First Feuds for CM Punk in WWE Revealed

Since CM Punk returned to WWE wrestling (sorry, sports entertainment) fans have been busy fantasy booking his next feuds. Well. That, or they’ve been sulking about the “Voice of the Voiceless” renouncing his morals and following money back to WWE.

We’ve all seen this guy burning his CM Punk shirt, right?

But we needn’t fantasy book anything. 

CM Punk returned to WWE Monday Night Raw this week and cut a promo that hinted at his first WWE feuds. As did multiple segments across Raw.

Here, we unpackage what was said on Raw to hint at CM Punk’s first WWE feuds. 

CM Punk’s WWE Feuds Revealed 

The Feud: Cody Rhodes

What Was Said: CM Punk referenced Cody Rhodes’ father, Dusty Rhodes, when he said “The American Dream” told him to always talk from the heart. Earlier in the night, Cody welcomed CM Punk back to WWE before declaring for the Royal Rumble.

The two mentioning each other hints at a feud, albeit one that might start amicably. It is likely CM Punk will also declare for the Royal Rumble, which could be the birth of this feud. 

When: Cody’s initial feud looks set to be with Shinsuke Nakamura, who attacked “The American Nightmare” on Raw. So don’t expect Rhodes vs. Punk before 2024. 

Any History: Punk and Rhodes have never had a proper feud, not in WWE or AEW. Sure, they had a couple of TV matches in 2008, but both have changed a lot since then.

The Feud: Seth Rollins 

What Was Said:

One of the biggest talking points post-Punk return at Survivor Series was the reaction of Seth Rollins. Videos of Rollins screaming at Punk to do some very unpleasant and biologically impossible things to himself went viral. 

Rollins responded to “CM Punk” chants from the Monday Night Raw crowd by saying he refused to waste his time or energy on that ‘hypocrite.’

During Punk’s promo, he mentioned that ‘almost everybody’ was happy to see him back. Punk vs. Rollins is 100% happening.

When: It’s already happening. Expect plenty of subtle digs between the two as WWE slowly builds towards this feud. Right now, it feels too big to happen anywhere other than WrestleMania 40. 

Any History: In the words of Randy Savage, “Ohhh yeah!”

Punk was technically responsible for Rollins’ main roster call-up. The Shield (Rollins, Roman Reigns, and Dean Ambrose) debuted in WWE as hired guns for Punk. Before that, the two had an NXT match.

Since Punk left WWE, Rollins has had some very unsavory things to say about him. Calling him, at best, a hypocrite and, at worst, cancer. 

 

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The Feud: Randy Orton

What Was Said:

Rhea Ripley taunted Randy Orton for having his big return at Survivor Series upstaged by CM Punk. Orton sold this pretty well as being truth. 

When: Orton has an initial feud with The Judgement Day to contend with, but after that, “The Viper” will surely look to settle that score with CM Punk. Expect this to follow the feud with Rollins. 

Any history: Bags of it. The two were in WWE for years together and have crossed paths plenty of times. They even went one-on-one at WrestleMania 27, where Orton hit an RKO outta nowhere to defeat Punk.

The Feud: Roman Reigns 

What was said: Punk referenced Paul Heyman in his Raw promo. This wasn’t a surprise, given the two having a history together. What was interesting was that Punk called Paul Heyman “the Wiseman”. This is a moniker not used for Heyman until he partnered with Reigns. 

Punk said: ‘A wise man told me to leave to get everything good out of this place.’ Punk praising Heyman shows the two still have a bond. Punk using the moniker Reigns chose for him points to something happening. 

When: Reigns vs. Punk is too exciting not to happen at some point. With Punk on Raw, whether it happens or not will depend on how long WWE can keep Punk happy for. WrestleMania 41 in 2025 seems most likely. 

Any history: As with Rollins, Punk could claim to have introduced Reigns to the main roster. The feud could reintroduce doubt over who Heyman is loyal to, similar to when Reigns and Brock Lesnar battled. 

The Feud: Wade Barrett

What was said: Of all the people subtly mentioned during his promo, Wade Barrett was the only one that Punk went as far as to look in the eye. Punk said a phrase he’d uttered many times. That he is the best in the world ‘in the ring, on the microphone – even on commentary!’ 

When: It is unlikely that this will ever really happen due to Barrett’s retirement. But we could hear Barrett trash-talk Punk on commentary, especially while Punk is a face.   

Any history: Barrett hasn’t wrestled in years and is sitting very comfy on the broadcast desk at the moment. But the two have a lot of history. 

Barrett debuted in WWE when his Nexus stable attacked John Cena and CM Punk as they headlined Raw. Punk ultimately got one over Barrett when he became the leader of Barrett’s stable six months after they arrived in WWE. Punk teased helping Barrett out of a steel cage when he faced Orton and Sheamus in a WWE Championship no.1 Contender’s match. Instead, Punk ripped Barret’s Nexus armband off and kicked him to the canvas.

Simply put, there’s lots to exploit if CM Punk vs. Wade Barrett ever needed a build.