CM Punk stepped back into the WWE ring for the first time since 2014 on Tuesday night. That December 26th Madison Square Garden live event saw the Second City Savior face off against Dominik Mysterio. It also appears that CM Punk had a bit of an issue with his gear before that big match.

CM Punk’s Issue with his Gear

CM Punk already teased his WWE return gear, but that is not what he wrestled in at MSG. Although he showed off his long boi tights before, he sported generic black trunks and knee pads for the big match in the World’s Most Famous Arena, leaving spectators puzzled.

Ibou from WrestlePurists shared his insights on X, as he revealed that CM Punk had initially ordered special ring gear for his Madison Square Garden match. Unfortunately, the gear didn’t fit, leading Punk to don plain attire for the occasion.

“They’re gonna be plain. The gear he ordered doesn’t fit and has to wear generic replacement gear.”

They’re gonna be plain. The gear he ordered doesn’t fit and has to wear generic replacement gear.

— Ibou (@BackupHangman) December 26, 2023

CM Punk’s Big Night

Despite the unexpected wardrobe change, the excitement for CM Punk’s in-ring return wasn’t affected. Fans can only hope that future matches, particularly leading up to The Royal Rumble, will not have any further issues with CM Punk’s gear, but it didn’t seem to matter in MSG.

That WWE live event at Madison Square Garden also broke a historic record. It was a big night for CM Punk, and the rest of the WWE Universe, even if Punk had to figure out different gear for the show.

It’s almost time.@CMPunk is ready for #WWEMSG! pic.twitter.com/AyaqBPckOM

— WWE (@WWE) December 27, 2023

CM Punk’s successful return to the ring saw the WWE Raw Superstar recapture some of the magic from his in-ring debut for AEW. 

At last night’s WWE live event in Madison Square Gareden, Punk defeated Dominik Mysterio in his first match for WWE since January 2014. This match was Punk’s first bout of any promotion since AEW All In 2023 as he was fired just days after that show. Punk will face ‘Dirty Dom’ again at the upcoming WWE live event in Inglewood, California on December 30. 

CM Punk Recreates AEW Spot

Punk held nothing back during his match with the Judgment Day member, and even made reference to his AEW in-ring debut at All Out 2021. During one section of the match, Mysterio took to the turnbuckle and Punk sat up and laughed, replicating a spot from Punk’s match with Darby Allin three years ago. You can check out the spot in question below. 

CM Punk recreated the Darby Allin spot from his AEW in ring debut tonight at #WWEMSG pic.twitter.com/41mMUgnwxm

— Anutosh Bajpai || SEScoops || Wrestling News (@AuthorAnutosh) December 27, 2023

CM Punk’s Wardrobe Malfunction

While CM Punk made an impactful return to the ring at the WWE MSG event, his ring attire for the show was somewhat underwhelming. Rather than his typical Chicago-inspired trunks, Punk wore plain back trunks for the match. As Wrestle Purists noted before the show, the trunks Punk had planned to wear did not fit, meaning he had to don his back-up trunks which were the plain black ones fans saw at this show. 

WWE has made history in Madison Square Garden many times in the past. They ran the famous venue on December 26th, and their trend of historic moments continued. The event was already set to be memorable for many reasons, but they also broke a financial record.

WWE Broke A Huge Record With 12/26 MSG Event

CM Punk marked his in-ring comeback on December 26th at MSG against Dominik Mysterio. Sami Zayn also returned to the ring after a hiatus. Fans in NYC witnessed a fantastic live event, and they showed up in droves, with a total sell-out.

WHAT. A. MOMENT. @CMPunk has arrived to #WWEMSG!!! pic.twitter.com/iJK1MV7RHR

— WWE (@WWE) December 27, 2023

According to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, the December 26th Madison Square Garden live event set a massive record. It was the highest-grossing non-televised domestic WWE event ever.

Internal WWE live events reports claim that WWE’s live event in Madison Square Garden was sold out. The event was said to be the highest grossing domestic non-televised event of all-time for WWE.

WWE MSG 12/26 Results:

The event included four championship matches, concluding with the main event between Drew McIntyre and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.

In the opening match of the night, Becky Lynch defeated Zoey Stark. Then, Kofi Kingston beat Ludwig Kaiser, and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships match saw Kayden Carter & Katana Chance successfully defend against Chelsea Green & Piper Niven.

“I did jackshit what are you talking abt” ?

Mami the menace that you are ?

? @Eleven_Simms | #WWEMSG pic.twitter.com/pyx9OBjrwS

— Dominik Mysterio | Fansite (@DomMysterioFans) December 27, 2023

Omos, accompanied by MVP, and he beat against R-Truth. In the WWE Women’s World Championship Triple Threat Match, Rhea Ripley defended her title by defeating Ivy Nile & Shayna Baszler.

The Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships remained with Judgment Day after they defeated Jey Uso & Sami Zayn. That match marked Sami’s return to in-ring action after a short hiatus.

CM Punk secured a win against Dominik Mysterio. Rhea Ripley was with Dirty Dominik during the match, and it also marked Punk’s first WWE match since 2014.

Ricochet beat Bronson Reed. Then, Cody Rhodes beat Shinsuke Nakamura in a bull rope match. The final match of the night was for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in a No-DQ Match, where Seth Rollins successfully defended his title against Drew McIntyre.

?? ?? ??

A special moment from @WWERollins to end a memorable night at #WWEMSG ? pic.twitter.com/7nbGflpHLO

— WWE (@WWE) December 27, 2023

WWE returned to Madison Square Garden on December 26th, and they brought a massive show to the World’s Most Famous Arena. CM Punk had his first match in WWE since 2014, and Dominik Mysterio got to share that moment with the Second City Savior.

CM PUNK #WWEMSG pic.twitter.com/7SztR6mW7E

— aya (@cosmicbanks) December 27, 2023

CM Punk’s In-Ring Return

CM Punk’s return to WWE was a surprise for many fans who never anticipated it. While his televised wrestling return may have to wait until the Royal Rumble on January 27th, the Second City Savior marked his return to action at Madison Square Garden.

