5 Star Wrestling Owner Increases $1 Million for CM Punk To Compete In 128-Man Tournament

You know what they say. If at first you don't succeed with $1 million, try, try again. But with more money this time. It's a rule followed by 5 Star Wrestling owner Dan Hinkles.

Hinkles appeared on the Pancakes and Powerslams Show and said he has increased his offer of $1 million for Punk to wrestle in his 128-man tournament. Hinkles also said he is going to try to talk to UFC President Dana White about allowing Punk to wrestle, even though Punk is currently signed with UFC.

“I’ve never seen CM Punk’s (UFC) contract,” Hinkles said. “We know that he had the fight, we know that he is a part of a multi-fight deal. We’ve also seen Dana White come out and say he’s not going to fight in the UFC again. And we’ve seen Punk come out and say he’d love to. I’m not suggesting for a second that what (5 Star Wrestling) would do would take precedence over that. What I’m saying is, if Conor McGregor, the lightweight champion of UFC, can go and box Floyd Mayweather, why can’t CM Punk come and make $1 million wrestling? If the lightweight champion can go out and actually lose in a real fight. In the world of fighting, the last thing you want is your real champion to go and lose in another sport.”

Hinkles said his offer is anything but a publicity stunt and sees this as an opportunity for the former WWE Champion to not only come back to wrestling, but also be the face of a burgeoning promotion.

“But what we do is a bit different,” Hinkles said. “If CM Punk returns to professional wrestling, it would be an iconic moment, a great moment, that could really kickstart (a potential return). He could go back to the WWE, and they would pay him fortunes to do that, far more than we could ever offer. But what we could do is say that you can go do that for a company where you’ve already left, and we don’t know the real circumstances behind that, that’s his thing. But, he can come and really kickstart something here. He could come and be the guy that took this (promotion) to the top level.”

Punk initially rejected the offer and 5Star Wrestling then announced that it has booked Rob Van Dam to compete in the tournament. The tournament begins on June 10 and does not end until December 30.