If Punk were to sign a five-year contract, it would bring him past the age of 50 as an active wrestler. Punk suggested he has some concerns about whether he can hold up that long despite feeling good now, saying: "Your body's going to give up on you way before your mind does. To me, my mind's never been sharper. I've never been more focused."

Paul Heyman became the head writer for Ohio Valley Wrestling, then one of WWE’s developmental brands. The goal was for him to develop the right people to eventually promote to the main roster on Raw and SmackDown.