WWE plans for CM Punk's return involve Cody Rhodes feud

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If you’ve been following the CM Punk story along with us this week, you can skip this brief refresher. In case this is the first you’re hearing of it, all you really need to know is that after rumors spread that there were issues between Punk and higher-ups at WWE serious enough that he could possibly leave the company, those were dispelled and we returned to where we were before the rumors… debating Punk’s physique and waiting for WWE to call on him again after they changed creative plans coming out of WrestleMania 42. That always figured to be in time for Aug. 1-2’s SummerSlam, and we got confirmation yesterday (June 11) that that is indeed WWE’s plan. But what will Punk be doing when he returns? Well, according to this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, he’ll be working with the person he teased working with when last we say him on the Raw After WrestleMania — Cody Rhodes. The Undisputed WWE champion isn’t on Raw though, and that’s the brand Punk’s called home since returning in 2023. Feuding with Rhodes over the WWE belt means Punk will follow Finn Bálor from Mondays to Fridays. At least, that’s what Dave Meltzer at the WON is hearing. Here’s his full blurb on the topic, unfiltered: There was a lot of talk about Punk rumors this past week. The Punk departure the week after he had said that he’s a guy who is there every week was strange, but we were told he was being taken off because they had no creative for him and would be back when his angle was to start. The plan right now is for him to return on Smackdown, which is basically a balancing act. The belief is with Raw having Reigns, Rollins, The Usos, Fatu, Femi, Logan Paul and Breakker that Punk made more sense on Smackdown with a top tier of Rhodes, Gunther, Ripley and soon to be Punk, Orton and McIntyre. Plus Rhodes vs. Punk has been a direction. The return date of 7/6 Raw in Chicago makes sense, although that is a Raw date, not Smackdown, but that’s really not material in the sense Chicago does make sense for him to appear. You buying it? And whether you are or not, do you like it? Tell us below.