There was reason to be concerned about CM Punk returning to WWE when he did back in 2023. Beyond his prior issues with the company that led to his walking out all the way back in 2014 and ultimately being fired on his wedding day, he had spent a tumultuous couple of years with AEW, one that included multiple fights and accusations of being a backstage cancer.
To the surprise of many, however, there hasn’t even been smoke let alone any fires to put out. If anything, he’s been a model employee contractor for WWE, headlining WrestleMania multiple times, including absolutely carrying this year’s show in Las Vegas. He’s largely been missing from TV since losing the world heavyweight championship to Roman Reigns at that very event, and it’s led to some questions.
The good news is there are no issues, and scheduling changes are to blame.
That’s the word from False Finish — piggybacking off a Fightful Select report that said something similar — who note that Punk is simply “awaiting creative to return to WWE TV.” What’s more, he’s been away because “WWE made the decision to move Gunther to SmackDown along with bringing Jacob Fatu to RAW to feud with Roman Reigns.”
This is a best case scenario in every way other than the fact that at least this writer is on record as saying WWE television has gone off a cliff since Punk has been gone. Let’s hope creative gets it together sooner rather than later.