CM Punk and Cody Rhodes had one of the most memorable promo battles of the year on the July 24 episode of SmackDown, just eight days before they meet for the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam. The segment had personal jabs, mind games, and a lot of tension. But it also included a surprising admission from Punk about his WWE return.
The WWE Champion revealed that Cody Rhodes’ return to WWE in 2022 made him believe that his own return could actually happen. For someone who spent years saying he would never return to WWE, it was a huge admission.
CM Punk says Cody Rhodes inspired his WWE return
The segment started with Cody Rhodes coming to the ring before CM Punk interrupted him. Soon after, both men started questioning each other’s motives before SummerSlam.
Rhodes admitted that he respects Punk, but he doesn’t like him. He said Punk’s legacy has followed him throughout his career, especially after the famous Pipe Bomb promo in 2011, which inspired many wrestlers, including Rhodes himself.
Cody Rhodes also admitted that even after everything he has achieved, Punk is still the one person who makes him feel like he has something left to prove.
Punk then surprised everyone with an honest confession. Talking about Rhodes’ return to WWE at WrestleMania 38, Punk admitted he was watching from the outside. He explained that Rhodes showed him it was possible to leave WWE, build yourself back up, and still return one day.
“In 2022, I was learning from you, because I was on the outside looking in, and I watched you show me that there was a way back. And I followed that path, didn’t I?” Punk said to Rhodes.
It was a full-circle moment.
Years ago, Rhodes often talked about looking up to Punk. Now, Punk admitted that Rhodes became the example that helped him believe a WWE return was possible.
Punk’s return at Survivor Series 2023 is still one of the biggest return moments in recent wrestling history. After leaving WWE in 2014, he spent years saying he would never return. Even during his time in AEW, he often spoke as if his WWE chapter was completely over.
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