WWE personality announces he will pay tribute to CM Punk

CM Punk's WWE comeback began ten months and two days ago. Despite an unfortunate injury early on in Punk's return, the multi-time champion has stayed busy on RAW, SmackDown, NXT, and at the Performance Center. The former AEW World Champion is set to be honored on WWE TV by a colleague. This would be NXT Commentator, Vic Joseph.

The Second City Saint had been wrestling for almost eight years when he signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment in 2005. Punk started with OVW and in early 2006, was chasing the Television Championship, World Heavyweight Championship, and Southern Tag Team Championships. Punk was not called up to WWE TV until ECW on June 24, 2006, he unofficially debuted on main roster TV at WrestleMania 22, which was held on April 2 of that year in his hometown of Chicago.

The 22nd annual WrestleMania was headlined by Triple H losing to then-WWE Champion John Cena, who had a special mafia-themed entrance. The Cenation Leader came out carrying a Tommy Gun, and was accompanied by a group of "gangsters" with a 1930s-era car. The gangsters were played by enhancement talents, including one hometown hero: CM Punk.

The Second City Saint is set to appear on tonight's NXT premiere on the CW Network, which is airing live from the same venue that hosted WrestleMania 22, the Allstate Arena. NXT commentator Vic Joseph took to Instagram to reveal how he is paying homage to Punk on tonight's show. The Cleveland native is wearing a suit similar to Punk's mafia look from 2006. Joseph captioned the two photos with a nod to The Windy City for being a key market for pro wrestling.

"Tonight, I pay homage to @CMPunk in the Allstate Arena - from WrestleMania 22 to tonight’s #WWENXT premier on @TheCW the city of Chicago has always been part of history and tonight will be no different!" Vic Joseph wrote with the photos below.

Punk will be the special guest referee for tonight's main event, featuring Trick Williams challenging NXT Champion Ethan Page. The RAW Superstar will then do battle with Drew McIntyre inside the Hell in a Cell structure at Saturday's Bad Blood Premium Live Event.