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CM Punk walked out on WWE on Mon., Jan. 27, 2014, reportedly meeting with Vince McMahon and Triple H and informing them he was going home before doing just that. He's hardly been heard from since, not uttering a single word publicly regarding his quitting the company that helped make him a star.
It's been three full months since this story first broke and while the two sides have somehow managed to maintain near complete radio silence, Punk continues to be a huge story in the pro wrestling world.
Because we know many of our dear Cagesiders are stat nerds, and just as many of you are interested in anything related to Punk, here are the top 15 stories (of 2,146 total, based on number of hits) we've posted so far this year (Jan. 1-Apr. 29):
- Royal Rumble results, live coverage
- WWE breaks silence on CM Punk, claims he has not been released
- WrestleMania 30 results, live coverage
- Elimination Chamber results, live coverage
- CM Punk gone from WWE after telling Vince McMahon he was going home
- Why is WWE giving AJ Lee the CM Punk treatment?
- Rumor Roundup (April 7, 2014)
- WrestleMania 30 results: Undertaker's streak ends
- CM Punk walks out on WWE: More details on reason for his departure
- Steve Austin predicts CM Punk will return at WrestleMania 30
- WWE worried about CM Punk fans hijacking Raw on March 3 in Chicago
- How CM Punk inadvertently saved WrestleMania 30
- Rumor Roundup (Jan. 18, 2014)
- Ultimate Warrior dead at age 54 just days after WWE Hall of Fame induction
- Rumor Roundup (April 19, 2014)
That's 10 of 15 stories that directly or indirectly deal with Punk, with WWE breaking its silence on its estranged star somehow beating out WrestleMania 30 results in hits. And this is just the top 15. If this were to expand to say, the top 30 or top 50, unsurprisingly enough the majority also deal with Punk.
While the company is doing just fine without him, this does make clear that fans still care a great deal about the former WWE champion. That could be why he hasn't been buried completely and the door has been left open for a return.
By the way, the upcoming Payback event scheduled for June 1 will take place in Chicago, Illinois, so don't expect this story to go away anytime soon.