CM Punk is back in the World Wrestling Entertainment. Well, sort of.
In a moment that shocked the WWE Universe on Tuesday night, the former WWE champion, who is currently signed with major mixed martial arts promotion Ultimate Fighting Championship, appeared on the FS1 program WWE Backstage.
Renee Young did not directly introduce him to the ring and kept it as a surprise for a bit.
But when "Cult of Personality" was played in the background, in came Punk, Phil Brooks in real life, and quickly said that he will be back next week.
THAT. JUST. HAPPENED. #WWEBackstage pic.twitter.com/TDd5n0qk25
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) November 13, 2019
The WWE website then said that Punk will make more appearances in the show aside from next week's broadcast.
The topics "CM Punk" and "#WWEBackstage" quickly trended on Twitter following Punk's appearance, the first time in six years that he was seen in a televised WWE program.
But, at least for some, they took some time to get back to their senses after the shocking scene.
Everyone right now after seeing CM Punk joining the show #WWEBackstage pic.twitter.com/rNgad98R9Y
— The Real One ☄️ (@WWEREALONE) November 13, 2019
Time to see whats going on on twitter. Hmm oh look CM Punk is on #WWEBackstage that is pretty co.... WAIT WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!
— Fodye (@3JsJosh) November 13, 2019
Punk left WWE in 2014 following an apparent fallout with owner Vince McMahon.
Since then, he has fought in the UFC, whose broadcasting rights interestingly belong to Fox Sports too like WWE Backstage.
Many thought he will not return to WWE, and some even wished that the promotion's new major rival, All Elite Wrestling, will consider signing him if he wants to make a pro wrestling comeback.
But seeing Punk back in WWE, at least in the Backstage show, is a sigh of relief to his fans.
OK I gotta be honest here...Never in a million years would I have thought to see CM Punk appear on anything that's WWE related...I guess today's the day that Hell has finally frozen over #WWEBackstage
— Sean Hojnowski (@ViperVenom747) November 13, 2019
OH MY GOD. CM PUNK IS BACK ON WWE? HOLY FUCKING SHIT. #WWEBackstage
— Prantik (@Pran__07) November 13, 2019
Waking up to the news of @CMPunk returning to wrestling.
— Luís C. Pescadinha (@pescadinha23) November 13, 2019
Waking up to the news of CM Punk returning to wrestling to do a show about @WWE.
Waking up this early to news like this sucks WAY less.
Welcome back champ!#WWE #WWEBackstage #CMPunk #PipeBomb pic.twitter.com/cDEJUeUY5c
But some still prefer Punk to be seen back in action.
However, the chance of Punk's WWE in-ring return remains bleak as Mike Johnson of Pro Wrestling Insider clarified that Punk is only signed with Fox Sports and not WWE in general.
Johnson, though, added that WWE personally blessed Punk's new job as a commentator for Backstage, a sign that Punk may have already buried the hatchet with the promotion.
So don't be surprised if Punk makes a WWE return like fellow MMA fighters turned WWE superstars Ronda Rousey, Shayna Baszler, Bobby Lashley, and Brock Lesnar.
Like Lashley and Lesnar, Punk first started his combat sports career in the WWE before giving MMA a try.

© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.