee. It had been 11 months since that night but it seemed like just yesterday.
Flashback
No one dared to interrupt the weary WWE champion as he made his way through the backstage area. Despite a slight limp and welts covering his back, the champion looked as determined as ever. Punk didn't bother to knock as he reached the office of WWE's chairman.
Punk always had a special relationship with Vince McMahon. Often criticized as out-of-touch, and driven only by financial gain, Vince was not close with many of the superstars in the back. Every stereotype has some truth rooted in it but Punk could appreciate the immense contributions Vince had made to the wrestling world. Furthermore, Vince cared about his superstars if you gave him a chance.
Eccentric? Sure. A stubborn bastard? Absolutely. But so was his mercurial champion and that gave way to their complex relationship that had improved significantly over the last year. Punk would be woken up at 4:00 A.M because Vince wanted to run an idea by him. Most would mind but Punk wasn't most men. That is how he found himself inside the chairman's office at the conclusion of Money in the Bank.
If Vince was startled to see his champion barge into his office, he didn't show it. Slowly taking off his glasses, Vince motioned to the chair in front of his desk. Punk took a seat, with a slight wince to show for it.
"What's on your mind, Punk?" Vince asked with genuine concern.
"I'm tired, Vince" he replied.
"Such is the nature of the job. You knew this was coming when you re-signed last year"
"There were some aspects that were unpredictable"
"You mean AJ?"
"That's not what I said"
"But it's what you meant, is it not?"
Punk was silent for a moment. His on-again, off-again 'relationship' with AJ Lee had been a source of tension for quite some time now.
"Vince, I couldn't even focus tonight. I'm in the ring with the best goddamn wrestler in this industry and I can't take my eyes off the referee."
"I can't get rid of her, Punk. She makes us a lot of money, not to mention she's the most popular diva we've had in years."
"I'm not asking you to do that, Vince. I just can't keep going on like this."
"Punk, you're my guy. I picked you to be the guy but now you're disappointing me. You've been going on about this for 3 months now. It's time to put up or shut up. Make a decision and stick to it" Vince shouted emphatically. "Enough with this half-measure shit. I can't be having you running around like a lovesick puppy dog."
"What, are you calling me a little bitch, now?" countered an irritated Punk.
"No, I'm telling you to man up. Stop making excuses to try and start an argument with me."
"Excuses? Are you kidding me? You're one to talk. How many 'business dinners' have you had with female staff this year, huh?
"Be careful Punk, and remember who you're talking to" Vince warned. "I'm still your boss."
"Well, maybe I'm tired of listening to you" Punk yelled back.
"Oh, so what are you going to do, huh? You want to walk out? Go ahead, walk out! Oh, I'm sorry, did you want your 15 minutes of fame in Las Vegas first?"
"Screw you, Vince. Don't you dare try and take credit for what I did last year. I turned myself into a commodity. That's on me, not you"
"Because I took a chance on you in the first place, Punk. Don't forget where you came from"
"I sure as hell didn't come from you, Vince. I came from Ring of Honor, from Mid-South, from my own damn backyard. I survived without you before I came to WWE and I sure as hell will survive without it."
"Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"Maybe I am"
The room suddenly became very quiet as both men struggled to collect their composure.
"Punk, if you walk out the door...There won't be a spot for you when you decide to stop sitting on your ass in Chicago. Not here, not in TNA, and not in AJ's heart." Vince deadpanned.
Punk leaned in to get in his soon-to-be-ex-boss'-face.
"See you in hell" Punk replied and slapped his championship on Vince's desk, startling him a bit. Punk turned around and walked out of the office without a word.
In true Punk fashion, he put on a straight face and went to the locker room to collect his stuff. Entering the room, Punk nearly ran into the man he traded blows with an hour ago: Daniel Bryan. Punk had hoped to leave in peace but clearly karma had it in for him tonight.
"Hey Punk, about tonight..." Daniel started but was cut off quickly.
"Bryan, I'm really not in the mood to kick your ass here." Punk retorted
Bryan put his hands up in a sign of self-defense. "Not here to start anything. To end it, actually" he continued.
