WWE owner Vince McMahon has broken his silence on the future of CM Punk by admitting that the superstar is "taking a sabbatical".
Punk, the longest-reigning WWE champion of the last 25 years, walked out on the company before the episode of RAW which followed the Royal Rumble in January.
It is believed that 'The Best in the World' was frustrated by his storyline heading into WrestleMania XXX and was annoyed that part-time wrestlers such as Batista were getting more high-profile booking.
The WWE had not acknowledged his absence on televised events or responded to questioning until McMahon, according to Wrestling Inc, replied "He's taking a sabbatical, let's just put it that way", when asked by an investor about Punk's status on a conference call on Thursday.
Punk was thought to be in line to face Triple H at Mania in New Orelans, Louisiana in April.
