CM Punk to return on WWE Monday Night Raw in Chicago?

CM Punk all set to return on RAW?

CM Punk has been absent from WWE programming since the RAW following the Royal Rumble on Jan. 27. It seems like WWE fans are about to get an answer as to why Punk went away in the first place. According to various rumors, CM Punk is about to return to the company.

That is what the current word is amongst various wrestling circles. According to F4WOnline.com (h/t Daniel Pena at WrestlingInc.com), Punk will be showing up at Monday’s Raw, which takes place in his hometown of Chicago.

“CM Punk is expected to return at tomorrow night’s Raw in Chicago, Illinois, according to Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com (via WrestlingInc.com).While Meltzer won’t say he’s 100% sure Punk will be at the show, his source, who he says is “one of the biggest stars in the industry,” said that it’s 100% certain.”

If it does turn out to be true, then it will be the conclusion of yet another bemusing work from the WWE, or it would appear so. Perhaps Punk actually walked out of the company following the Royal Rumble, as was suggested. And perhaps from there it turned into a storyline which would be featured on Raw this week.

This scenario is similar to the one involving the former star Stone Cold Steve Austin in 2002, and Austin suitably predicted on Punk’s situation while a guest on the Arsenio Hall Show in January and on Jim Ross’ podcast, saying, “Here is my prediction. It started off as a shoot and it will turn into a work. CM Punk will reappear at WrestleMania XXX. Mark my word, that’s my prediction.”

Also Punk being away from the live shows and weekly tapings has added some intrigue to WrestleMania 30.Punk’s return would be welcomed with a sigh of relief from the WWE executives, who were looking towards a very hostile crowd in Chicago, the hometown of CM Punk on March 3.

If Punk does emerge unannounced during the show, it will surely generate an absolutely massive reaction from the crowd. Punk has been involved in a similar storyline before. Thoughts immediately jump back to 2011, when Punk announced he was “leaving” the company with the WWE Championship—after winning it in Chicago from John Cena.

That was one of the biggest works the company has staged in some time—however, he returned just a couple of weeks later. With Punk being away from the company for well over a month now, it appears this whole work has been an attempt to top the previous one.

One thing is for certain: It makes Monday’s edition of RAW a must-see show—and the excitement and anticipation of Punk’s arrival will be absolutely huge. The storyline which WWE adapts would also be intriguing with a Bryan- Triple H feud in works in place of the Punk-Triple H feud.

WrestleMania is the biggest show of the year for the company. While there is genuine concern surrounding how the fans will react to a main event between Batista and Randy Orton, the return of Punk in Chicago would be the perfect short-term remedy for the PPV’s issues.

Current WrestleMania XXX Main Event: Randy Orton vs Batista

Few fans currently care about the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match, but infusing Punk into the battle by making it a three-way match would appease the unruly crowds and would likely satisfy the fickle former champion. Punk’s return would make for an incredible moment that would add legitimate excitement to the road to WrestleMania

Punk is one of the most recognizable stars in the wrestling industry today, and the WWE will likely do everything in its power to add a top talent like Punk to its upcoming WrestleMania XXX card, regardless of the hard feelings about the situation.

The rumors can only be validated after the Monday Night Raw in Chicago. If he never shows up, though, the crowd will be even more hostile than they were before and this week’s episode will be hijacked by the fans.