CM PUNK TRIED TO TAKE DOWN BRYON SAXTON LMAOOOOOOOOO#WWEMSG

pic.twitter.com/miRFZTLrCl

— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) December 27, 2023

On December 26th, as part of WWE’s Holiday Tour in MSG, CM Punk faced Dominik Mysterio. The atmosphere at Madison Square Garden was electric, with fans showing up in droves to chant for Punk.

https://twitter.com/drjonosuave/status/1739828913096753398

CM Punk vs Dominik Mysterio at MSG

Dominik Mysterio and CM Punk had some fun playing with the crowd before the match started. They seemed to work well together, as the NYC crowd did not have a quiet moment.

THE CROWD IS PHENOMENAL IS MSG!#WWEMSG#CMPunkpic.twitter.com/muoAQ2ueMO

— WrestlingManiac (@BestInT49159140) December 27, 2023

The match concluded with CM Punk securing the victory after delivering the GTS to Dominik Mysterio. This popped the crowd in a big way, as one would expect.

CM Punk defeats Dom Mysterio. #WWEMSG pic.twitter.com/3d7M76QSsT

— Justin J. Lopez (@stellar_jl319) December 27, 2023

Post-Match Promo

CM Punk cut an ultimate babyface promo after the match was over as well. He thanked fans for standing behind him. Then he encouraged everyone to shake the hand of the person behind him because, “we are all in this together.” That promo after the match was incredibly well-received.

Punker’s full post match promo! pic.twitter.com/6XhCyLeeKH

— Teffo (@Teffo_01) December 27, 2023

What’s next for CM Punk and Dominik Mysterio

CM Punk and Dominik Mysterio will wrestle again on December 30th. That match will take place at the KIA Forum in Los Angeles. CM Punk will wrestle again at the Royal Rumble in Tropicana Field. He also has his eye on a main event match at WrestleMania 40. It will be hard to keep him from that match if he continues this momentum.

CM Punk says he's only just getting started on his story to main eventing WrestleMania #WWEMSGpic.twitter.com/dyAHPjqdrW

— CrispyWrestling (@CrispyWrestlin) December 27, 2023

Before CM Punk puts on the kickpads for his first match back with WWE, he’s appreciative of the journey he’s had so far.

Ahead of his match at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, Punk took to Instagram to express his gratitude to the fans and his squared circle colleagues that came before him.

“Grateful for all the fans who have carried me to my greatest moments. Thankful for the legends that paved the roads I travel. I wouldn’t be who I am without all of you. Thank you. ‘So goes The Garden, so goes the business.'”

Punk indeed paid homage in that very story as he was wearing the hoodie of a legend he’s continuosly been a fan of: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.

CM Punk Has A First-Ever Legacy Match Waiting For Him At MSG

CM Punk will pack a punch in The Big Apple this evening as he’ll be going up against a white-hot heel in Dominik Mysterio. Punk was quick to cultivate a feud with Dirty Dom on his social media when he shared a photo over ten years ago of him confronting a young Dom in the ring with the Mysterio family. Dom fired back with his own post before he crossed the competitve lines and shared a “botch” clip of Punk during his AEW run.

Mysterio sure seems like an appropriate starting point for CM Punk’s WWE return as not only does it tie back to his Straight Edge Society feud with Rey Mysterio, but Punk clearly likes working with younger talent.

WWE star CM Punk recently talked about his favorite Holiday tradition amid Christmas celebrations.

WWE has been adding to the holiday spirit as they have delayed their live events until the final five days of the year. CM Punk, who recently made his return to WWE spoke with his biggest fan and NXT star Cora Jade. In a TikTok video, they reminisced about their ways of celebrating the holidays.

It is needless to mention that Cora Jade is a massive fan of CM Punk, and a video of her meeting the star while she was a child went viral in the past. Years before she joined WWE, Jade was spotted being emotional while meeting Punk. They finally had a reunion at NXT Deadline during a backstage interview with Jade. Punk told her that he is proud of how far she has come.

CM Punk loves putting up the Christmas tree with AJ Lee 

Cora Jade recently posted a new video with CM Punk on her Instagram which saw her being asked to name her favorite WWE holiday traditions. The former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion said that she loved meeting superstars during the holiday tour and showed an image of her meeting Punk back in the day. 

Punk then revealed that his favorite Christmas tradition is putting up the tree with his wife, former superstar AJ Lee. 

Cora Jade is aiming to capture the NXT Women’s Championship currently held by Lyra Valkyria. Meanwhile, CM Punk will make his in-ring return to WWE in the upcoming WWE live event match against The Judgm
ent Day’s Dominik Mysterio.

Chris Jericho could be prepared to spill the beans regarding what happened backstage at AEW All Out 2022, provided he is allowed. 

At the September 2022 pay-per-view, CM Punk captured his second AEW World Championship, besting Jon Moxley in the show’s main event. After the show, Punk would shoot on several members of the AEW roster. Backstage, Punk, Ace Steel, The Elite, and others would participate in a backstage fight that resulted in all parties being suspended.

Chris Jericho and the NDA

This week, it was reported that all those involved in the backstage fight at All Out 2022 were dealing with a non-disclosure agreement. The only exception, according to these reports, is Lucy Guy, the wife of Ace Steel, who was present at the backstage altercation. On Twitter, Chris Jericho claimed that he is not bound by an NDA, implying that he could soon speak about the backstage fight. 

This comment caught the attention of Steve New, the legal representative of both Ace Steel and CM Punk. New claimed that Jericho will have some sort of NDA in his employee handbook unless he has a very special agreement with AEW. New also offered to comb over Jericho’s contract. 

It’s in your employee handbook unless you have a special one. We can figure it out

— Steve New (@StephenPNew) December 25, 2023

Jericho didn’t take too kindly to New’s comments. In a fiery response, Jericho claimed New was trying to be a bully and added that New “should shut your mark ass up.”

Hey @StephenPNew– I don’t adhere to an employee handbook and have NEVER had one in 4 years of working for @aew. Ive also never signed an NDA in my life ….ever. So stop trying to be a bully and making egotistical fantasy brags for your clients, and start doing some research… https://t.co/P8Fjda7d9K

— Chris Jericho (@IAmJericho) December 25, 2023

Chris Jericho & the Brawl

Chris Jericho was one of the most vocal critics of CM Punk following what transpired last year in Chicago. Jericho called CM Punk a “cancer” following All Out, a comment that would be echoed by WWE’s Seth Rollins months later. Jericho would reportedly be part of a team that tried to prevent Punk’s return but the Chicago-Made wrestler was brought back in June of this year. After Punk’s firing from AEW in September, Jericho called Punk’s departure regrettable. 

