10 Details on CM Punk’s WWE Return, Contract Talks, Reactions

ByVipin Raghuwanshi
CM Punk WWE with Triple H

CM Punk has returned home to WWE as was termed by WWE Creative Head Triple H. Punk made his first appearance in WWE just two months shy of 10 years when he walked out of the company in January 2014. While the speculations for Punk’s return to WWE have been around for months since his termination from AEW, the appearance was finalized until the final moments. Here are the major talking points and reports around the subject.

#1- CM Punk made his return to WWE at Survivor Series 2023 in his hometown of Chicago, just like he made two of his debut appearances for AEW – first when he came out of retirement in 2021, and second when he returned from a 9-month hiatus this year for AEW Collision debut in June this year.

#2- Triple H said in Survivor Series post-show press conference that the deal with CM Punk was a lighting-in-a-bottle moment that came rather quickly. He added that it was speculations all the time, and it did not come to fruitation until after all the speculations ended, and that is the reason why it remained very tight.

#3- PWInsider reported that WWE and CM Punk had their “first communication” this week itself, and once the ice was broken, the deal came together rather quickly. The deal was finalized officially at some point on Saturday itself. Several other outlets have reported that the deal was signed on the day of Survivor Series itself.

#4- PWInsider also noted that some in WWE wanted Punk to return at Royal Rumble, but there were fears that word might spread within WWE and it might get leak eventually. Nothing about Punk’s appearance was locked in before today. His drove 20 minutes or so from his home in Chicago to the venue to make a last minute cameo.

#5- Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful also posted on Twitter that hardly anyone in WWE including creative, producers and stars knew about CM Punk’s return tonight. The tweet says that Triple H took over calling the final minutes of Survivor Series and was the one to call for the copyright logo, which signifies the end of the show. Even not many in production knew about the development. It was Triple H who called for Cult of Personality to start. Punk walked through the back in plain site minutes before he appeared and WWE had cleared an area out before this.

#6- Triple H pointed out that CM Punk is a magnet and conversation starter whether in a positive or negative sense, and it is tough to look past that. He also said that people in TKO did not know about the deal.

#7- WWE has already posted new merchandise for CM Punk on WWE Shop online just minutes after his appearance at Survivor Series. Punk’s shirt is available for $29.99. 25% off sale is on WWE Shop using code “SUPERSTAR”.

#8- There is a video of Seth Rollins reacting angrily at CM Punk’s entrance. However, it can’t be confirmed if it is work or if Rollins is reacting legitimately. He was held back at ringside by security and WWE Commentator Michael Cole and Corey Graves. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful has provided an update that says that talents involved in the main event match were told about Punk shortly before the match. So, the reaction from Rollins can be a part of some future angle.

#9- Drew McIntyre is reported to have left the arena in anger with PWInsider reporting that he stormed to the back, slammed his locker room door, and immediately left the Allstate Arena. However, a video has emerged which clearly shows that Drew’s anger started even before CM Punk’s entrance. It might be totally unrelated thing and may be part of a storyline or a reaction to something else that happened during the match.

#10- Fightful Select also posted that the reactions backstage were not all negative as previously presumed.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *