KILLING A CM PUNK - WWE RUMOR!

In regards to rumors that CM Punk has signed a new contract with WWE making the rounds, there's nothing to that story.

As I discussed in my PWInsider Elite audio this morning, the return of CM Punk merchandise (most of which has already sold out) to the WWE website was more a case of loose ends being tied up, according to one source we've spoken with.

When Punk's WWE deal expired this past July, with it went the rights to his name and likeness, since he had them since well before his WWE run began in 2006. WWE and Punk are believed to have worked out a settlement that allowed WWE to sell off remaining stock and use Punk in the new WWE videogame.

The Punk character will also be seen in the forthcoming WWE/Flintstones film, since animation had been completed well before Punk walked out on the company in January 2014.

Sources close to Punk state he is retired as a pro wrestler and a WWE return is not happening.