CM Punk makes his shocking WWE return and the wrestling world doesn’t know how to feel about it.
This past Saturday at Survivor Series: WarGames, CM Punk made his WWE return. Once the WarGames match ended and Cody Rhodes’ team celebrated their win we heard some very familiar music. Cult of Personality played and signaled the return of one of wrestling’s most controversial figures, CM Punk.
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CM Punk’s Departure From Wrestling, Return, Departure And Return
CM Punk walked out on WWE in 2014. In 2021 he returned to wrestling and began wrestling in AEW. While there he became a two-time AEW World champion and a problem backstage. He was part of two backstage brawls. The last of which led to his termination from the company.
Punk’s future was up in the air and rumors circulated about where he would end up following his termination. WWE was one of the most prevalent rumors, but it seemed far-fetched because of the bad blood between Punk and WWE, especially with Triple H. The two men have apparently hashed out their differences. During the post-Survivor Series press conference, Triple H admitted that he has changed and so has CM Punk in the almost 10 years since they last spoke.
Hatchets Buried
However, not everyone has settled their differences with CM Punk. A fan caught the reaction of some of the Superstars in the WarGames match. Sami Zayn and Rhodes just looked on in shock, but Seth Rollins was livid. Michael Cole and Corey Graves had to hold Rollins back as he screamed at Punk.
Rollins took to the mic the following night at a house show to talk about his feelings on Punk’s return and was captured by a fan. He talked about how he doesn’t want to waste his breathe on someone who hasn’t been there and has said so many negative things about WWE.
“You already know how I feel about that,” Rollins said. “I said as much last night. I’m not going to waste any more breath on somebody [CM Punk] that has been gone for eight years, has done nothing but try and tear this place down. Instead, I’m going to take my time, waste my breath, use my breath to talk about the people who have been here all along. That’s all the people in the back who have made WWE the hottest ticket in town, and that’s every single one of you who are here tonight in Peoria.”
H/T To Wrestling Inc. For Transcription
Is Rollins’ Reaction Real Or Fake?
Rollins’ big reaction has led fans to wonder if it was real or put on for the cameras. In the past Rollins has not had kind words for Punk. He has gone as far as to call him a “cancer” on wrestling, but has also admitted that he owes a lot to Punk.
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Rollins’ reaction and his statements at the live show may indicate an upcoming feud. It is not known if the WarGames competitors were given a heads up. They all look pretty shocked and uncertain as to how to react.
CM Punk is the third person to leave AEW for WWE, albeit under much different circumstances than Rhodes and Jade Cargill.
The first person to leave AEW, Rhodes, weighed in on Punk’s return during the post-Survivor Series press conference and had much kinder words than Rollins.
“I don’t want to be short with my response, but it truly is this. If he can help with where we’re going and what we’re doing, absolutely. Welcome aboard,” Rhodes said. “I have a feeling that the CM Punk that potentially we’re getting is hungry, and that’s the best.
“When someone is hungry, and someone wants it. That’s when it’s real. I’ll give kudos and flowers to Triple H and Nick Khan for getting that done. You can ask all the boys and girls until they are blue in the face, ‘How do you feel?’ You might get up, you might get down, you might have a wide range of emotions, but the first thing, always, is business. We’re doing record business. It feels like everybody wants to be here. The more the merrier.”
H/T Wrestling Inc.
A Calm And Wise Punk Or A Backstage Brawler
The WWE Universe is still processing the arrival of Punk back to WWE. Some Superstars are probably excited and some less so. It will be interesting to see how WWE uses him, but they have used Rhodes very well so there seems to be no punishment for AEW wrestlers coming back to WWE.
However, the biggest question on everyone’s mind is will CM Punk behave himself? Will there be more backstage brawls? Is there something written into his contract about fights? Will Punk be able to stay healthy enough to make his WWE return worth it? Let us know if you would like to see Punk be the one to defeat Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
KEEP READING: Triple H Talks About His Approach To Storytelling And Why He Has Been So Successful
Sources; Post-Survivor Series press conference, Wrestling Inc., Wrestling Inc., Wrestling Inc.