CM Punk returned to WWE after nearly a decade away from the company. That Survivor Series return brought Chicago fans to a frenzy, but he wasn’t the only return that night.

Looking Back At CM Punk’s WWE Survivor Series Return

Randy Orton needed back fusion surgery in 2022, a fact that cost him 18 months of in-ring competition. The Apex Predator also returned at Survivor Series, where he helped his team win the WarGames match. Then CM Punk returned to steal the spotlight. 

While speaking to Rewind, Recap, Relive, Heath Slater discussed CM Punk’s return to WWE. He saw it as a very cool moment, but he also feels as though it overshadowed Randy Orton’s return to the ring. 

“I mean it’s a thing in the wrestling world with the fans and the popularity of it. I mean, it’s a cool moment. Come on, man, it’s been a decade pretty much. It’s a cool moment.”

“Do I wish that they would have done it at WarGames? No, because I feel that Randy should have had a great moment, too.”

“Because Randy is amazing. He’s one of those Hall of Famers, icons, legends. If you sculpt out what a Superstar should be, it’s Randy. I feel like it overshadowed Randy’s moment. But, it was a cool moment, of course.” 

“The whole backstage drama BS drama, it’s there. We all know it’s there. How will it be handled now? Who knows? I guess we’ll see. He can burn bridges, but he can re-build them. Who knows? Who the hell knows? For the fans and the people who watch WWE, cool moment.” 

Heath Slater went on to say that CM Punk “always stuck with himself a lot,” even as leader of the new Nexus faction. Still, Slater had good things to say about CM Punk’s return to WWE being a cool moment. He might have decided against running that return right after Randy Orton’s first match in 18 months.

CM Punk’s WWE Return So Far

CM Punk’s return to WWE has been a financially successful decision. He is selling a truckload of merchandise, his name is trending, and Warner Bros Discovery may have re-entered the discussion for RAW’s next television deal just because of his return.

The jury is still out on whether CM Punk can avoid those backstage issues that he’s known for. As it stands right now, CM Punk’s homecoming is going just fine. 

WWE has made sure that fans know when exactly they can expect to see CM Punk now that he is a Superstar once again. 

It’s been less than a month since Punk’s shocking return to WWE in the closing moments of Survivor Series: WarGames. Since then, the former World Champion has been one of WWE’s most featured performers and appeared on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT before exclusively signing with the red brand. 

CM Punk’s Upcoming Appearances 

Fans won’t have to wait long until CM Punk makes his long-awaited return to the ring. In his first WWE match since 2014, Punk will face Dominik Mysterio at the December 26 Live Event in Madison Square Garden. Punk will also face Mysterio at the December 30th event in Inglewood, California. 

On social media, Punk shared a timeline of his next appearances for WWE. After these live events, CM Punk will be on the January 8, episode of Monday Night Raw from Portland, Oregon. Punk’s next appearance will be on January 22, show from New Orleans, Louisiana. This show will be the go-home Raw before the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event, where Punk will compete in the Men’s Royal Rumble match. 

WWE have announced the following dates for CM Punk appearances for the road to the 2024 #RoyalRumble. pic.twitter.com/7uFCa7DcMf

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) December 23, 2023

What’s Next for CM Punk? 

The former AEW World Champion is being considered a favorite to win next month’s Men’s Royal Rumble match. If so, Punk is expected to challenge reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins. The pair have been at odds ever since Punk’s return and Rollins recently explained why he’s taken issue with Punk’s return. 

CM Punk and The Elite had it out backstage at AEW All Out last year, but nobody’s allowed to talk about it. The lengths of that non-disclosure agreement stretch pretty far, ensuring that nobody involved in that altercation can divulge anything.

What Happened During Brawl Out

CM Punk went off during the press conference after All Out 2022. He was bloody, hungry, cursing, injured, AEW World Champion and irritated. All of those things culminated in a rant against Colt Cabana and the Young Bucks. When Punk was finished at the media scrum, Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks went to visit Punk’s locker room with AEW’s legal rep to discuss this situation.

CM Punk allegedly threw the first punch, but details are sketchy from that point on. We know that Matt Jackson had a chair thrown at him, and CM Punk’s dog, Larry, may have lost a tooth. In the end, it was incredibly violent, messy, and blew up in no time.

Ace Steel was also involved in the Brawl Out ordeal, and he was fired from AEW due to his involvement. He was accused of biting Kenny Omega during the brawl. Despite being rehired and working remotely after CM Punk’s return, he was let go again shortly after Punk’s firing from AEW.

CM Punk & Ace Steel Lawyer Up

The legal representation for both CM Punk and Ace Steel during that situation was provided by Stephen P. New, who has notable pro wrestling connections via Jim Cornette. It appears that they had a good working relationship, despite the tricky situation.

During an appearance on Wrestling With Rip Rogers, Stephen P. New discussed Brawl Out and the associated NDAs. In response to a question about the lifetime nature of NDAs, the attorney straightforwardly affirmed that they indeed last for life.

Stephen P New simply stated, “yes” when asked if there are lifetime NDAs in place, meaning that nobody can ever speak about that night.

CM Punk did make a crack about how it’s 2023, so you can’t just go around hitting people backstage. That was likely a reference to how he punched Jungle Boy, and not The Elite. That was Brawl In, not Brawl Out. 

Legally, The Second City Savior must stay away from any talk about his brawl with The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega in Chicago. Hopefully, they can keep it that way to avoid another legal situation.  

Booker T believes CM Punk has brought back a refreshing attitude since returning to WWE.

The two-time WWE Hall Of Famer was speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast with Brad Gilmore, and made mention of Punk’s presence, who has been a very proactive participant in helping out down in NXT.

“Punk seemed to enjoy it. He’s been down there every time I’ve been to work. ‘What are you doing here?’ He’s been very refreshing. It’s been a different CM Punk. CM Punk said this time around, it’s not about him, it’s about the fans.”