"You won, fair and square. Both the title and AJ. I'm done trying to interfere. I respect the hell out of you, Punk. And I look forward to earning another shot at you for Summerslam"
Bryan stuck his hand out as a gesture of respect. Punk was conflicted but could see the good intentions of the man in front of him, and shook his hand.
"I doubt I'll be seeing you at Summerslam but one day we will do battle again" Punk replied cryptically.
Bryan laughed with a wry grin, chalking up Punk's comment to a small slight.
"Thanks for the match, champ. I'll see you again soon" Bryan pointed at his torso to symbolize the now-vacant WWE title, unbeknownst to the challenger.
Punk allowed himself to smile slightly at the exchange. Punk would never admit it, but he had tremendous respect for Daniel Bryan. Bryan was also a very proud man. For him to give respect to Punk meant the world. Perfect way to go out, Punk thought to himself.
Shortly after this exchange, Punk left the locker room for the final time. There was no fanfare. There were no teary goodbyes. Punk had only one stop to make, making his way over to the Divas locker room.
He had made this walk a hundred times but he couldn't bring himself to knock and announce his entry. While many guys busted in without a care in the world, Punk thought of himself as a gentleman
"You know, if you wanted to see me naked, all you had to do was ask" came a voice from behind Punk.
Punk whirled around in surprise and came face to face with Eve Torres clad in only a towel
"Eve, you know I'm not here to see you" Punk stated with slight irritation. Eve was a friend but Punk wasn't in the mood for flirting.
"Punk, I know you don't want to hear this but she doesn't want to see you" Eve replied with sympathy.
"I have to do this, Eve. I don't want to hurt her.
"I know you don't but she's hurt, Punk. Give her some time to be with herself. At least wait until Raw tomorrow. She's pretty broken up about it"
"I won't be here tomorrow, Eve" Punk stated solemnly.
Eve tilted her head in confusion. "Taking a vacation?"
"Something like that" Punk murmured to no one in particular.
"I won't ask but just be careful with her, Punk" Eve stated softly. "She's been through a lot."
Will a small squeeze of the shoulder; Eve was gone, retreating into the Divas locker room. Punk took a deep breath and knocked reluctantly. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her but he couldn't leave things the way they were."
The door opened and Punk locked eyes with a surprised AJ Lee. Clearly Eve hadn't immediately alerted her to his arrival.
"What do you want?" AJ asked. Her voice was soft but dripping with venom.
"I don't want to fight with you anymore, AJ. I'm so tired of doing this dance of death with you"
"Well, that goes for both of us. I'm tired of being dragged in the mud by you."
"AJ, you know I would never intentionally do that to you."
"Do I? Do I know that, Punk? Because the way I see it, you used me as a crutch to retain your championship"
"That's not it at all and I hope you know that. Everything that ever happened was genuine. The fact that I wouldn't marry you shouldn't take away from that."
"I gave my heart to you, Phil" AJ sneered while using Punk's real name. "I risked my dream on you because I thought you were worth it. Do you have ANY idea how hard that was on me?" AJ countered with rising ferocity.
"Because this has been so easy on me, right?" Punk answered, his anger finally boiling to the surface. "It's been just a wonderful life, huh? It's fun being pushed through tables and screwed over by the person you thought you loved" Punk shouted.
"As if it's that simple. Don't you dare make this seem like my fault. In fact, I don't want you doing a damn thing. Get out of my face and please just get out of my life" AJ nearly pleaded with Punk.
Punk's eyes softened with sadness, looking at the woman in front of him. They had mutually destroyed each other. They had gotten inside each other's heads more so than either of them could have ever imagined.
"Well, you'll get your wish. Consider this my farewell." Punk spoke almost at a whisper. Before AJ could respond, Punk was gone, halfway to Chicago by the time her mouth opened.
End Flashback
A lot had changed since that night. Punk had to admit, he spent a lot of time sitting on his couch in Chicago. But Punk was too driven to spend the rest of his life watching re-runs of The Wire. The itch to get back in the ring and do what he loved was too strong to ignore. His addiction was wrestling.
That's how he found himself outside Vince McMahon's office for the first time in eleven months. Punk wasn't nervous. He didn't get nervous. Yet, he found himself hesitating briefly before entering the office of the man he cursed out some eleven months ago. With a sigh and a deep breath, Punk re-entered the wrestling world.