WWE Hall of Famer shares praise for CM Punk and Damian Priest following RAW interactions

Monday's WWE RAW featured the final red brand go-home build for SummerSlam 2024. Damian Priest and CM Punk met a major name who made a surprise off-camera appearance, and now the top stars are being praised publicly.

A significant shocker coming out of RAW was the return of Jesse Ventura. The WWE Hall of Famer recently began repairing his relationship with the company and was backstage at RAW near where he is from - St. Paul, MN. Triple H shared footage of the former Minnesota Governor and welcomed him back home following RAW. It was reported by Fightful Select that there were no plans to use Ventura on TV as he was just visiting.

The Body took to X/Twitter after RAW and confirmed that he was back home. He thanked the Chief Content Officer and mentioned how Punk looked surprised to see him. The Armed Forces veteran and actor took to X today and shared a ringside photo with The Second City Saint, adding that moments like these are why he's back for the first time since TLC 2009.

"Why did I come back? For moments like these... @WWE @CMPunk," Jesse Ventura wrote with the photo below.

The Mouth later posted a follow-up to X, sharing a ringside photo with Damian Priest. The 73-year-old gave a nod to the World Heavyweight Champion and the new generation of superstars.

"...and moments like this. It truly was an honor yesterday meeting the newest generation of wrestlers who are taking this show of shows into a very bright future! @ArcherOfInfamy #WWERaw," Jesse Ventura wrote with the photo below.

Priest is scheduled to defend his title against Gunther at SummerSlam on Saturday. Punk will also be in action against Drew McIntyre, with Seth Rollins as the special guest referee.

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Jesse Ventura to sign new WWE contract?

After years of issues with former Chairman Vince McMahon, Jesse Ventura is seemingly back on good terms with World Wrestling Entertainment.

The Body attended Monday's RAW in St. Paul, Minnesota, but first revealed back in May that he was in talks to sign a new WWE Legends contract. It remains to be seen if that deal was signed in conjunction with his visit to Monday's RAW. Speaking to Frank Morano in May, Ventura reiterated comments he'd made about how the new direction of the company is good enough that he's interested in working with them again.

"I am back negotiating with them. We're in talks right now. I have contracts with my attorney right now with WWE. We don't know right now fully. They want to bring me back under their Legends [deal]. I can only say [negotiations] happened because of the change in direction of the company," Jesse Ventura said.

The Stamford-based promotion inducted Ventura into the Hall of Fame in 2004, by his son Tyrel Ventura. He held tag team championships in the AWA, CWA, and several NWA territories, but never had a title reign in McMahon's promotion.