CM Punk Signs With RAW, Enters WWE Royal Rumble – CM Punk’s return to WWE has been nothing short of a whirlwind. Since his unexpected comeback at Survivor Series, he’s been a fixture across RAW, SmackDown, and even made a surprising appearance at NXT Deadline. But it was on tonight’s episode of RAW that he made a pivotal decision.
Punk, in a moment of reflection, revisited the ups and downs of his journey, particularly acknowledging Cleveland, where he walked away from WWE years ago. Expressing genuine remorse, he extended an apology to fans who might’ve been disappointed by his past exit.
Amidst offers from both SmackDown’s Nick Aldis and a mentoring opportunity in NXT presented by Shawn Michaels, Punk made a defining choice – he declared his return to RAW, emphatically stating that it felt like coming home.
This declaration wasn’t without its intensity, as Punk faced off against WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, setting the stage for an explosive encounter. Moreover, he announced his participation in the upcoming 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, ensuring that his return will continue to be a focal point in WWE’s landscape.
Here is the full recap of the segment:
Adam Pearce is in the center of the ring with a contract.
He says the time for the sales pitch is over. After talking to Nick Aldis on Smackdown and Shawn Michaels at NXT, he does not need an introduction, but he will need to make a decision.
He brings out CM Punk and he hands him the mic.
Punk says he thought he was in a bit of a sullen mood but he comes out and sees the people and the signs. He says he has a huge decision to make and they have a huge decision to make. Punk says he loves you guys. The truth is this town and this building hasn’t been historically good to him. He walked back here through the hallways and there are a lot of ghosts. He is trying to face them head on. Punk says he debuted in this building. He says he had Mickie James on his arm. They walked into the ring and it was so good that they told him that he was going to Louisville and OVW. Punk says he embraced being uncomfortable. Punk says he learned to love it. Punk says he returned as the World Champion, ready to put on a show. Then Randy Orton kicks him in the head and he wakes up being told he was stripped of the title because he couldn’t compete.
Punk asks the people if they were here ten years ago. That is in the rearview mirror and in the past. He says he had to take himself off the hamster wheel and he does not regret it. Punk says he walked out on the people who paid to see him. Punk says he talked to Indi in the back and she felt betrayed. Punk says he felt the same way when Roddy Piper appeared in WCW. If you are disappointed in him walking out on WWE, he apologized. Punk says he listened to what Nick Aldis had to say. He received a nice offer. Punk says he went to NXT to talk to Shawn Michaels and Shawn made an offer to mold the future. Punk says the offer from Adam Pearce is head and shoulders above them both.
Punk says his mind was probably made when he saw Cleveland on the calendar. He is here to bury some ghosts and right some wrongs. Punk says his future is now. You can’t write a better television show. Almost ten years to the day he walks out, Punk walks right back in. If you are happy about it, mad about it, you better learn to love it because Punk says he is the newest Raw Superstar.
Punk takes the contract and he signs it.
Punk poses on the turnbuckles as Seth Rollins’ music plays and he makes his way to the ring.
Seth gets in Punk’s face and they stare each other down. Seth walks past Punk and takes a mic.
Seth addresses Punk and he welcomes him to Monday Night Rollins. He tells Punk to realize how fortunate you are to stand in this ring. He tells Punk never to call this place his home. You abandoned this place ten years ago. Not only did you abandon it. You tried to tear it down. You spent ten years slandering him and every person in the locker room. You want to come back and call this place your home. Seth says this is his home. Seth says he has been here and everyone in the back are his brothers and sisters. Everyone watching at home is his family. This is their home. He will do everything to protect this place from people like you.
Seth says he wants to make it clear so there is no confusion. He says he is going to say it plainly with every fiber in his being. Seth says he hates Punk. If you are going to be a part of WWE again, he wants Punk on Raw. Seth cackles and says the truth always comes out. He says everyone knows that this is your last chance. One of two things is going to happen. You are going to expose yourself and self destruct like you always do. Seth says he will be the first to slam the door shut on your legacy. Or, by some miracle, you have changed and you have any gas left in that old tank. Maybe one day you will be lucky enough to stand across the ring from him in a World Championship match. Seth says he will expose Punk for the fraud he is. There are levels to this and he will wrestle circles around Punk. He will let Punk know, in real time, what it means to be the best in the world.
Punk gets a mic and he asks Seth if he is done. He says that is your one pass to stand in here and talk to him disrespectfully without coming after him. Punk says he has never asked for things and he has done things stubbornly. Punk tells Pearce if they are going to make things official, he is going to be in the Royal Rumble. Punk says when he wins, maybe he is coming after Seth. Punk drops the mic and his theme hits to end an intense, excellent promo segment.
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CM Punk Signs With RAW, Enters WWE Royal Rumble