The talent down at NXT have clearly welcomed Punk in with open arms, who is reportedly eyeing a leadership role down the road with the brand. Both Cora Jade and Roxanne Perez were photographed working out with Punk who playfully called the session a “father/daughter” day at the gym.

Being a commentator for NXT, Booker speaks to the energy down in NXT with Shawn Michaels and the crew he’s assembled. He believes Punk is feeling a good deal of that energy as well.

“At NXT, these guys are learning and trying to figure it out. I can give advice here, give advice here. For me, I think that’s what he’s feeling, being down there because it is uplifting be part of the system down there. Those guys give you that kind of energy.”

Punk is clearly making an effort to show an ability to change and work with everyone. On a recent YouTube episode of the ‘Oh You Didn’t Know’ podcast, Road Dogg Brian James talked about he and Punk hugged it out at catering when the two saw one another and that hug was prompted by Punk himself.

Since his recent WWE return, CM Punk has already proven to move a staggering amount of merchandise. As WWE negotiates the next media rights deal for Monday Night Raw (starting October 2024), Punk is already giving WWE increased leverage as it finalizes where Raw will air for the next several years. More on that right here:

WWE saw CM Punk return to the company, and that means things may have to shift around. Not only are WrestleMania plans getting altered to make room for the Second City Savior, but their promotional materials are also changing.

CM Punk’s WWE Return Changed Things

CM Punk’s return to WWE at Survivor Series generated excitement among fans, moving merchandise and tickets like hotcakes, solidifying his status as a major draw for the company. Now that he is officially a RAW Superstar, the company made room for him. Sadly, that meant one Superstar had to go.

Jey Uso made his return during WWE Payback after a brief hiatus, after he quit the Bloodline, SmackDown, and WWE. Cody Rhodes brought him over to RAW, where he became a top babyface for the brand. 

Jey Uso was prominently featured on the RAW banner and posters. However, recent changes on WWE’s official website reveal that CM Punk has now taken Jey Uso’s place on the Monday Night RAW banner. 

The New WWE RAW Banner

As you can see in the before and after photos of the WWE RAW banner, CM Punk was moved in, and Jey Usos was bumped. The banner now features CM Punk, Rhea Ripley, Cody Rhodes, Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins and GUNTHER.

What’s Next For Jey Uso

WWE is gearing up for another road to WrestleMania, and it appears that they are stacking their roster for that run to Philadelphia. Jey Uso is still a member of the RAW brand, where he has fans yelling “YEET!” That being said, CM Punk’s return to the fold meant that it’s “No YEET” for the RAW banner.

Jey Uso vs Jimmy Uso seems to be a logical WrestleMania 40 match. Perhaps, removing Jey Uso was going to happen eventually. Many fans would love to see that match go down in Philly.

This is nothing personal between Punk and Jey Uso, but it is notable that Punk took his spot, especially after Uce gave Punk flowers in such an incredible way upon his return.

CM Punk and Road Dogg Brian James have patched things up and it caused the latter to nearly tear up.

Speaking on a YouTube exclusive of the “Oh … You Didn’t Know?” podcast, Road Dogg talked about his interaction with Punk upon his WWE return. 

Dogg and Punk had professional friction between one another and Dogg has been critical of Punk in the past. However, Dogg did note even before Punk signed with WWE again, that he’d be a definite needle mover for the company.

Speaking with co-host Matt Mitchell, Dogg said that he first saw Punk at catering. Punk stood up and the two shook hands. Nothing was said but then Punk broke the ice by indicating James should pull a “Step Brothers” and come in for the hug.

“He literally shrugged his shoulders and went like, ‘Ah, come on’ and pulled me in and hugged me and… I’ll tell you the truth. It made me feel immediately like an a-hole, like I’m a piece of crap. It humbled me in myself if that makes sense (he laughed). I don’t know how else you can humble yourself but, it humbled me in a way where I thought, ‘I have talked negatively about you. and I thought negatively about you and then you embrace me and wow,’ you know what I mean?”

That wasn’t the only interaction the two had with one another. James has been back on the road with WWE and is the Senior VP of Live Events. The WWE Hall Of Famer believes that a higher power brought him and Punk together.

“I believe God works in mysterious ways and he worked that weekend. Every bit of it was orchestrated to put me and Punk in certain situations and I hope he hears this because I think he’ll realize the depth of it because, I don’t know. We were just put together for like five days in a row, working and working together and speaking about the future and what he’ll be doing as far as what I do in my job and so, I don’t know man. It felt very much like, ‘Stop talking bad about people, Brian. Stop thinking negatively about people…'”

CM Punk is set to make a return to the squared circle both in Los Angeles and in New York City ahead of The Royal Rumble.

Please credit “Oh, You Didn’t Know?” and h/t Andrew Thompson of POST Wrestling for the transcription.

Welcome to Weekly Primer, our early-in-the-week feature that lays out what’s on tap for the week ahead in the world of professional wrestling. Get caught-up on what’s trending and what to expect from the world’s top wrestling promotions.

Here are some of the top stories in wrestling we’re tracking as we start the week:

WWE/AEW Television Contract Maneuvering 

The biggest story right now in wrestling behind the scenes continues to be the future for WWE Monday Night Raw and AEW’s portfolio of shows. 

Last week, word came out that WWE has reportedly had some talks with Warner Bros. Discovery about moving Raw to TNT or TBS, the current home of AEW. Nobody is to be sure how much interest WBD has in paying out for WWE content, or the kind of ramifications this would have on AEW. From all indications, WBD has been very happy with AEW’s performance on the networks (typically finishing in the top five on cable television). 

Nobody outside of a handful of executives likely knows just how serious the WWE/WBD discussions really are. That being said, the latest episode of Top Rope Nation covered what is known right now, and you can view that show at this link over on the SEScoops YouTube channel. 

AEW Continental Classic Continues To Dominate

AEW’s Continental Classic continues to be the highlight of television for Tony Khan’s promotion. Last week’s Dynamite and Collision episodes were must-see television for anyone who likes good pro wrestling, and that should continue with this week’s shows with another great slate of tournament matches (full list on the weekly schedule below).

