As noted before, CM Punk made his official return to WWE at this past Saturday’s Survivor Series 2023 event in Rosemont, Illinois.
Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso reported that his sources stated that WWE officials currently have plans for a feud between CM Punk and Roman Reigns. Barrasso reported that this will not be Punk’s first major feud back in WWE and instead Punk will be feuding with Seth Rollins first. Barrasso also reported that it is currently not known when this feud between Punk and Reigns will be taking place.
Barrasso speculated that this planned Punk vs. Reigns feud might not take place at next year’s WrestleMania 40 event and Punk vs. Rollins as the main event of Night 1 of next year’s event could be a potential option instead.
A tease of a potential Punk vs. Reigns feud was first hinted at by Punk during his in-ring promo on Monday’s WWE RAW show in Nashville, Tennessee. During his promo, Punk stated that a “wise man” once told he that in order to get everything needed out of this place (WWE), I would have to leave and come back. Punk stated that this “wise man” was right. This “wise man” reference is Paul Heyman’s current nickname in The Bloodline.
In regards to the backstage locker room reaction to Punk’s return to WWE, Barrasso reported that multiple talents spoken to stated that there are concerns about how Punk will integrate himself in their locker room following his actions in AEW. This current feeling reportedly is reminiscent of Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott’s returns in 2002 in regards to there being a heightened level of concerns about their reputation and actions in WCW.
Several talent spoken to within AEW reportedly currently feel that Punk will be on his best behavior in the beginning in WWE but also brought up that Punk’s typically runs do not end well. Those spoken to within WWE’s locker room reportedly stated that they believe that their locker room is far more united than AEW’s locker room.
Barrasso reported that his sources confirmed that WWE CCO Paul “Triple H” Levesque and WWE CEO Nick Khan were the people responsible for putting together Punk’s return to the company.