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By Paul Berry
Director, Content Strategy and Insights
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It's clobbering time once in again in the WWE.
After his 2014 WWE exit and his controversial tenure with All Elite Wrestling, CM Punk made his unlikely return following the main event at Saturday's Survivor Series in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois.
Punk appeared in street clothes and didn't interact with any other wrestlers in front of the crowd or cameras, but received a huge ovation from the Chicago crowd. While the bulk of the internet debates the method and madness of the return, one thing is for sure: Punk is going to draw ratings and cash.
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The real question is, who's he going to work with?
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When he landed in AEW, Punk mentioned he wanted to work with the next generation of talent, and WWE has a solid pipeline of superstars coming in from NXT. Shinsuke Nakamura has been dropping hints toward a match and Kevin Owens was reportedly going to have a Mania match with Punk last year. Both first time matchups would be dream matches for wrestling fans.
Punk, though, at age 45, has had a few significant injuries in recent years, and at some point age becomes a factor for athletes (even those working with pre-determined outcomes). WWE may need to move quickly to get the most out of his remaining ring time. Punk also has a reputation for unapologetically rubbing people the wrong way, which could limit his potential opponents.
Here are six feuds we need to see before clobbering time is over, and why they may not happen.
Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk
Of all of the options, a matchup with Seth Rollins may have the most long-term storytelling involved.
Rollins' WWE main roster debut came in 2012, also at Survivor Series, along side Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose to aid Punk in his title defense. A little over a year later, Punk was planting the seeds among the three wrestlers, known collectively as "The Shield." Punk's prodding of the group led to the only one-on-one match between the two, with Punk coming out on top.
While Punk left the WWE shortly after, the short-lived feud also laid the groundwork for Rollins' jealousy, and ultimate betrayal, of Reigns. Through that betrayal, Rollins launched his main roster singles run, which includes five world titles, all in Punk's absence.
Why it might not happen: Outside of WWE's prescribed storylines, the two men have verbally jousted. Punk called Rollins a "fool" while analyzing his work in WWE. Rollins later told a reporter that Punk is a "cancer" who should "get away from me forever." Rollins was also close with Matt and Nick Jackson during their time on the independent wrestling circuit. The Jacksons were involved in a real backstage incident with Punk during his time in AEW.
Multiple crowd videos from Survivor Series showed Rollins' demonstrative negative reaction to Punk's return, obscenely gesturing and yelling toward the entryway where Punk was standing. If it's a work, it's a great one that's years in the making. If it's a shoot, worse has been overcome in wrestling in the name of doing business. It's hard to imagine a hotter match at Wrestlemania 40 in Philadelphia than Punk vs Rollins.
Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk
Like Rollins, Reigns' introduction to WWE's main roster came at the aid of Punk. More than a decade later, Reigns is the biggest name in professional wrestling and is currently on one of the longest championship runs in company history. In his time with WWE, Reigns has beaten nearly everyone, including Punk. In their only one-on-one in early 2014, Reigns came out on top, a feat his Shield teammates couldn't replicate. Punk left WWE shortly afterward, and Reigns became a main event fixture.
After nearly 1,200 days as champion, Reigns is running out of new, credible threats. Punk presents an opportunity for fresh but established storytelling around the industry's biggest star either leading into or coming out of Wrestlemania 40.
Why it might not happen: For now, Reigns may have a different path. In addition to a possible return matchup with last year's Wrestlemania opponent Cody Rhodes, 14-time champion Randy Orton also returned on Saturday after a year away due to injury. Reigns hasn't gone one-on-one with Orton since 2015, just before capturing his first world title. And there's always the looming dream match with his cousin, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
John Cena vs. CM Punk
Perhaps the most obvious choice is to run it back with one of the most iconic feuds in WWE history that ended with Punk's first world title (not to mention Punk's infamous "pipe bomb" promo). Cena's recent WWE run may have come to an end, but it doesn't seem like the wrestler-turned-actor is done in the squared circle. Before Cena hangs it up for good, two of the best mic-workers in wrestling history need to square off one more time.
Why it might not happen: In addition to both men being a decade older than the last time they wrestled, Cena's availability may be an issue. He posted on social media that he's gone through two different medical procedures on his arms in November. With the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike, Cena's acting schedule is likely to fill back up quickly, making a proper feud difficult.
AJ Styles vs. CM Punk
AJ Styles and Punk haven't shared a ring in nearly 20 years. The two have wrestled half a dozen times, mostly in Ring of Honor, including the finals of a tournament to crown the inaugural Pure Wrestling Champion. Soon after, Punk signed with WWE while Styles continued to work outside of the company until 2016, well after Punk had left. The matchup of two independent wrestling legends after 20 years would be an instant draw for both WWE fans and those more tuned in to the independent scene.
Why it might not happen: Like Rollins, this one could be hung up on personal issues. Styles and Punk had an internet spat in 2020 surrounding people who did and didn't speak out about George Floyd's death. Punk's accusations led to a response from Styles, saying he didn't respect Punk. This could be a tough one to get past, but if Styles truly is "all about business," as he said in his response to Punk's criticism, it has the potential to be an instant classic.
Brock Lesnar vs. CM Punk
For two people who seem so completely different, Punk and Brock Lesnar share a number of similarities: Their lengthy WWE title runs, their crossover to UFC, marrying fellow WWE talent, and, of course, their mutual manager Paul Heyman. But with all of the overlap, the two have only wrestled one-on-one once, with Lesnar coming out on top.
Why it might not happen: Like Cena, Lesnar's days in WWE may be numbered. He hasn't been seen in WWE since August, and he's had just 18 matches in the last four years. But nothing brings out the best in The Beast like a big fight, and a matchup against Punk would certainly qualify.
Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk
In one of his last appearances in Ohio Valley Wrestling in 2007, Punk teamed with a 21-year-old Rhodes to defeat Shawn Spears and Jay Bradley. A little over a year later, the two men would again meet in the ring, this time as opponents in the opening contest of Monday Night Raw. The two had a smattering of matches until Punk's WWE departure in 2014.
But their journeys show some similarity: Like Punk, Rhodes left WWE dissatisfied and ready to try something new. While Punk's journey went through UFC, Rhodes' 2016 departure took him through many of the same independent promotions that led to Punk's rise. Both men were in AEW briefly before Rhodes' defection back to WWE but weren't involved in a match together.
Why it might not happen: While Triple H has shown amazing patience in telling the Rhodes redemption story, it would seem to be headed for the home stretch with Wrestlemania 40 as the finish line. Whether Rhodes repeats as Royal Rumble winner, or finds another path to another shot at Reigns, Rhodes has a limited amount of time until Mania season. His time with Punk may have to wait.
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