CM Punk will return to WWE television on the July 6 Raw from Chicago and will then move to SmackDown going forward, with a program against Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes the planned direction, per Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
WWE felt Punk made more sense on SmackDown given the volume of star power already on Raw. The company’s internal top tier for Raw currently consists of Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, The Usos, Jacob Fatu, Oba Femi, Logan Paul and Bron Breakker. SmackDown’s internal top tier is Cody Rhodes, Gunther and Rhea Ripley, with Punk expected to join that group.
The seeds for a Punk-Rhodes program were planted on the Raw after WrestleMania 42, where the two had a face-to-face with Punk teasing a title pursuit and Rhodes telling him to “just say when.” Punk took time off after WrestleMania as WWE did not have immediate storyline plans locked in for him following his World Heavyweight Championship loss to Roman Reigns.
Andrew Ravens is a reporter for WrestlingNews.co, where he covers the latest happenings in the world of professional wrestling. Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, his main focus is reporting on day-to-day wrestling news, with a special emphasis on covering WWE and AEW. Having covered the industry since 2013, Andrew has developed an extensive knowledge of pro wrestling. His work involves more than just standard news updates; he also serves as a beat writer, providing in-depth and ongoing coverage of wrestling companies and its storylines. His skill set includes providing detailed play-by-play coverage for major events, ensuring fans who can't watch live still get a feel for the action. He also handles transcription, accurately converting interviews and media scrums for readers. As a dedicated reporter, Andrew frequently attends major wrestling events to cover them live, including WWE's Monday Night Raw and SmackDown, as well as AEW Dynamite. You can get in touch with Andrew for news tips or correspondence by emailing him at ravenstarmedia21@gmail.com.