We are getting down to the closing rounds of the tournament, with the semi-finals scheduled to take place next week before the finals occur at the Worlds End PPV event on December 30. 

AJ Styles Is Back

AJ Styles made his anticipated return to WWE on last Friday’s edition of SmackDown, and he has Roman Reigns in his sights. Styles saved Randy Orton and LA Knight from The Bloodline, then took out Knight himself and walked off, seemingly turning heel in the process.

This week on SmackDown, Styles will take on Solo Sikoa, but both Orton and Knight seem to be in the mix for a title shot at Reigns. Will we have a multi-man match against Reigns at the Royal Rumble in January, or will one of these match rise above the rest? We should find out soon. 

CM Punk’s First WWE Match Looms

CM Punk will finally step between the ropes in a match for WWE again very soon. Punk has been announced for two matches now, both against Dominik Mysterio. 

Punk will wrestle Mysterio at the WWE live event at Madison Square Garden next week, on December 26. He’ll follow that up with another match against Mysterio on December 30 in Los Angeles at another non-televised live event. 

SEScoops Live Shows This Week

The SEScoops Podcast, hosted by SEScoops Managing Editor Zack Heydorn and Tyler Sage, airs live Tuesday night on YouTube. Join the show live or catch it via your favorite podcasting platform afterward.

Top Rope Nation, hosted by SEScoops Site Manager Ryan Droste, Justin Joynt, and Jesse Velasquez airs most weeks on Thursday night at 9:30 pm Eastern on YouTube. This week’s show will be a Patreon special bonus show on Tuesday night. 

Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google News to stay up to date.

Monday Primer for December 11 – December 16

Monday (December 18)

WWE Raw: WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championship Match: The Judgment Day (Finn Balor and Damian Priest) defend against The Creed Brothers. WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Chelsea Green and Piper Niven defend against Katana Chance and Kayden Carter. WWE International Championship Match: Gunther defends against The Miz (if Miz loses, he will not be able to challenge for the title as long as Gunther is champion). Seth Rollins will address Drew McIntyre

Tuesday (December 19)

NXT: Fallon Henley vs. Tiffany Stratton. Men’s Breakout Tournament: Lexis King vs. Dion Lennox. Izzi Dame & Kiana James vs. Jacy Jayne & Thea Hail. NXT North American Championship: Dragon Lee vs. Charlie Dempsey and Joe Coffey. Men’s Breakout Tournament: Tavion Heights vs. Luca Crusifino. Nikkita Lyons vs. Tatum Paxley. Gallus (Wolfgang & Mark Coffey) vs. Hank Walker & Tank Ledger. Ridge Holland vs. Ilja Dragunov.

The SEScoops Podcast airs live on the SEScoops YouTube channel at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

Top Rope Nation airs at a special time this week as it is their monthly Patreon ‘Classics’ bonus show. This month’s, they will review World Class Championship Wrestling Christmas Star Wars 1982 on their Patreon channel. They’ll return to the SEScoops YouTube channel next week. 

Wednesday (December 20)

AEW Dynamite (Holiday Bash): Jon Moxley vs. Jay White (Continental Classic, Gold League). Swerve Strickland vs. Rush (Continental Classic, Gold League). Jay Lethal vs. Mark Briscoe (Continental Classic, Gold League). Roderick Strong vs. Komander. Saraya vs. Riho. Samoa Joe and MJF will speak.

Thursday (December 21)

Impact Wrestling: The Best of Impact Wrestling 2023, Part 1. 

MLW Fusion: Airs on the MLW YouTube Channel.

Friday (December 22)

WWE SmackDown: Santos Escobar vs. Bobby Lashley (US Title Shot Tournament). Dragon Lee vs. Butch. AJ Styles promo. Bianca Belair, Zelina Vegas, Michin vs. Damage CTRL. Kevin Owens vs. Carmelo Hays (US Title Shot Tournament). AJ Styles vs. Solo Sikoa. 

AEW Rampage: Nothing announced as of press time.

Saturday (December 23)

AEW Collision: Andrade El Idolo vs. Eddie Kingston (Continental Classic, Blue League). Brody King vs. Daniel Garcia (Continental Classic, Blue League). Claudio Castagnoli vs. Bryan Danielson (Continental Classic, Blue League). AEW World Trios Championship: The Acclaimed defend against Top Flight and Action Andretti. Julia Hart and Skye Blue vs. Abadon and Thunder Rosa. 

CM Punk and Ace Steel were both involved in the Brawl Out situation after All Out 2022. That ordeal cost Steel his job with AEW, and less than one year later, CM Punk was fired over a different backstage fight. Since that event is in the past, we are getting even more information about the inner workings of the messy situation. 

Earlier this month, Ace Steel shared insights into his time working at AEW and the aftermath of his and CM Punk’s involvement in the “Brawl Out” incident. He is very proud of CM Punk’s WWE return, and was quite candid about that fact.

The former AEW producer disclosed that they had legal representation from Stephen P. New, known for advising Jim Cornette, ensuring their proper handling after the incident. Following Steel’s revelation, Cornette offered his thoughts on the matter during an episode of Jim Cornette’s Drive-Thru.

“We weren’t going to be the ones to jump in and broadcast everybody’s business. But since Ace has publicly gone on record there, yes, Ace Steel and CM Punk were represented at various points this year by Stephen P. New in various parts of their issues with their former employers.”

“So instead, he got some of Tony Khan’s money not to go to work — which seems to be a very habitual thing that a lot of people are doing with that company — but at least this was legally orchestrated in a manner befitting an accomplished attorney and barrister like Stephen P. New.” 

According to Jim Cornette, it was because of Stephen P. New’s representation that Ace Steel is able to live with “religious freedom“, having been, as Jim Cornette described, unable to do the job he was being paid for due to being interfered with and ostracized by officials in the company.

Ace Steel was initially terminated by AEW due to his role in “Brawl Out” following All Out 2022. He later returned to work, reportedly at CM Punk’s request upon his rejoining the company, only to be released shortly after Punk’s termination with cause following another backstage altercation. Steel humorously remarked that perhaps only his wife could reveal the truth about the events, teasing that the details might surface in a future “Dark Side of the Ring” documentary.

