CM Punk Set For World Title Match At WWE WrestleMania 41?

WWE wants CM Punk in the World Title picture at WrestleMania 41.

Dec 19, 2024 December 19th, 2024

While many fans presume we'll be getting CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins at WWE WrestleMania 41, there's now an interesting update on the Second City Saint's potential 'Mania plans for next year.

As per WrestleVotes' Backstage Pass, WWE wants CM Punk in a World Title match at WrestleMania 41. Taking a look at the current landscape, that would mean CM Punk vs Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship or CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship as things stand. Of course, plenty of things can change between now and WrestleMania, be that who holds those titles or be that plans for Punk.

This report notes how WWE "want [CM Punk] at the top" when the Showcase of the Immortals rolls around next April. The question now is how do they get to this, with WrestleVotes unsure if it would be Punk vs. Cody, suggesting the Straight-Edge Superstar would be in the World Heavyweight Title picture, but also mentioning how they don't think Gunther will be a part of that match. That then throws up the question of what do you do with Gunther at WrestleMania 41, and likewise who does CM Punk face for Raw's top prize, is Punk the defending champion going into the Grandaddy of Them All, and if he's not, who is?

Certainly, there are several different routes WWE can go in the build to WrestleMania 41, and as always, CM Punk is constantly one of the most talked about, intriguing figures when it comes to the WWE product.

CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins at WWE WrestleMania 41?

Now, just because WWE has already announced CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins for Raw's Netflix debut on 6 January, that doesn't mean that match can't be run back at WrestleMania 41. After all, this is a contest that was originally planned for WrestleMania XL before the former AEW World Champion suffered a tricep tear. However, if Punk is indeed to be involved in a World Heavyweight Championship match at the Show of Shows, that would require a couple of things to happen.

Firstly, one of Punk and Rollins would have to win the World Heavyweight Title at some point between now and 'Mania. Secondly, the other man would presumably have to win the Royal Rumble or win the eponymous match at WWE Elimination Chamber in March.

There were previous rumblings that we may get CM Punk challenging Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship at this year's Survivor Series, but obviously that didn't come to fruition, with the Chicagoan instead joining Roman Reigns, the Usos, and Sami Zayn in a WarGames battle against Solo Sikoa's new Bloodline. Of course, as part of that, Paul Heyman promised Punker a favour that audiences and the roster have yet to be made privy to. Could that favour come into play as CM Punk chases a WrestleMania main event and a World Title shot? Quite possibly...

Andrew Pollard

Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.

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