We now know more on when you can expect to see CM Punk next.
At last night’s Survivor Series in Chicago, Illinois, CM Punk made his shocking return to WWE to a thunderous ovation from his home crowd. Punk’s AEW contract was terminated in early September this year, with speculation having been rife about a possible return to WWE ever since.
PWInsider have now provided additional information on Punk’s return, firstly noting that the former WWE Champion is expected to be at this Monday’s episode of RAW in Nashville, Tennessee.
“We are told by one WWE source that CM Punk is expected at Raw in Nashville this Monday.”
-PWInsider
It had also been report that he’s expected at RAW by fightful select too.
Regarding his involvement at last night’s event, the PWInsider report notes that Punk was not backstage during the Survivor Series PLE until shortly before he was to come out for his post-main event cameo.
Additionally, the company reportedly secured an area of the building for him and had everyone nearby move elsewhere in order to protect the surprise.
During the post-show media scrum, Triple H claimed that the decision to bring Punk into the company was a “lightning in a bottle” moment that only he and Nick Khan were clued in on within the creative and production teams.
PWInsider’s report corroborated this, noting that no one else in the creative or production side were aware until the show itself, whilst select few on the talent side are believed to have been clued in ahead of the show.
“We are told that what Triple H said during the post-PPV media call was correct, that he and Nick Khan were the point people involved in bringing Punk back into the company and that literally no one else in the creative and production side of the company were made aware until during the PPV. We are told a small select group at that point were aware and that most talents were not made aware until moments before the bout, although it believed at least a few were clued in privately before that.”
-PWInsider
During Punk’s absence from wrestling following his AEW contract termination, various reports emerged indicating that IMPACT Wrestling, who are set to return to their original TNA moniker in January next year, were heavily interested in securing his services.
PWInsider are now reporting that conversations regarding Punk’s WWE return began less than a week ago, and until that point, he was “mulling over” a major offer from IMPACT Wrestling.
“The WWE conversations, as PWInsider.com reported late last night, began less than a week ago. Until that point, Impact Wrestling had made a major money offer to Punk which we are told he was mulling over. In speaking to Impact sources after Punk’s WWE return, we are told that Punk was “amazing” in his dealings with top Impact execs, including Scott D’Amore and Lou D’Angeli, during discussions. Impact sources felt they were very close to scoring Punk and at one point, hoped he would even be at Bound for Glory as part of the unveiling of the return of TNA, which did not happen. The conversations between the two sides continued after that PPV. In speaking to Impact sources, while the company had hoped Punk would come in there full-time, they realized the reality of the situation involving WWE and how much money could be made and were happy for Punk. We also heard from several Impact talents overnight who said they were appreciative of the time and advice Punk had spent with them at several tapings in Chicago when he visited.”
-PWInsider
Alongside speculation regarding both IMPACT/TNA and WWE, some fans also believed that an AEW return was on the cards, with the assumption being that he would eventually be revealed to be The Devil the company keeps teasing in their MJF storylines.
This will clearly now not be the case, and PWInsider noted that this was never scheduled to happen even prior to his talks with WWE.
As for the reactions of Seth Rollins and Drew Mclntyre, the report highlighted that Rollins’ reaction was potentially a work, whilst McIntyre’s is believed to have been a legitimate reaction as there were no cameras backstage unlike Rollins’ theatrics infront of the live crowd.
Finally, PWInsider noted that, despite some publications claiming that they reported that Punk has signed a three-year deal with WWE, this was never the case.
As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on CM Punk’s WWE return as soon as we hear more.
