More on CM Punk’s Surprise WWE Return at Survivor Series WarGames 2023 & Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre’s Heated Reactions

As noted before, Saturday’s Survivor Series WarGames 2023 event in Rosemont, Illinois featured CM Punk making his surprise return to WWE. This was Punk’s first appearance in wrestling since his firing from AEW this past September and his first appearance in WWE since January of 2014.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that CM Punk had signed an official contract with WWE that is believed to be several years in length. Punk reportedly has signed the deal at some point on Saturday prior to the event.

In regards to the talks between Punk and WWE officials, Johnson reported that both sides had their first communications with each other over the last week. Those spoken to reportedly stated that the deal came together quickly after the initial talks and Punk’s signing is being viewed within WWE as a “new beginning” for him.

Those spoken to reportedly also stated that WWE officials did consider the idea of holding off Punk’s official return until next year’s Royal Rumble 2024 event. This idea was drop due to the feeling that the longer WWE waited, the more likely word would spread within WWE about their plans for Punk’s return and increase the chances of it being leaked.

WWE officials reportedly made the decision instead to rush Punk’s return for Saturday’s Survivor Series 2023 event due to the venue only being around a 20 minute drive from his home in Chicago.

In regards to WWE’s current plans for Punk’s in-ring work schedule, Johnson speculated that Punk likely won’t be working a full-time schedule but this is something that his sources have confirmed as of yet.

In a follow-up report, Johnson reported that his sources stated that Punk was not backstage during the Survivor Series 2023 event until shortly before he was scheduled to come out for his post-main event surprise return. Punk reportedly was brought into the venue and kept in a secured arena which required everyone else nearby to be moved somewhere else in order to protect his surprise return.

In regards to WWE CCO Paul “Triple H” Levesque’s comments during the post-show media scrum about Punk’s return being something that was put together quickly, Johnson reported that those spoken to stated that this was correct. Levesque and WWE CEO Nick Khan were the main people involving in bringing back CM Punk and nobody in WWE’s Creative nor production were made aware of their plans until Saturday’s event. Johnson reported that only a small select group of people were made aware of these plans and most talent were not informed until moments before the start of the Men’s WarGames match. Several talent reportedly are believed to have been clued in privately beforehand.

In regards to interest from other promotions, Johnson reported that those spoken to within Impact Wrestling stated that they had felt that they were very close to securing a deal with Punk at one point. Punk reportedly was stated to have been “amazing” in his talks with top Impact executives. Impact officials reportedly eventually realized the reality of the situation involving WWE and how much money Punk could make in WWE compared to Impact and were happy for him in the end. In regards to AEW, Johnson reported that those spoken to stated that there was no point where Punk was going back to AEW nor did AEW officials ever have any plans for him to be revealed as The Devil for their MJF storyline.

In regards to Seth Rollins being seen visibly frustrated and angry at Punk and needing to be restrained by several people at ringside, Johnson reported that it is currently not known if Rollins’ actions were a work or in legit anger. In an interview earlier this year, Rollins had called Punk a “locker room cancer” and someone he would never welcome back in WWE.

Holy Shit 😱#SurvivorSeries pic.twitter.com/N8pfK1I63l

— Allysha Noelle 🖤 (@KingLily_) November 26, 2023

In regards to Drew McIntyre being seen storming out of the ring after the Men’s WarGames match, Johnson reported that those spoken to stated that McIntyre’s incident was not a work and instead he was legit angry. Johnson reported that nobody was filming McIntyre backstage while Rollins was having his own outburst at ringside. Johnson reported that it is currently not known if McIntyre’s situation is related to Punk’s return or something else instead.

Drew McIntyre walked out BEFORE CM Punk’s music hit tonight at #SurvivorSeries: pic.twitter.com/dKokDtBh6C

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) November 26, 2023

In a follow-up report, Johnson reported that his sources stated that McIntyre had stormed to the back, slammed his locker room door closed, put on a hoodie, and then immediately left the venue. Johnson reported that while it was obvious to everyone backstage that McIntyre was angry and had witnessed what he did, none knew of the reason for his anger.

Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that his sources provided additional details regarding CM Punk’s return and the backstage reaction over it.

Sapp reported that his sources confirmed that WWE staff, representative, and creative were not informed beforehand about the plans for Punk’s return and Punk only entered the venue minutes before he was scheduled to appear on the show. Punk reportedly had told one person close to him that he had an hour long conversation with Levesque last week.

Sapp also reported that Levesque had taken over calling the show during its last couple of minutes and called for the copyright logo to be shown for the false show ending. This reportedly was something that many within WWE’s production did not known about for Levesque’s plans beforehand.

In regards to Rollins’ angry reaction, Sapp reported in a follow-up report that it is currently not known if this is just a work or if Rollins was legit angry at Punk over his return. Rollins reportedly had to be ushered away by Levesque and Michael Cole when he went to the Gorilla position backstage. Punk reportedly was stated to have looked confused over what has just happened and others who witnessed it stated that it was an awkward scene.

In regards to the general reaction from main event talent over Punk’s return, Sapp reported that those involved in the Men’s WarGames match had been pulled aside before its start and informed by WWE officials that Punk would be returning at the conclusion of their match. At least one talent reportedly was claimed ton have been legitimately upset over the news but it is currently not known if this person was Rollins, McIntyre, or someone else. Sapp reported that many within WWE’s locker room were upset over Punk’s return while some were excited and others were curious.