CM Punk’s absence from WWE television since the April 20 Raw is the result of creative plans shifting after WWE moved Gunther to SmackDown and brought Jacob Fatu to Raw to feud with Roman Reigns, per False Finish, which noted Punk is currently awaiting new creative direction for his return. Fightful Select separately confirmed the absence is due to a schedule change.
Punk last appeared on the Raw after WrestleMania 42, where he had a face-off with Cody Rhodes and teased a potential pursuit of the Undisputed WWE Championship. He was not backstage at Backlash on May 9 and has since been removed from advertising for WWE’s European Summer Tour.
WrestleVotes has reported in a Q&A session that Punk is part of the plans for SummerSlam 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota on the August 1-2 weekend, with a possible earlier return cited as Saturday Night’s Main Event XLV on July 18 at Madison Square Garden.
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.
