Inside The Return Of CM Punk

The impossible has become a reality in WWE

WWE signed its most significant free agent in decades this past Saturday, reintroducing CM Punk to the company at Survivor Series in his hometown of Chicago.

And Vince McMahon wasn’t the driving force behind it.

Courtesy WWE

The new era of WWE was on full display with the return of Punk, who left the company in 2014 and received termination papers on his wedding day. McMahon oversaw that clerical error, which he apologized for on the Steve Austin Show almost exactly eight years ago. Interestingly, McMahon also noted, “I hope that, one day, we’ll be able to get back together again.”

That day took place on Saturday at Survivor Series, as Punk returned right before the show went off the air. As the crowd in Chicago erupted, the Internet exploded, and the moment will stand as one of the most exciting surprises in WWE’s storied history.

And it was engineered by the company’s top power brokers: Paul “Triple H” Levesque and Nick Khan.

Levesque, WWE’s Head of Creative, and Khan, who is WWE President, have crafted an entirely different level of intrigue and excitement in the product by embedding Punk into the company. The result is that, after a nine-year split filled with acrimony and a contentious lawsuit, Punk is back in WWE.

Punk’s contract, Sports Illustrated confirmed, extends beyond WrestleMania. On the subject of WrestleMania, Punk’s presence adds to a star-studded show. Though he did not appear at WrestleMania 30, Punk will be part of WrestleMania 40 a decade later–and it is entirely possible that he is joined by John Cena, Brock Lesnar, and possibly even Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Prior to Punk’s return at Survivor Series, the talent in the main event were made aware that the show was ending with Punk. Much was made of Seth Rollins’ reaction to Punk’s arrival, as a visibly upset Rollins expressed his frustration through both words and actions.

One of Levesque’s most trusted performers, Rollins was entrusted with the responsibility of establishing a brand-new title as world heavyweight champion, a role in which he has flourished. Levesque would not send Rollins out in front of a global audience without informing him what was going to unfold. To Rollins’ credit, people bought into the story being told, generating significant interest in his frustrated reaction to Punk’s return.

Courtesy WWE

There are plans for Punk to feud with Roman Reigns, Sports Illustrated has learned. But it will not be Punk against Reigns first, as that spot belongs to Rollins. A feud between Rollins and Punk is a massive positive for both men. Punk can still wrestle at a high-level, but his work will only be enhanced in the ring with a world-class wrestler like Rollins. While it is not the current favorite, there is plenty of reason to believe Punk-Rollins could serve as the main event for the opening night of WrestleMania 40. For Rollins, that would simply not be the case without Punk.

Punk’s return to Raw is also strategic. WWE’s top executives (specifically Khan) are hard at work on a lucrative new media rights deal. During his controversial run in AEW, Punk proved to be a phenomenal asset with Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.

A Deeper Look at CM Punk’s Dismissal from AEW

Punk was a key figure in the creation of AEW’s new Collision show, which was set to be built around him. Ironically, had Punk stayed with AEW instead of getting terminated this past summer, he likely would have worked Collision on Saturday instead of making his industry-altering return at Survivor Series.

Speaking with multiple members of the active WWE roster, Sports Illustrated confirmed there are concerns about how Punk will integrate himself in the locker room. Though his run in AEW was exciting, it was also extremely divisive. Punk had his share of enemies, as well as plenty of supporters. The feeling is reminiscent of the WWE returns of Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall in 2002, when there was a heightened concern about their reputation and actions in WCW. But all three did business in WWE, which is exactly what Punk is expected to do.

Speaking with a handful of AEW talent, the feeling is Punk will be on his best behavior in the beginning in WWE. But historically, multiple people added, Punk’s runs do not end well. Multiple WWE talent noted to Sports Illustrated their belief that the WWE locker room is far more united than the one in AEW, which has proven susceptible to leaks.

A major element in Punk’s return is that WWE did not chase him. Punk opened the line of communication, and he listened, and then agreed, to what was asked of him before signing his contract.

Punk is motivated to show the world his best, to such an extent that he has returned to a place he once vowed to have exited permanently. His re-entry back into the company where he became an international star cannot be understated: it is one of the most compelling returns in wrestling history.

On top of all that, it was not engineered by McMahon, who had been the WWE’s end-all, be-all for the last four decades. The times, clearly, have changed. It is Levesque and Khan who are responsible for reacquiring Punk and turning the entire industry upside down.

Punk is back in WWE, and the excitement begins anew.