Jim Cornette certainly feels a certain way about how things went down with CM Punk and AEW. Cornette also didn’t forget to give plenty of love to his attorney friend, Stephen P. New in the process.

CM Punk is now in WWE once again, an event that many didn’t think would be possible. The stars aligned, and Punk returned. Now, we get to see what his fresh start looks like after returning home.

If you have a legal jam that Stephen P New might be able to help with, you can reach out by visiting this link.

CM Punk may lay claim to being the ‘Best in the World’ but his fighting skills were outmatched by some WWE Superstars during a 2006 flight.

That year was a formative one for Punk, who made his TV debut as part of the relaunched ECW brand. Punk was a personal project of ECW head Paul Heyman, and would quickly become one of the most featured stars on the show. 

CM Punk’s On-Board Flights

On a recent edition of his Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker spoke about Punk and the relationship they have had in the ring. The Phenom recalled a time when Punk was traveling with the roster for the 2006 edition of Tribute to the Troops in Baghdad, Iraq. 

“Somehow or another, the discussion comes up. I don’t know if Vince instigated this one or not… CM Punk, he fashioned himself as a jiu-jitsu practitioner. Someone broached the question, ‘You did jiu-jitsu. How long do you think you could last with one of these two wrestlers?’ It was Bobby Lashley, who wrestled for the Army, and Shelton Benjamin, who wrestled at Minnesota.”

The Undertaker added that Punk was confident, telling the roster “I’ll tap them out.” Despite this bravado, Punk was quickly humbled by Lashley and Benjamin. 

“I want to say the first match lasted about 47 seconds. The other one was sub-40, where they had taken them down and pinned him. He didn’t back down, but my goodness, it was like blood in the water and two great white sharks circling.”

Years later, Punk would compete in the UFC and have similarly rotten luck. Punk lost two fights for the promotion, though one of his losses was overturned after his opponent tested positive for performance-enhancing substances. 

CM Punk may have accidentally revealed the ring attire he’ll wear for his WWE run going forward. Click here to find out more. 

CM Punk is full of ideas, but not all of those inspirations will see the light of day. It seems that the Second City Savior had a very interesting idea for Lio Rush while he was in AEW, one that would have seen a familiar face manage the former Cruiserweight Champion.

CM Punk’s Big Idea For Lio Rush In AEW

In an interview with MuscleManMalcolm, Lio Rush shared a CM Punk-related pitch that would have delighted many fans of Danielle Fishel and pro wrestling.

This idea would have seen the Boy Meets World star managing Lio Rush. Sadly, that idea never came to fruition. 

“I’ve got a story with CM Punk; I definitely have a story with CM Punk. I remember me and CM Punk doing like the beginning of the show when we first all came in the building. And I remember seeing him sitting in the bleachers, and I just walked over and introduced myself to him. Told him how much I looked up to him as, you know, as a kid. I didn’t want to make him feel old, but I told him that I looked up to him. That I appreciate his work and his time in WWE.”

“A couple of months later, probably about a month or two later, he ended up coming to me with an idea. I don’t even know if I should say this, but I’m just gonna say it anyway. I remember he came up with an idea where he wanted Danielle Fishel to come into AEW to be my manager because we had that mutual friend in Danielle. So, yeah, that was an idea that came up that he wanted to talk to me about that never really came to fruition. But yeah, that’s my CM Punk story. I’ve got a couple of more, but maybe I’ll save it for a book one day.”

Topanga did not make her AEW managerial debut alongside Lio Rush, but it was a good idea at the time. CM Punk and Lio Rush are both no longer with AEW, as they departed for their own controversial reasons.

Danielle Fishel is known for her pro wrestling fandom. She’s been spotted at plenty of pro wrestling events, and has also recently hung out with Trish Stratus and Mick Foley at a public appearance. Even though Tony Khan didn’t give Fishel her manager license that time around, we have to wonder if she’d be up to take on the challenge down the line.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C0Zx4tGJJzThttps://www.instagram.com/p/p:C0XMu1xJ2ld

CM Punk has worked with a variety of legends in his wrestling career, but perhaps, the biggest confidence booster came when Punk was paired to work with “The GOAT” — John Cena. 

Recently, Punk joined Elite Comics11 for a live stream on Instagram, in which he was asked to recount a match that helped fit the pieces together for him as a wrestler. In response, Punk referenced a three-way bout he had with WWE Hall of Famers Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero in 2002 at IWA Mid-South. 

In addition to learning some valuable performance elements from his two opponents, Punk also believes this match put his name on the map, setting the stage for him to eventually sign with WWE a few years later.

After joining WWE in 2005, Punk steadily raised his stock, later earning himself an opportunity to work with the arguable face of the company, John Cena. While their feud was rather intense on-screen, Punk’s work with Cena actually came with a refreshing sense of ease. It also further motivated him to step up his game.

CM Punk on working with John Cena

During the Instagram live stream, Punk spoke about working so closely with WWE’s top attraction and felt it was a sign the company trusted him to be in that coveted spot. Here’s what Punk said, transcribed by Post Wrestling:

“Now I’m here [in WWE] and then being trusted enough to work with John Cena pretty much every day, every night for quite some time,” said Punk. “We were married to each other and it was always a night off and it was always easy.

When you’re tasked with working with the guy who pretty much is the engine that makes the company go at that point, it’s kind of just like, ‘Okay, I figured it out then.’ I was like, “Alright, I know. They trust me enough and I’m not gonna do anything stupid, I’m not gonna hurt the guy.’

It’s always good and it’s quality and it was fun and it was different and they trusted me to keep it different and it wasn’t the same thing all the time.”

Watch: CM Punk vs. John Cena WWE Championship match:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lfdSA7SZnY

The upcoming clash between CM Punk and Mysterio is slated to unfold at WWE’s Holiday Tour house show at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Tuesday, December 26th, followed by a live event at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA on Saturday, December 30th. Those two matches will give Punk and Dirty Dominik a real familiarity with each other. 

How CM Punk & Dominik Mysterio’s Match Was Booked

Dominik Mysterio is known for drawing insane amounts of heat from WWE fans. Naturally, he is going to lay it on thick for CM Punk, even if the two aren’t slated to wrestle on television yet. 

