Saturday Night

---

By Manish PandeyBBC Newsbeat

Cm Punk has made a dramatic return to WWE after nearly a decade away.

Fans roared after hearing his theme music at the Survivor Series event in the United States on Saturday Night .

He initially left WWE in 2014 and has often spoken about his frustrations over creative storylines and a lack of medical care towards him.

There had been speculation the 45-year-old would come back after he recently left rival wrestling company All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

But WWE's chief content officer Triple H said Cm Punk 's return at The Show in his hometown Chicago was all a bit last minute.

" This Was one of those lightning in a bottle moments that came together very quickly, but We Are incredibly excited about it, " He Said in a press conference after The Show .

" It didn't start to come to fruition until everybody stopped thinking it was going to happen, And Then all of a sudden it was happening. "

Triple H the fact Cm Punk has often hinted he would not return to WWE since he left a decade ago.

" If you are the same person you were 10 Years ago 10 Years later, you've messed up, " Triple H said.

" Everybody grows, everybody changes. And I'm a different person, he's a different person, this is a different company and we're all on the same even starting ground. "

After leaving WWE in 2014, Cm Punk - Real name Phil Brooks - had a short stint in mixed Martial Arts with UFC.

He then joined AEW in 2021, before leaving The Company earlier this year after the All Out pay-per-view event at Wembley Stadium .

Cm Punk didn't have a wrestling match at his shock WWE return and didn't even get into The Ring , but his appearance was enough to send fans into a frenzy.

'An exciting time'

Most reacted with shock on Social Media , with one fan writing it was the " biggest pop in history of wrestling".

Joe Clarkson told BBC Newsbeat Cm Punk 's return came as " a complete and utter shock".

He was at The Wrestler 's last match for AEW and thought he would never see him in the industry again.

" I've never been so glad to be proven wrong, " the 22-year-old said.

" There are plenty of people in wrestling who cannot stand him, but there are so many who love him.

" He's always a conversation starter, a star of the calibre of Cm Punk doesn't come around very often. "

WWE fan Sabrina Nicole also told Newsbeat Cm Punk 's return means it's " an exciting time to be a wrestling fan".

She was watching Survivor Series and said " hearing his music gave me chills".

" I was definitely surprised to hear it, right at The End of The Show . "

She's Looking Forward to seeing what happens next with him, possibly " a feud with Seth Rollins" who was pictured looking unhappy at his return.

" It's quite surreal to be honest to see Cm Punk back. I've always been a fan despite the ups and downs. "

Randy Orton , who made his own return at Survivor Series after More Than a year out with injury, was in The Ring when Cm Punk returned, with the pair sharing a smile while Punk was stood at The Top of The Ramp .

WWE star Cody Rhodes added: " If he can help with where we're going and what we're doing, absolutely Welcome Aboard .

" I have a feeling the Cm Punk we're getting is hungry, and that's The Best . "

.

Related Topics

Source of news: bbc.com