CM Punk Returns To WWE At Survivor Series 2023
Second City Savior makes shock return nearly 10 years after walking out of company.
Months of rumor and speculation finally gave way to reality Saturday night when CM Punk made his return to WWE for the first time in nearly 10 years at Survivor Series.
As the PLE wound down after the men's WarGames match concluded and the copyright logo flashed on the screen, the camera went to a wide shot of the entire venue... and Cult of Personality blared through the arena, sending the Chicago fans into an absolute frenzy.
Punk walked out clad in a simple white T-shirt, did his signature "It's clobberin' time!" and then hugged fans along the entrance before the PLE went to the recap.
NEVER. SAY. NEVER.@CMPunk has just returned to WWE at #SurvivorSeries!!! pic.twitter.com/0dpG6vyT5r
— WWE (@WWE) November 26, 2023
For Punk, this is a homecoming many dreamed of but didn't believe would happen until his music hit Saturday. Punk last appeared in WWE at Royal Rumble 2014, and then he famously walked out on Raw the next night. He went on to trash WWE in a podcast with former friend Colt Cabana and swore he'd never return, though he would briefly join WWE Backstage -- which was a Fox Sports property -- as a panelist.
Punk spent the better part of the past two years in AEW, making a dramatic and improbable return to wrestling and enjoying a magical year with the company from August 2021 until the following September and the infamous Brawl Out incident. His return to AEW earlier this year was short-lived, with a backstage fight with Jack Perry at All In ultimately leading to his termination in early September.
It remains to be seen how long the mercurial superstar's honeymoon lasts with WWE, but it certainly will be eventful.