CM Punk’s return to WWE marks his first match since the 2014 Royal Rumble, with his latest taking place at AEW All In, where he beat Samoa Joe following a backstage altercation with Jack Perry in Wembley Stadium. Now, Punk is set to dust off his long bois with Dominik Mysterio. 

During CM Punk’s recent commentary for the CFFC, he revealed a longstanding desire to punch Mysterio, tracing back to their past feud that involved a young Dominik and culminated in Punk getting his head shaved. In response, Dominik Mysterio took to Twitter, playfully mocking Punk by sharing a clip from an AEW match where Punk experienced a misstep in the ring. 

Dominik Mysterio captioned the post with a little request for CM Punk to replicate the punch, adding a playful nod to Punk’s self-proclaimed title of Best in the World.

“Punch me like this please…@CMPunk #bestintheworld.”

Punch me like this please…@CMPunk #bestintheworld https://t.co/Q6ni3rPjJx pic.twitter.com/4FnFHzzz5p

— Dominik (@DomMysterio35) December 18, 2023

What’s Next For CM Punk & Dominik Mysterio In WWE

CM Punk just got off of a stint with AEW, so it’s not like he would have a tremendous amount of ring rust on him. Still, it appears that he will knock off what WWE ring rust he may have with Dominik Mysterio at Madison Square Garden on December 26th.

WWE will have Dominik Mysterio around for a very long time to come. He recently inked a new deal with the company, reportedly speculated to be a five-year commitment.

CM Punk has his eyes set on Seth Rollins in the television storyline, which is why he entered the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. We will keep our eye on CM Punk and Dominik Mysterio’s set of matches here at SE Scoops, just in case anything eventful happens. 

CM Punk did a lot in AEW during his short time with the company. While many fans remember his backstage fights, others point toward the introduction of the “long bois” wrestling gear as one of the most notable moments of his AEW tenure. That look just might follow Punk to WWE.

CM Punk’s WWE Return

The Second City Saint has made appearances on Monday Night RAW, Friday Night SmackDown, and NXT Deadline since his recent return to the company last month. It’s evident that Punk is a significant draw for the company, and fans consistently express their joy at seeing him. His merchandise is selling fast, and fans can’t wait to see him mix it up in the ring again.

CM Punk’s First Return Match In WWE

CM Punk is set to step into the ring against Dominik Mysterio as part of WWE’s Live Holiday Tour on Tuesday, December 26th at Madison Square Garden. That will be a big day after Christmas show in MSG.

CM Punk also is scheduled to compete at Los Angeles’ KIA Forum against Dominik Mysterio on December 30th. Punk wanted that match with Dirty Dom, as he teased having a desire to punch Dominik in the face since he was 8-years-old.

CM Punk Reveals WWE Return Ring Gear

In a now-deleted Instagram story post, The Second City Saint hinted at wearing his long pants for his WWE in-ring return. He captioned that post with “LFG.” He also tagged MSG in the process. Then, he deleted the post. Obviously, Punk knew that some fans would see this, and the screenshot got out in a big way.

CM Punk is apparently looking forward to facing Dominik Mysterio in their upcoming matches. He also has the Royal Rumble coming up on January 27th, and it’s anyone’s guess what gear he will rock for that match. 

You can check out CM Punk’s deleted Instagram story. For more of the top headlines in the pro wrestling world, keep checking back with SE Scoops.

CM Punk’s return to WWE was something that many fans thought would never happen. He had plenty of reasons for making that comeback to WWE, and the fans had a lot to do with it as well.

After departing WWE in 2014, CM Punk’s name continued to echo in chants from fans, persisting over the years. The audience’s unbreakable support reached a point where WWE could not avoid hearing CM Punk chants break out during any given event, especially if fans were unhappy with what they were seeing.

CM Punk Explains Why He Returned To WWE

During an Instagram Live session for Elite Comics and Kulture City, CM Punk opened up about his WWE return, emphasizing that it’s not driven by personal motives. Instead, Punk highlighted that the return is a tribute to the fans who passionately chanted his name for an entire decade.

“This isn’t about me, this is about us. This about everybody that is behind me. That for ten years didn’t forget, chanted my name. I’m going to put the boots back on for all of ya’ll. We’re going to go on this journey together.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C08bra-uiUg

What’s Next For CM Punk In WWE?

CM Punk recently made appearances on Monday Night RAW, Friday Night SmackDown, and NXT Deadline after rejoining WWE last month. It’s evident that Punk’s presence is a significant draw for the company, and he expresses genuine enjoyment in being back.

Although CM Punk is a RAW Superstar now, after signing an exclusive contract with the red brand, he is still listed internally as a free agent. We will have to see if he decides that going to SmackDown is a good option for him, because anything is on the table regarding this run that many thought was impossible.

CM Punk is enjoying himself during this WWE run as well. All signs point to the idea that he is down to do business. While the jury is still out for many fans, there certainly seems to be a lot more reasons to be optimistic about the situation this time around.

WWE superstar CM Punk once again made his comeback to Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC) and carried out his duties as a commentator.

CM Punk recently returned to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames PLE last month and it is one of the most shocking returns of the company. The pro wrestling fraternity was stunned by his comeback as many had ruled out his return to the company.  

Punk had been making appearances for CFFC during his first suspension from AEW in late 2022, Ahead of his return to WWE, Punk had also returned to Cage Fury Fighting Championships as a commentator during which he teased the fans about his pro wrestling future which ultimately led to him signing with WWE.

• MMANews.com: MMA & UFC News

CM Punk appears in CFFC 

This weekend during SmackDown, Punk was part of the CFFC commentary booth yet again. WWE usually doesn’t allow any superstar to appear in other promotions but in the case of Punk, it seems that the company has allowed him to continue giving voice to the MMA action.

His commentary partner John Morgan also mentioned Seth Rollins during the action.

“This Seth Rollins guy, I don’t know about him,” John Morgan said.

https://twitter.com/hangermads/status/1735852922997551594

During the commentary, Punk  also spoke about his upcoming WWE live event match against The Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio. He said:

“Come out to the LA Kia Forum. Watch me beat up Dirty Dominik. I’ve been wanting to punch this kid in the face since he was 8 years old. Now he’s legal and I’m gonna destroy him.”

