CM Punk made a stunning return on the July 6 episode of WWE RAW. He answered an unexpected opportunity after Cody Rhodes was ruled out of the night’s scheduled Undisputed WWE Championship match.
In front of a sold-out Chicago crowd at the Allstate Arena, the Second City Saint received the kind of hometown reception that only a handful of WWE Superstars ever experience.
The title bout looked set until events backstage completely changed the direction of the show. A backstage attack left fans wondering who would step up to challenge Sami Zayn.
CM Punk returns in Chicago after Cody Rhodes is ruled out
The original plan called for Sami Zayn to defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes in a rematch following Night of Champions. However, before the match could take place, Gunther attacked Rhodes backstage, driving him through a table onto the concrete floor. Rhodes was taken to a local medical facility, forcing RAW General Manager Adam Pearce to announce that the championship would still be defended, although he kept the identity of the challenger a secret.
Later in the broadcast, suspended SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis informed Pearce that he had found a replacement. As Zayn entered the ring for the main event, chants for CM Punk echoed throughout the arena. Moments later, the arena’s back entrance opened, revealing Punk, who walked through Gorilla Position to a thunderous ovation as fans sang along to Cult of Personality. It was a hometown return worthy of a main event, and Chicago certainly didn’t need a pipe bomb to explode.
Punk and Zayn delivered a competitive championship match filled with momentum swings, signature counters, and near falls. In the closing moments, Punk finally connected with the Go To Sleep to pin Zayn and capture the Undisputed WWE Championship in his first match back since WrestleMania.
Punk’s surprise return instantly reshaped WWE’s championship picture. What began as an injury-forced change turned into one of the biggest moments of the year, with Chicago witnessing its hometown hero leave RAW holding the company’s top prize.
Read More: Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi Hell in a Cell Match Given New Name on WWE RAW
