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The beauty of the pro wrestling business is that you can never say never. Throughout the history of WWE, we've witnessed several unexpected moments, and what happened on WWE Backstage this week easily makes it to the list.
So, in case you were living under a rock (not, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson), former WWE Superstar and one of the biggest fan-favorites of the modern era, CM Punk, made his return to WWE TV, as he joined FS1's WWE Backstage as a "special contributor and analyst."
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Now, the questions are aplenty, but the biggest one of them is whether this new role will eventually lead to an in-ring return for 'The Cult of Personality?' I personally believe it will. Therefore, let me discuss the five possible ways in which Punk might come back to the WWE ring, hopefully sooner rather than later.
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Whether you agree or disagree, feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
#5 Set-up a feud with a Superstar on WWE Backstage
As per the current rumors, CM Punk has only signed a deal with FOX and not with WWE. So, technically, he still isn't working for Vince McMahon, yet. But as mentioned above, you can never say never in this business. Many were convinced that Punk would never come back to WWE TV, but he just did. So what's there to stop him from an in-ring return?
Sportskeeda's Tom Colohue recently reported that Punk was only a phone call away. He also added that Vince McMahon has no problem with him and would love to have him back, so the signs look positive!
Punk will be making appearances on WWE Backstage, which interestingly has Superstars appear as guests on the show. Samoa Joe and Adam Cole were, in fact, present when Punk made his grand return. This could prove to be a perfect platform to set-up a heated feud between Punk and any of these two or some other Superstar (check out Seth Rollins' tweet below).
We all know the masterclass of Punk when it comes to promo skills. Building a storyline from his real-life scenario, leading to a massive return match would sell out any arena in the world.
#4 Helping NXT win at Survivor Series
Talk about shocks and swerves! WWE recently announced that this year's Survivor Series PPV would not only involve RAW and SmackDown but will also feature NXT. The so-called developmental brand has been making huge waves with fans and critics, who routinely praise its overall product quality.
A massive match announced for the upcoming PPV is the traditional 5-on-5-on-5 Survivor Series Elimination Match with top stars from all the three brands competing for brand supremacy. In all honesty, it's tough to see NXT taking the clean win here, but what if they got some help from a certain 'Best in the World?' (not you, Shane McMahon!)
Survivor Series has witnessed some massive debuts and returns in WWE history, and Punk returning to help Team NXT win the match would be one of the top moments in the history of the PPV. Not only would that get the entire Internet Wrestling Community talking, but it would also bring NXT to the center of everyone's attention.
With the Black and Yellow Brand going head-to-head with a rival promotion's weekly show, having Punk join hands with Triple H and appear on NXT would surely tip the scale in WWE's favor. Imagine the dream matches and rivalries Punk could have on NXT against the likes of Adam Cole, Finn Balor, Tomasso Ciampa, etc.
#3 Pipebomb against Brock Lesnar, dethroning him as the WWE Champion
CM Punk was arguably one of the better in-ring performers during his stay with the company until 2014, but the biggest highlight of his career was something he did while sitting on the ramp with a microphone in his hands. Yes, we are talking about Punk's famous Pipebomb that is etched into the minds of every wrestling fan forever.
What better way to announce his in-ring return than dropping another one of those Pipebombs against a former rival who has risen to the top of the WWE food chain in Punk's absence - Brock Lesnar.
Remember the epic storyline of Paul Heyman turning on Punk, leading to a showdown between he and Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam 2013? Well, Punk probably still wants revenge for that loss at the hands of 'The Beast Incarnate.'
One thing is for sure, the returning storyline for Punk would be a massive one, and what better way to bring him back into the fold than by reigniting an old feud against his arch-nemesis, Lesnar. With Heyman being the Executive Director of RAW and a close real-life friend of Punk's, he could certainly convince him to make a return against his client.
Moreover, imagine the pop Punk would get if he returns, defeats Lesnar, and reclaims his WWE Championship? Let's get those "CM Punk" chants going wrestling fans.
#2 Surprise entrant at Royal Rumble
Remember the time when the IWC was speculating about the debut of AJ Styles in WWE? The massive moment took place at the 2016 Royal Rumble when 'The Phenomenal One' made his way to the WWE ring as a surprise entrant, much to the astonishment of the entire WWE Universe.
If you remember the pop Styles received during his debut, imagine the crowd reaction when the Rumble clock counts down from 10 and "Cult of Personality" blares from the titantron. Even after more than five years of CM Punk leaving the company, the chants of "CM Punk" are still very common at WWE shows, and one can imagine the WWE Universe going berserk, if Punk comes out as a surprise entrant at the Rumble.
One thing fans can be certain of is that if the above scenario does indeed take place, then Punk will surely go on to win the match and might just fulfill his one desire that is yet to come to fruition - a WrestleMania main event. This is exactly the kind of excitement that WWE needs to freshen up its product and gain back its loyal fanbase.
Would you like to see CM Punk enter the Royal Rumble next year?
#1 An all-out war against Vince McMahon
When it comes to being the baddest heel of all-time, the evil boss Vince McMahon tops the list. WWE was at the peak of its popularity during the McMahon vs 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin feud, which saw Austin's anti-authority character raise hell against his boss, leading to some of the most epic segments in WWE history.
There have been numerous comparisons between the rebellious characters of 'The Texas Rattlesnake' and CM Punk, and this might just be the perfect opportunity to recreate one of the most iconic rivalries of all time with Punk going up against McMahon.
WWE has been experimenting a lot with involving real-life issues in their storylines, and the businessman inside Vince would surely love to take advantage of a massive CM Punk return and the circumstances of his exit from the company. If done properly, Punk's return to WWE to take on Vince McMahon could turn out to be the biggest storyline of the modern era.
Ultimately, the decision to return to the ring belongs to Punk himself, but he sure has the X-factor to change the landscape of WWE. As Punk himself mentioned on WWE Backstage during his return, "It’s as simple as this: Just when they think they’ve got the answers, I change the culture."
How excited are you to see CM Punk back? Let us know your reactions in the comments section below. Also, we want to know what you think of the matches that you see on TV! Go to our WWE page here to rate them!
