Surprise Comeback: CM Punk Makes Sensational Return to WWE at Survivor Series

Following a nine-year hiatus, CM Punk has officially returned to WWE.

The electrifying return of the polarizing professional wrestling star came as a complete shock, closely guarded as a secret until the end of the WWE Survivor Series in his hometown of Chicago. Punk made his appearance at the conclusion of the show, with his entrance theme “Cult of Personality” causing the crowd to erupt in disbelief as he knelt down in his signature pose and declared, “It’s clobberin’ time!”

In August, All Elite Wrestling (AEW), WWE’s main competitor, terminated Punk after a backstage altercation with wrestler Jack Perry. Despite a tumultuous and injury-ridden two-year tenure with AEW, Punk, a two-time AEW world champion, was their top draw and biggest moneymaker.

The exact details about Punk’s role in WWE remain unclear, but his return will undoubtedly be the talk of the wrestling world and beyond for quite some time. Over the past two decades, Punk has established himself as one of the industry’s most significant stars.

Following the show, WWE chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque expressed his excitement about Punk’s return, calling it a “lightning-in-a-bottle moment” that came together very rapidly. Despite the love-hate relationship fans have with Punk, Levesque acknowledged his unparalleled ability to spark conversations and be a magnet for attention.

Upon his return, Levesque posted a picture of himself and Punk on his X account, commemorating the event.

Mighty cold day in hell. #SurvivorSeries pic.twitter.com/1Z0KZ2LwCb

— Triple H (@TripleH) November 26, 2023

Punk’s departure from WWE in 2014 was tumultuous and involved personal and professional conflicts, including a lawsuit from WWE’s doctor, Chris Amann, for defamation following comments Punk made about his treatment within the company.

Levesque addressed the issues from the past, noting the growth and changes that have affected both Punk and the company. He expressed interest in seeing what the future holds for Punk now that he has returned to WWE. “Everybody grows; everybody changes,” Levesque said, adding, “I’m interested to see that myself.”