CM Punk returned to WWE, and he faced a lot of history. It seems that important locations were all around him, from the very building that hosted Survivor Series in his home city. His return to RAW also caused him to face a venue he knew too well.
CM Punk’s WWE Return Hit Different For Him
Punk’s RAW return took place in Cleveland, the very same venue that hosted the RAW in 2014 where he walked out of the company. This was not lost on him at all, and he felt it as well.
Punk emphasized the stark differences between his return to WWE and his earlier comeback to pro wrestling with AEW. Each venture held its unique set of circumstances, making the comparison notable. Still, a WWE return meant Punk was going home, so it hit different.
“100% of CM Punk was nervous,” The Second City Savior told Jackie Redman on the Jackie Redman Show. He then went on to say that returning to pro wrestling, with his AEW debut, was a much different thing than coming back to WWE. Things are different for Punk now too, as he is the “old man on the ice” as he made a much-expected hockey reference.
Returning to wrestling is one thing. Returning to WWE is a completely different animal. I didn’t know how things would go. It’s not like I was off TV for a super long time, but you still, as a performer, you’re like, ‘Is anyone going to remember me?’ I was legit in an arena that had not been kind to me throughout my career. My first UFC fight was in that building. It was also hugely cathartic because I’m very much a guy who, if you ask me if I’m ready, I’m going to tell you ‘no’ because part of the juice is being in front of a live crowd. I’m the old guy on the ice now. I can stretch and warm up and I’m not going to be ready until I’m on the ice, the whistle blows, and the puck drops. Now, I’m ready. I need to be in front of the crowd and I need to see the red light on the camera and it’s like, ‘Okay, now, it’s go time.’”
CM Punk’s WWE Return & Beyond
CM Punk’s return to WWE came out of nowhere. Nobody expected it, except for the people who were guessing. As Triple H said in the Survivor Series press conference, Punk’s deal came together within the last 10 days before it happened, with his deal getting signed that day, far beyond the point where anyone who knew anything thought it would actually happen.
Now that Punk got that debut over with, he was accepted with open arms. He has yet to wrestle a match on television since his return yet. The former AEW World Champion did wrestle Dominik Mysterio during the January 26th and 30th WWE Holiday Tour live events at Madison Square Garden and the KIA Forum respectively.
Punk will wrestle at the 2024 Royal Rumble event in Tropicana Field on January 27th. He has a strong story going into the event, and a lot of motivation to win the match and secure a WrestleMania main event that has been out of his reach for over a decade.