CM Punk could be back on WWE television sooner than most fans thought.
According to RingsideNews.com, Punk, the popular five-time world champion, is now being advertised for the May 27 Raw in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Originally, Punk, who is taking time off WWE in order to heal nagging injuries, was scheduled to appear first at the June 3 Raw taping in Hartford, Conn., only a stone's throw away from WWE's headquarters in Stamford.
Now, Punk is being advertised for May 27, June 3, June 17 from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mi., July 4 and 5 at the WWE Raw World Tour House Show at The Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan, July 6 in Taipei, Taiwan and July 26 through July 30 in Australia.
Punk, still ailing from a litany of leg injuries and from ailments he suffered from his last match against the Undertaker at WrestleMania 30, has been keeping busy lately in his time off, having been seen in L.A. for the premiere of "Iron Man 3" and at the Chicago Blackhawks opening playoff game this week.
In other news, it looks like WWE Creative has big things in mind for Team Ziggler. According to F4WOnline.com, there has been talk of WWE officials wanting Big E Langston to challenge Kofi Kingston for the U.S. title in the near future.
The site reports that officials like the idea of AJ Lee, Langston and World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler holding singles titles at the same time. The idea would likely enhance both Langton and AJ's standings as singles competitors, but it could in theory add more credibility to Ziggler as a world champion by having those associated with him holding singles gold.
In other developments, WWE superstar/movie star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has been confirmed to be starring and acting as executive producer of an HBO "dramedy" pilot. According to Prowrestling.net, the pilot, written by Steve Levinson, will detail the lives of athletes who live in Miami. Actor Mark Wahlberg will also be alongside Johnson as an executive producer.
However, while the Rock's future in Hollywood is looking bright, his future with the WWE is looking murky. While the Rock tweeted last week a message hinting that his match with John Cena at WrestleMania 29--which caused him abdominal injuries that required surgery--may have been his last match, WWE owner Vince McMahon was more optimistic that the Attitude Era megastar would return for another round with the company.
According to Ringside News.com, McMahon was asked at the April 26 annual stockholders meeting if the Rock was done as a wrestler, but reportedly "blew it off like there was no way that's the case." Those close to McMahon say that he believes that the Rock will return for a WrestleMania 30 match with former UFC star Brock Lesnar. With Hell in a Cell scheduled for October in Miami, the Rock's hometown, it's possible that the Rock could make an appearance to push for Rock vs. Lesnar in New Orleans next April.