CM Punk promoting his WWE match against Dominik Mysterio on December 30th at the Kia Forum?? #CFFC128 pic.twitter.com/zCtUZSgCMn

— Zack (@Zack46625300) December 16, 2023

It’s worth noting that Punk and Rollins have ignited a feud since the former’s massive return. Fans were delighted to witness ‘The Best In The World’ return to Chicago except for Seth Rollins. ‘The Visionary’ was furious to see Punk and in a video footage, Rollins was even spotted flipping off Punk and had to be held back. 

Rollins and Punk recently came face to face and had an in-ring promo segment. ‘The Best In The World’ also announced that he’s entering the Royal Rumble match next year and might come after Seth’s World Heavyweight title. 

AEW promised a new era of professional wrestling when they opened their doors. Their rebellious branding may have also filtered into their backstage environment as well, because the company has a reputation of having younger talent who aren’t interested in taking veteran advice.

CM Punk and Jack Perry’s backstage scuffle at All In London was caused by Perry’s defiant nature. Punk advised against Perry using real glass several weeks prior, but he didn’t have a say in his match at Wembley Stadium. After Perry dropped Hook on the windshield of a car, he made a point to tell the camera that it was real glass so, “cry me a river.”

The Backstage Rumor About AEW

It appears that RVD can back up that attitude that is currently in the AEW locker room. The Whole F’n Show has made a few AEW appearances so far, but never inked an official contract.

During an interview with Party with Marty, RVD stated that he’s head the same thing from Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson. AEW has those veteran minds around, but nobody is sitting under their learning tree.

“I heard Tully Blanchard say it, and I’m told Arn Anderson said it too, although that is hearsay, that the young guys don’t want their input ever. [They] never ask them ever for any help or anything on their matches and stuff … I mean, that’s important to me. It makes me think, do they think they know it all? Do they not respect them enough? But also, it’s awkward for them because they’re not taught like us to go around and shake everyone’s hand and stuff.“

AEW May Have A Problem

CM Punk had a great time at the WWE Performance Center. He reported while he was there as well. It appears that he found himself in a setting where younger talent were more than happy to listen. Life Goes On For CM Punk

CM Punk had a great time at the WWE Performance Center. He reported “held court” while he was there as well. It appears that he found himself in a setting where younger talent were more than happy to listen.

CM Punk and Jack Perry’s backstage altercation wasn’t the only one in AEW history. Other skirmishes and backstage drama have also dotted the company’s history, such as Sammy Guevara and Andrade El Idolo’s public tiff, one that involved a backstage altercation.

AEW has a lot of veteran talent around, and we haven’t heard from all of them on this subject. Jake “The Snake” Roberts is backstage, and he has also spoken in the past that he is willing to do anything Tony Khan asks of him. We have to wonder if Tony Khan is supporting the practice of listening to the veterans he has on his payroll.

It seems that the rumor and innuendo would say that AEW talent aren’t too interested in hearing what the former generation has to say about what they’re doing for Tony Khan’s company. 

Drew McIntyre is pleased to see CM Punk bring big numbers to WWE, but won’t hesitate to ‘drop’ Punk if he’s pushed. 

The former AEW World Champion returned to WWE in the closing moments of last month’s Survivor Series: WarGames event. The event marked Punk’s first WWE appearance since the 2014 Royal Rumble and his first appearance in wrestling since his AEW release in September of this year. 

Drew McIntyre on CM Punk

During this week’s episode of Raw, CM Punk had a backstage confrontation with McIntyre as part of the Scottish Warrior’s ongoing heel run. Appearing on The Bump, McIntyre recalled being around Punk during their respective first runs in WWE, and gave a warning to the Best in the World. 

“I was on television when I was 22 in 2007. I spent years, I was around the person. I know the person. I know what he’s truly like. I’m aware. It’s cool and does numbers. That’s awesome for right now.

“But I’m gonna wait and see right now ‘cause I can’t control who gets signed, who doesn’t get signed. I’ve got stories, I’m gonna keep them to myself. And in the future, if we cross paths, I ain’t the same guy as I was in 2010. I’m a lot bigger, smarter, more experienced, and I’ll drop his ass.”

McIntyre and CM Punk have yet to go one-on-one in WWE but they have shared the ring several times. Their most recent match was as part of a battle royal during the October 11, 2011, edition of SmackDown. The match was won by Randy Orton who unsuccessfully challenged World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry later in the show. 

One NXT talent wants to sit under the learning tree of Mickie James even if the legend is not with WWE.

Fallon Henley, who has been building her resume on Shawn Michaels’ version of the black and gold brand, caught a clip of the women’s tag team match on WWE Raw this Monday, and she decided to shoot her shot with James on X. She also pitched an added incentive.

“Mickie James hear me out – what if we saddled up, you taught me to be hardcore country and we went for the WWE Women’s Tag Titles. I’ll bring the drinks!”

@MickieJames hear me out… what if we saddled up, you taught me to be hardcore country and we went for the WWE Women’s Tag Titles. I’ll bring the drinks! ? https://t.co/819e9CQpwE

— Fallon Henley (@FallonHenleyWWE) December 12, 2023

The notion that James could make a return to WWE isn’t completley out of the realm of possibility. James kicked down the “forbidden door” of promotions, when she was Impact Knockouts Champion and entered the Royal Rumble in 2022. In a pro wrestling first, Impact gold was proudly displayed on WWE television.

Even just on Raw the past Monday, CM Punk name-dropped Mickie before he signed on to be a member of the WWE Raw roster. Punk noted how he made his WWE debut in this very town of Cleveland, OH with Mickie James at his side before he was sent down to OVW. James even took to X to express her friendship with Punk following the moment.

“That’s my Brother. That’s my Friend.”

That’s my Brother. That’s my Friend. @CMPunk ?? https://t.co/oVSZGV39zT pic.twitter.com/D57KitfQPN

— Mickie James~Aldis (@MickieJames) December 12, 2023

Not only does James have the CM Punk ties, but indirectly has a presence on WWE SmackDown as well. James’ husband, Nick Aldis, currently serves as the brand’s on-air general manager.