WWE star CM Punk made his highly-anticipated return to the company a year ago, and to celebrate, the company has released a behind-the-scenes video showcasing the reactions and interactions of his return.
It had been a decade since Punk left WWE, walking away from the company due to disputes with then-CEO Vince McMahon and chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque. During his absence, Punk pursued a career in mixed martial arts, both in the ring and as a broadcast commentator. In 2021, he returned to professional wrestling with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), but his stint was marked by controversy and he departed in September 2023.
On November 25, 2023, Punk made a shocking return to WWE, entering the Gorilla Position backstage with executive Bruce Prichard and greeting Stephanie McMahon and other wrestlers, including Bayley and Shotzi. Many were surprised and thrilled to see him back, with Bayley exclaiming, “I’m so happy you’re here” and Shotzi adding, “What a way to do it.”
Punk also greeted other wrestlers, including Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio, and Randy Orton, who also made his return to WWE on that night. Orton, in a humorous remark, said, “Can I not enjoy 10 minutes of my f—ing return?”
The video does not show Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre’s reactions to Punk’s return, as they did not appear to be happy to see him back. The two have had real-life tensions in the past, with McIntyre stating that the issues were very real but had to put business first. However, issues were still evident, with McIntyre commenting on how there was a visible tension between them. The tension culminated in a rivalry between Punk and McIntyre, starting at the Royal Rumble in January, which ended with a bloody Hell in a Cell match, won by Punk.
Punk returned to the fold on SmackDown earlier this year and put himself into the War Games match, setting the stage for what’s to come.
