CM Punk has been one of the biggest missing stars on WWE TV since the RAW after WrestleMania 42, and according to the latest update, it looks like fans may have to wait a little longer for his return.
Punk has not appeared on WWE TV since the April 20 episode of WWE RAW. During that show, he teased a possible future feud with Cody Rhodes. The segment came just one night after Punk lost the World Heavyweight title to Roman Reigns.
CM Punk reportedly not expected backstage for WWE RAW after Backlash
According to reports from PWInsider, Punk was not backstage at WWE Backlash 2026 and is also not expected to appear on this week’s RAW in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The update comes after fans spent days speculating that Punk could be connected to Danhausen’s mystery partner storyline.
Rumors took a life of their own online after Danhausen teased several possible tag partners for a match involving The Miz and Kit Wilson. But Punk never showed up at Backlash, and the latest reports suggest WWE never planned for him to appear in the storyline.
The former WWE Champion’s absence is also interesting because WWE is heading into a busy stretch of shows. After this week, only two more episodes of RAW remain before Clash in Italy later this month. Right now, it seems unlikely Punk will return before that event.
After the Clash in Italy PLE, WWE will move toward Night of Champions 2026 in Saudi Arabia on June 27 before officially starting the build toward SummerSlam. Fans would still expect Punk to return before the SummerSlam season begins. However, WWE has remained quiet about providing any official timetable.
Whenever Punk does come back, WWE has a few marquee storyline options for him. One possibility is continuing his rivalry with Reigns and chasing the World Heavyweight Championship again. Another option could set the stage for a new feud with another top WWE star.
There is also growing speculation that WWE could move Punk to SmackDown. A feud between Punk and Rhodes was mooted in the former last appearance in WWE programming. With Gunther in the title picture, CM Punk’s name provides an intriguing foil for all parties in terms of storyline options.
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