CM Punk made his return to WWE this past Saturday at the Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 pay-per-view event.
Fightful Select has shared additional details on the backstage reaction of both WWE and AEW to Punk returning “home” at the pay-per-view event in Chicago, IL.
Several top WWE wrestlers are expecting to speak to officials in the company for “assurances” about Punk and his role in the company going forward.
The reaction backstage in WWE has been quite muted, similar to when Punk returned for AEW Collision.
There have been rumors about talents who do not wish to work with Punk and are considering leaving WWE.
Like AEW, however, there have been no reports of anyone actually requesting his/her release over Punk’s return to WWE.
Some top talent in WWE have reportedly asked friends in AEW whether Punk was involved in the ongoing Devil storyline. As we previously reported here on eWn, Punk was never considered for the Devil’s role.
As for AEW President Tony Khan, he reportedly seemed more concerned with losing Katsuyori Shibata, who had to fly back to Japan, than Punk’s WWE return.
Punk’s appearance was kept a top secret in WWE, although the former AEW World Champion either told or hinted to his very close friends that it was happening.
WWE is currently using renders from Punk’s previous stint with the company including the same Titantron video.
A source at Peacock suggested that the playlist of Punk content, which went online immediately after Survivor Series 2023, didn’t require any time to compile.
Prior to Punk’s return on Saturday, WWE talent and staff were advised to ignore any Punk chants at SmackDown and Survivor Series 2023.
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CM Punk’s return to WWE at the Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 pay-per-view event has caused quite a stir in the wrestling world. Fans and industry insiders alike have been buzzing about his comeback, and now we have some additional details on the backstage reaction from both WWE and AEW.
According to Fightful Select, WWE wrestlers are expecting to have conversations with officials in the company to seek “assurances” about Punk and his role going forward. This suggests that some talent may have concerns or reservations about working with Punk. However, it’s important to note that there have been no reports of anyone actually requesting their release from WWE due to Punk’s return.
Similarly, when Punk made his debut for AEW at the Collision event, the backstage reaction was also quite muted. This indicates that while there may be some mixed feelings about Punk’s return, it hasn’t caused any major disruptions within the companies.
Rumors have been circulating about talents who do not wish to work with Punk and are considering leaving WWE. However, there have been no confirmed reports of anyone actually taking this step. It’s possible that these rumors are just speculation or that the situation may change in the future.
Interestingly, some top talent in WWE have reportedly reached out to their friends in AEW to inquire about Punk’s involvement in the ongoing Devil storyline. However, it has been clarified that Punk was never considered for this role. This shows that there is curiosity and interest surrounding Punk’s potential storylines and character development.
AEW President Tony Khan’s reaction to Punk’s WWE return seems to be more focused on losing Katsuyori Shibata, who had to fly back to Japan. This suggests that Khan may be more concerned with managing his own roster and storylines rather than worrying about the impact of Punk’s return on AEW.
Punk managed to keep his appearance at Survivor Series a top secret within WWE. While he may have hinted or informed his close friends about it, the news did not leak out before the event. This demonstrates Punk’s ability to maintain secrecy and surprise fans with his returns.
In terms of production, WWE is currently using renders from Punk’s previous stint with the company, including the same Titantron video. This suggests that WWE is capitalizing on Punk’s past popularity and nostalgia to create a sense of familiarity for fans.
Additionally, a source at Peacock, the streaming platform for WWE content, stated that the playlist of Punk’s content, which went online immediately after Survivor Series 2023, didn’t require any time to compile. This indicates that WWE had already prepared and organized Punk-related content in anticipation of his return.
Before Punk’s return, WWE talent and staff were advised to ignore any Punk chants during SmackDown and Survivor Series 2023. This instruction shows that WWE wanted to maintain control over the narrative and prevent any distractions or disruptions during the events.
Overall, CM Punk’s return to WWE has generated significant interest and discussion within the wrestling community. While there may be some concerns and curiosity surrounding his role and potential storylines, it hasn’t led to any major upheavals or departures from either WWE or AEW. Fans will undoubtedly be eagerly watching to see how Punk’s return unfolds and what impact it will have on the wrestling landscape.