TNA Wrestling had serious plans for CM Punk and now Steve Maclin is revealing just how far those talks went.
Speaking with Pro Wrestling Illustrated, current TNA talent Steve Maclin confirmed that behind-the-scenes discussions between Punk and TNA were very real after Punks 2023 AEW exit. According to Maclin, it was former TNA President Scott DAmore who broke the news to him over dinner that a dream match with CM Punk was almost in the works.
Maclin didnt just speak on the what-ifs he also shared personal respect for Punk, calling him one of the few true remaining megastars in wrestling today.
According to him, Punk had been around TNA backstage multiple times in Chicago during this negotiation period. And despite his star power, Maclin recalled that Punk was nothing but respectful even way back when Maclin was just an extra in WWE.
This matches what Scott DAmore himself previously confirmed in his DAmore Drop column for Yahoo! Sports Uncrowned, where he said Punk was interested in TNA after leaving AEW, and acted with total professionalism during their talks. Ultimately, Punk returned to WWE at Survivor Series 2023, ending months of speculation and leaving what couldve been a wild chapter in TNA history unrealized.
Steve Maclin vs. CM Punk in a TNA ring? It almost happened and Maclin is still processing what mightve been. While fans may never see that matchup, the respect between the two remains real. Sometimes in wrestling, the best stories are the ones that almost made it to the ring.
Would you have wanted to see CM Punk vs. Steve Maclin in a TNA ring? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know if you think CM Punk still has unfinished business outside WWE.
